Fame across borders: Primary school girl riding to school on an elephant wows Japan

[webfact]

Picture: Naew Na

 

Poopay, the 11 year old girl who goes to school on an elephant who ASEAN NOW reported on earlier has now attracted the attention of international media.

 

Along with her trusted tusker Ole the P5 (fifth year of primary) girl did a show for the Japanese media that went down very well, reported Naew Na.

 

Picture: Naew Na

 

Viewers loved the interaction with other children at the school, happy to be the center of attention due to their unusual friend.

 

Poopay has been around elephants since she was even smaller and is familiar with their moods and habits.

 

Picture: Naew Na

 

Her dad owns four, two grown-ups and two children. 

 

Poopay often takes the journey to school on Ole's back. 

 

Poopay has said she wants to become a vet and carry on the family's mahout-ing traditions. 

 

-- © Copyright  ASEAN NOW 2022-07-23

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Monthly car subscription with first-class insurance, 24x7 assistance and more in one price - click here to find out more!

 

Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

[ezzra]

Cute girl on even cuter pachyderm and good heart's worming article, the kind i like to read about Thailand every now and than..

[dirtybirty]

15 hours ago, ezzra said:

Cute girl on even cuter pachyderm and good heart's worming article, the kind i like to read about Thailand every now and than..

so was this 1 trained in the normal barbaric way as the rest of are domesticated pacyderm friends are  in this country. 

[Mac Mickmanus]

It does seem a rather exotic way top get to School , quite romantic as well .

  But her home is about 500 meters from her School and she could easily walk from home to School .

What does the Elephant do whilst she is in school ?

Nice story, but its probably all just for show and not a regular daily occurrence 

[RobU]

I saw the video very cute. When she first mounts the elephant it actually assists her to get up with it's trunk makes sure she doesn't fall. It then picks up the riding crop and passes it to her. When they leave the compound it opens the sliding gate. It doesn't seem badly treated more like a family companion. I agree though that if the school is only 500 yards away then it is probably a publicity stunt since she could easily walk to school. Even knowing that, it brought a smile to my face

[RobU]

I saw the video very cute. When she first mounts the elephant it actually assists her to get up with it's trunk makes sure she doesn't fall. It then picks up the riding crop and passes it to her. When they leave the compound it opens the sliding gate. It doesn't seem badly treated more like a family companion. I agree though that if the school is only 500 yards away then it is probably a publicity stunt since she could easily walk to school. Even knowing that, it brought a smile to my face

[RobU]

I saw the video very cute. When she first mounts the elephant it actually assists her to get up with it's trunk makes sure she doesn't fall. It then picks up the riding crop and passes it to her. When they leave the compound it opens the sliding gate. It doesn't seem badly treated more like a family companion. I agree though that if the school is only 500 yards away then it is probably a publicity stunt since she could easily walk to school. Even knowing that, it brought a smile to my face

[hotchilli]

14 hours ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

What does the Elephant do whilst she is in school ?

Looks for tasty morsels?