Residents
Elephants at BEES – Burm and Emily's Elephant Sanctuary
Mae Kam
The sanctuary's first resident, Mae Kam, worked in logging and then carried tourists in a basket seat, and was beaten if she threw riders off. She arrived in May 2012 on a one-year retirement agreement and never left.
Resident since 2012
Mae Dok
Mae Dok logged and gave rides, then was used to collect 20 baht per visit from tourists in a Karen village. After her owner died in January 2019, his family sold her to BEES, and she moved in on 6 March 2019. After a lifetime of carrying people and collecting coins, her days are finally her own.
Resident since 2019
Jasmine
Jasmine spent her life logging. After her mother died she was left in the forest with her front legs tied together. She reached BEES on 11 January 2026 after a three-day walk of about 35 km. After all those years in the forest, she can finally rest, roam and choose how to spend her days.
Resident since 2026
Thong Dee
Thong Dee, one of the pair known as the Golden Girls, came to BEES on 22 November 2014. She died on 14 August 2025. She had almost eleven years at BEES, living peacefully alongside the other elephants.
In loving memory
Boon Yuen
Boon Yuen arrived on 22 November 2014 already suffering from digestive trouble, and died on 29 July 2015. She and Thong Dee share a grave. Her time at BEES was short, but it was spent in safety and care, and she now rests beside her friend.
In loving memory
Mae Mor
Mae Mor left a working camp for BEES on 27 March 2017. She fell ill and died later, on 30th August 2017. Though her time there was brief, her last days were free of work, among people who cared for her.
In loving memory
Fluffy
At a vineyard, Fluffy posed for photos and carried wedding couples, giving her final ride on 12 October 2017. She came to BEES two days after that and died on 15 January 2018. For her final three months, nobody asked her to pose or carry anyone again.
In loving memory