Written by London Swaminathan

Post No. 15,858

Date uploaded in London –11 June 2026

Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com

Pictures are taken from various sources for spreading knowledge.

this is a non- commercial blog. Thanks for your great pictures.

tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com

xxxx 

Following news items are from my paper cuttings file:

1

Elephants nearly cost alexander his empire, Hannibal managed to cross the alps with a herd of elephants; they helped Tarzan out of a few tight corners. now there is a training course available for anyone to become a mahout- elephant man. Tourists can train to become mahouts in Anantara resort in northern Thailand through the neighbouring Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation.

The Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation (GTAEF) is a non-profit NGO based in Chiang Rai, Thailand. Established in 2005 by the Minor Group, it provides a safe haven for rescued captive elephants and their mahouts, while also supporting wild elephant conservation programs.

 GTAEF takes in elephants from dangerous urban environments (like Bangkok streets) where they face abuse and lack proper care. It supports both the animal and its mahout (handler) by providing food, lodging, and medical care.

The foundation aims to employ mahouts in ethical, sustainable roles so they do not have to resort to illegal logging or begging. It also provides English lessons and educational support for their children.

Beyond captive elephants, GTAEF funds field research, supports local community ranger teams, and protects wild elephant corridors.

The foundation is located at the confluence of the Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos borders, and operates in close partnership with luxury eco-tourism resorts.

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2 Elephant Memory

Elephants are renowned for their long memories, so it is not probably a good idea to make an enemy of one. Scientists in Africa have made the alarming claim that the mammals can store up grievances and wreaking their revenge – even on humans.

And evidence is now emerging that Elephants can pass these grievances down from mother to calf- ensuring their anti-human vendettas carry on for generations.

The discovery has been charted by Kenya based expert Joyce Poole. He claims disputes between elephants and humans are becoming increasingly common as the two growing populations are battling for land. There are more reports of elephants trampling African villages apparently without any cause or motivation.

Mr Poole who is research director at the Amboseli elephant project in Kenya, says the distrust of humans probably dates back to the age of poaching in the 1970s and 1980s. this has created a generation of teenage delinquent elephants bent on taking out their grievances on humans.

Mr Poole told new scientist magazine “they are certainly intelligent enough and have good enough memories to take revenge.

Wildlife managers may feel it is easier just to shoot so called problem elephants; but they could be stimulating a cycle of violence “.

Metro newspaper 16-2-2006

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3 Soccer

Elephants play soccer matches in Thailand. Ayuththaya (named after Rama’s Ayodhya) province is 50 miles north of Bangkok, capital city of Thailand. There soccer /football matches are organised to campaign against gambling on the world cup.

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4 Petulant Pachyderms

A student nurse was killed when a bull elephant went berserk at a show at an animal park in Thailand in 2000. Briton Andrea Taylor , 20, was sitting in the front row at the Nong Nooch Tropical Garden when one of the animals charged at her.

Maxi, the elephant found a novel way of child control in august 2005. At a zoo in Zurich , maxi enjoyed flicking his helpless son through the air with his tusks. –Metro newspaper 16-2-2006 

–subham— 

Tags – elephants, revenge, memory, foot ball, titbits, mahout.