It has been awhile since I talked about our babies here in camp, not that nothing has been going on, just I haven't been around taking photos and everything has just been day to day - nothing momentous, nothing huge, just the everyday life of elephant folk.

   But in its slow, slow way it is worth reporting how fast my babies are growing up starting with Pang Kam Sao (Nong Pleum), the first rescue, the girl who started it all by walking past us on Soi 7 all those polos ago.  Ever the indulgent older sister she gets largely forgotten in this little forum while her smaller charges grab the spotlight.

   Well, she's nine now and her role as surrogate sister seems over; she's been hanging around on the edges of the baby camp for some time, occasionally absorbing ankle attacks from Pumpui or rude questions from Lynchee but not really getting involved - a pre-teen girl with some common sense, growing up and ready to take on some adult roles.

   She's so well behaved we thought we would give her some responsibility, she started by giving rides across at Four Seasons - as part of the babies' exercise routine she'd carry guests to the bathing pool which lead us to think she may be able to raise the Foundation some funds by doing a little light mahout training on the Anantara side...





...OK - she won't be winning medals for synchronised swimming but never mind, who needs to face the same way as everyone else?

   We're in the process of moving the babies' camp out of the swamp and up to a new location on top of the hill, meanwhile all the babies are in camp, Lynchee and Pumpui able to cause havoc and play, plenty of cute photos there but I thought I'd share one of Tawan, a big boy now, no need to be constantly in touch with Pleum or even his new friend Lamyai.

   I watched him for half an hour, systematically moving this concrete block (an old tying post that Lawan once ripped out of the ground when we tried to keep her in camp one night so we could keep an eye on her when she was a little sick) so he could reach the higher bamboo...



...even the humans are growing up, Nong Um is walking now; talking after a fashion, charming guests and making sure that everyone whose name she knows is paying attention to her...



...and then, just an amazing photo of a storm making it's way across the plain, taken from what will be the wet season babies camp yesterday, I love this season!