So Pa
Born: 1941
Sex: Female
Grandma SoPa is a remarkable elderly elephant, born in 1941, who endured decades of hard labour and exploitation. Her early years were spent in the logging industry, hauling heavy logs from the forest. She was later sent to a trekking camp, where she resisted carrying tourists and was consequently sold back into logging.
Her hardships continued when she was sold to an elephant camp in Chiang Mai. After intense training, she was used for both riding and breeding for over a decade. Despite her advancing age, she was sold again, this time to a riding camp in Pattaya, where the grueling work of giving rides continued.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, SoPa’s health declined rapidly due to exhaustion, malnutrition, and old age, leading to frequent falls. Her owner brought her to a hospital for treatment, but it became clear that she needed more than just medical care — she needed a loving, nurturing home that could provide for her specific needs.
With help from Trunks Up, a U.S.-based nonprofit, Save Elephant Foundation rescued SoPa. On 21 May 2023, after a 24-hour journey, she arrived safely at the sanctuary to begin a long-overdue new chapter.
Over time Grandma SoPa settled into sanctuary life and spends her days exploring, wading into river, and indulging in long, soothing mud baths — simple pleasures once denied to her. For the first time, she is free to just be an elephant. It is a privilege to provide Grandma SoPa with the opportunity to experience freedom and dignity in the remaining years of her long life.
💚 Choose Your Sponsorship Package to Support So Pa
Click the links below:
- $70 | 6-Month Sponsorship
Support an elephant for half a year and receive monthly updates on their progress.
- $125 | 12-Month Sponsorship
Sponsor your chosen elephant for a full year and make a greater impact.
- $1,000+ | Legacy Sponsor
Leave a legacy of compassion. Our team will personally reach out to you to explore special opportunities for deeper involvement with your sponsored elephant.
- Monthly Recurring Donation | Contribute any amount above $10 USD
Make a monthly contribution with a minimum of $10. Select “Make this a monthly recurring donation” at checkout to set up your monthly support.
🎁 What You’ll Receive
All sponsorship package will receive:
✅ A personalized Sponsorship Certificate
✅ Monthly updates about your sponsored elephant
✅ Exclusive access to our Elephant Membership Club newsletter
Every sponsorship helps ensure that rescued elephants can live with peace, dignity, and love.
Save Elephant Foundation is a Thai non–profit organization dedicated to preserving and protecting Asian elephants throughout South East Asia.
Learn more here: saveelephant.org
