Xang Noy is a cute little 9 months old male. He was born in Ban Viengkeo, a mahout village two hours drive north of the Elephant Conservation Center. His parents are Mae Ven, a beautiful 36 years old female and Phu Kampeng, a domesticated male elephant of 19 years of age.

At 2 months old little Noy joined us at the Center. Xang Noy and Mae Ven walked for four days to get here! Our little friend grows slowly. Indeed at 9 months old he is much smaller than the other Xang (all calves under 3 years are named Noy in Laos!) which is only 8 months old. This comes from his father, Phu Kampeng whom is quite a small elephant.

As for us humans, elephants may look small, large, thin, more or less dark... all similar but with different physical attributes. The development in Noy's personality however is quite ! This been increasingly naughty and playful.

Next year, Xang Noy may return to his native forest, in Ban Viengkeo, until it is strong enough to pull logs (if there remains any logs at all in the forests of Laos by then...). Maybe we can convince the owners to keep the elephant at Center to adulthood... or beyond!