Over time, her quiet presence has become part of the shared memory of generations in Saigon with a familiar image of an elderly elephant standing beneath the shade of trees, gently swaying her trunk.
Her movements are slow and steady while her large ears softly move with the breeze. From time to time, she curls her trunk around a bundle of grass and lifts it to her mouth with calm deliberation. Everything about her feels unhurried, as if time itself slows down in her presence.
Caring for a Special Elder
Born in 1960, in her later years, the Elderly Elephant Chuông receives careful and attentive care. Her food is prepared to be softer and easier to digest, while her daily routine includes gentle exercise, behavioral enrichment, and regular health check-ups to ensure that she remains in the best possible biological condition.
Elephants are known for their intelligence and strong emotional capacity. For the keepers who have worked with her for many years, her recognition goes beyond sight. She responds to familiar voices, to the rhythm of footsteps, and to the presence of those she trusts. A gentle touch of her trunk or a quiet glance is enough to show the special bond that has formed between her and her caretakers.
In a city that is constantly changing, the Elderly Elephant Chuông quietly remains as a link between the past and the present. She does not draw attention in a dramatic way, yet her presence carries deep meaning. For many people, she is not just an elephant, but a symbol of childhood, of first encounters with wildlife, and of family photographs preserved throughout time.
Her story is also a gentle reminder of our shared responsibility to care for and protect wildlife. In the wild, elephants face increasing challenges such as habitat loss and human–wildlife conflict. Every individual animal that is cared for properly and lives in a safe environment holds great significance in conservation efforts.
Today, the Elderly Elephant Chuông may no longer be as strong as she once was, but her kind eyes and steady presence still make visitors pause for a moment longer. Conceivably, after many years from now, today’s children will return with their own families and say, “We once met a gentle old elephant here.”
Within the green heart of the Saigon Zoo & Botanical Gardens, the Elderly Elephant Chuông, carries on with gentle, steady steps, a cherished and irreplaceable presence in its unfolding story.
