When Soraida Salwala was a young girl, she and her father happened upon an elephant that had been hit by a car. She wanted to take "Uncle Elephant" to the hospital; when her father informed her that there was no hospital for elephants, she was heartbroken. In 1994, Soraida realized a lifelong dream to create a hospital for elephants. The Elephant Hospital in Lampang, Thailand, is the first of its kind in the world. The hospital has cared for hundreds of elephants that have been abused in the illegal logging trade. These elephants have been given amphetamines to make them work faster or have been crippled by land mines left to clear rugged terrain. Soraida and her staff treat elephants with varying ailments, whether natural or due to their contact with humans.

Listen to Soraida talk about her unique hospital, her organization, Friends of the Asian Elephant, and her effort to save the Asian elephant in Thailand.

A Childhood Dream Soraida says skeptics laughed at her dream to build an elephant hospital, but now she has a facility that has served 600 elephants. play audio A Day at the Hospital Soraida describes a typical day at the hospital, where elephants are fed, washed and massaged daily. play audio Infirmed Elephants Soraida talks about her current patients and their ailments. play audio A Famous Resident Soraida provides an update on the hospital's most well-known patient, Motala, who had a team of doctors perform an unprecedented amputation of her hoof, after a land-mine accident. She is recovering well. play audio Helping Elephants Here and There Sometimes Soraida and staff receive sick elephants by truck, and sometimes they have to go by truck to see sick elephants. play audio Common Elephant Ailments Even the smallest illness could lead to death, if untreated, says Soraida. play audio Addicted Elephant Many elephants have been drugged to make them work faster in the illegal logging trade. Soraida describes one such patient. play audio Light at the End of the Tunnel The plight of Thai elephants may seem bleak, but Soraida holds out hope for a sanctuary to keep aging and unwanted elephants safe. play audio

Soraida Salwala (right) with mahout and patient.