A bit about Max...

Maximus (whose official name is Pang Somboon) is believed to be Thailand's second largest elephant. Max was rescued from a life of walking the streets & begging. After logging was made illegal in Thailand, mahouts resorted to earning money by taking their elephants into the cities & having tourists pay inflated prices to feed their elephants.

In 2000, Max and his mahout were walking down the side of the super highway, when an 18-wheeler struck Max & dragged him some 5 meters. The mahout lacked the money for medicine, and was only able to provide food for his elephant. It took a year before Max could walk again, but his leg wasn't completely healed. His gait is awkward & slow, and his front right leg barely bends. Still, he was put back to work.

Finally, in 2002, Max was saved by a British couple who helped bring him to the Elephant Nature Park. While he still requires ongoing treatments & medicine, Max is a much happier elephant, now that he's at the park.