A FAMILY have ensured a Thai elephant can enjoy a peaceful retirement after rescuing the animal following a recent trip to Asia.

The Blaine family from Peopleton, near Pershore, stumbled across 70-year-old Som Sri in Thailand when they went to the country to source goods for their fairtrade business, Mahouts, which means elephant keeper.

Sarah Blaine along with her husband Felix, who is a doctor in Worcester, and children Joe, aged 12, and Natasha, nine, raised money to have the dangerously thin elephant moved to the sanctuary in Sukhothai, northern Thailand.

And earlier this month Mrs Blaine returned to take part in the move.

“I travelled on February 3 and we rescued her the next day,” said Mrs Blaine.

“She was very thin. I know they had been looking after her but she was wasting away and very miserable. When we arrived she knew something was happening.”

The group, including Mrs Blaine, spent 12 hours moving Som Sri to the sanctuary, where she will live out her days.

“We had a ceremony with flowers and fruit when Som Sri arrived at the BLES sanctuary,” said Mrs Blaine. “Her whole presence changed as she arrived. One of the ladies said it was like she was living her whole life in one day.”

The family are now looking to continue their support of the sanctuary.

Mrs Blaine said: “Hopefully we can make life better for the Mahouts and the elephants. People have been coming in and donating money and people have stopped us when we have been walking the dog.”

Anyone who would like to support the family’s mission should visit mahouts.co.uk or blesele.org