Life at Phuket Elephant Nature Reserve is full of memorable moments, from playful splashes in the mud to the quiet contentment of an elephant enjoying their meal. But recently, one of our most beloved residents, Thonglor, had a rather dramatic experience: she lost a tooth!
While for us humans, the thought of losing a tooth might remind us of childhood, for elephants, it’s a different story altogether. Elephant teeth are enormous, and losing them is a natural part of ageing. But when one does fall out, it’s a reminder of how important good care is for the health and happiness of our rescued animals.
For now, let’s focus on Thonglor! Scroll down to find out more about how she lost her tooth. And if you have any questions about our ethical elephant activities in Phuket at any point, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Meet Thonglor, One of Our Rescued Elephants in Phuket
With her calm nature, wise eyes, elegant presence, and enormous stature, Thonglor has long been a favourite among visitors to our Phuket elephant sanctuary. Like all the elephants at PENR, her life was marked by cruelty and neglect. She had spent years chained for long periods and giving rides to tourists.
When we rescued Thonglor from Buriram in northeast Thailand in September 2022, she was severely underweight, but now, she’s safe with us and will never have to work again. Seeing Thonglor enjoy the peace and freedom of an environment where she is respected and cared for is a true joy.
Thonglor was born in 1978, so she’s getting older now. Like elderly elephants everywhere, her needs are changing. Her recent tooth loss gave our team another chance to adapt her care to ensure she stays healthy and comfortable.
Find out more about Thonglor and all our gentle giants on the Meet Our Elephants page.
What Happens When Our Elephants in Phuket Lose a Tooth?
Like humans, elephants know when it’s time for a tooth to go. So when Thonglor recently felt this sensation, she “encouraged” one of her molars out by rubbing it against a rock, accompanied by a loud roar that left our staff in no doubt about what had happened. Elephant teeth are enormous compared with ours, so the sight of a fallen molar is always impressive.
Now, Thonglor has just two molars left, one on each side of her jaw. This means she cannot manage the hard foods she once enjoyed. While this could be a serious challenge in the wild, at PENR, we are able to make sure she still receives all the nutrition she needs.
How Our Elephants in Phuket Replace Their Teeth
Elephants don’t lose and regrow teeth the way humans do. Instead, they have a remarkable horizontal replacement system. New molars grow from the back of the jaw and gradually move forward, pushing the older teeth out. It’s a bit like a conveyor belt, or a tread moving forward — the old tooth eventually breaks down or is pushed out the front, and the new one takes over.
Over the course of their lives, elephants go through six sets of molars. By the time they reach 60 or 70 years old, they usually run out of replacements. Once their final set is worn down, they can no longer chew properly, which in the wild often leads to malnutrition and eventually death. This natural limitation makes dental health one of the most important aspects of caring for ageing elephants in sanctuaries.
Read our blog The Role of Sanctuaries in Elephant Conservation Efforts in Thailand to take a deeper dive into the vital role we and others play in the rescue and rehabilitation of these majestic, beautiful creatures.
How Phuket Elephant Nature Reserve Feeds an Elephant Without Molars
With fewer teeth, Thonglor can’t manage tough vegetation or chunky fruit as easily as before. To help her, we have invested in a food shredder that allows us to chop her meals into smaller, more manageable pieces!
An elephant’s food intake is incredible — around 8% of their body weight every single day. For Thonglor, this is roughly 150 kilograms of food. The bulk of her meals are high-fibre plants such as grasses and banana trees, which make up about 80% of her daily requirements. The remaining 20% consists of concentrated foods like bananas, sugarcane, or specially prepared pellets.
We also prepare meals that are both tasty and easy to chew. Ensuring that Thonglor continues to eat well is critical to her health, and our dedicated staff takes great care to balance her diet with her changing needs.
Are you curious to learn more about the elephants that call our island home? Be sure to read our Complete Guide to Phuket’s Elephants when you have finished here. It’s filled with the information you need to get to know these remarkable animals better.
Why Elephant Dental Care Matters in Phuket Sanctuaries and Beyond
In the wild, losing teeth can be life-threatening for elephants. But in an ethical elephant sanctuary in Phuket like ours, we can adapt their care to make sure they live comfortably for many more years. Food preparation, veterinary support, and round-the-clock monitoring all play a role in extending the lives of elderly elephants.
This is one of the clearest examples of how ethical elephant tourism in Thailand helps these animals thrive in ways they never could in exploitative environments. At PENR, we don’t use elephants for riding or performances. Instead, our focus is on their well-being, making sure that when challenges like tooth loss occur, our animals have everything they need to live happy, dignified lives.
What Visitors Can Learn from Thonglor’s Story
For visitors, meeting elephants like Thonglor is a chance to see just how complex and fascinating these animals are. Her tooth loss may sound like a small detail, but it highlights the lifelong challenges elephants face and the level of care required to support them in old age.
By choosing to visit an ethical elephant sanctuary in Phuket, travellers take part in a different kind of wildlife experience — one that prioritises education, respect, and genuine animal welfare. Guests at PENR not only see elephants up close but also learn about the behind-the-scenes care that makes all the difference to their quality of life.
Looking for a preview before your visit? Don’t miss our blog A Morning with Phuket Elephant Nature Reserve’s Elephants for an insight into part of our rescued animals’ daily routine.
Book Phuket Elephant Activities with PENR!
Thonglor may have lost a tooth, but thanks to the care she receives at PENR, she hasn’t lost her appetite or spirit. Her story is a reminder of the importance of ethical elephant sanctuaries in Thailand and the role they play in giving these magnificent animals the futures they deserve.
If you’d like to meet Thonglor and the other elephants at Phuket Elephant Nature Reserve, we’d love to welcome you. Join one of our ethical elephant tours in Phuket for an unforgettable wildlife experience and see first-hand how your visit helps support elephants like Thonglor.
Do you have any pre-booking questions? Please just get in touch with the PENR team.
