Synopsis 

Lek Chailert, an international animal rights activist from Thailand is confronted with the nation-wide plight of malnourished captive elephants and unemployed mahouts (elephant caretakers) during the Covid-19 Pandemic. In a race against time, she rushes to provide financial assistance to these vulnerable victims of elephant tourism. 

While the responsibility is of a scale she has never taken on before, she finds an opportunity to accelerate the ethical transformation of the elephant tourism industry that she has always envisioned. But things don’t go as easy as she hopes.

As she continues to support captive elephants and their mahouts, Lek becomes ever more convinced that her work is only half complete. To realize the future she envisions, she has to expand her actions beyond the elephant tourism industry.

Our Story

The idea of Unspoken Souls came to us during the pandemic in 2020. Stuck in Chiang Mai (our home of 18 years) with our regular media contracts put on halt, we wanted to use the time and limited mobility from the lockdown to tell a story unique to Thailand. But on what? At first, we didn’t know. 

All until we reunited with our friend: Saengduean “Lek” Chailert, an international animal rights activist, whom we have known since 2009. Lek enlightened us about the thousands of starving captive elephants and unemployed mahouts from the downfall of the Thai elephant tourism industry. Shocked by this reality and at the same time inspired by Lek’s desire to carry the weight of the industry, our heart told us that this was the story we were looking for. So we dove into filming immediately.

Initially, we believed this was a story about an international animal rights activist and her attempt to save the crumbling elephant tourism industry. But the more we filmed, the more we began to see that the story was deeper and bigger than that. At its core, it was (and is) about the exploitative and fragile structure of our global society, unveiled by the debilitating pandemic. It became the story that we have long yearned to tell but could not until now. 

The Characters and the Elephants

Saengduean “Lek” Chailert

Lek is an international animal activist who is from the ethnic Kamu group. She is the founder of Elephant Nature Park, an elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai, and Save Elephant Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing care and assistance to Thailand’s elephants and animals. Lek has worked for over 20 years to improve the welfare of captive elephants in Thailand and has won numerous national and international awards for her activities.

Chatchai “New” Srisiriwilai 

New is a 22 year old manager of Chokchai Elephant Camp. He is from the ethnic Karen and Lahu group. After the death of his father, Chokchai, who was the owner, New dropped out of college to manage the camp where 55 elephants reside. With Lek’s support, he is currently trying to transform his deceased father’s abusive elephant camp into a more ethical sanctuary.

Kriengkrai Dinu 

Kriengkrai is a former mahout and self-sufficient agriculturalist, who left the elephant (entertainment) tourism industry in 2017.  Upon returning home to his ethnic Karen village, he started a small elephant sanctuary with his two bull elephants with Lek’s support. After a two year halt during the pandemic, the sanctuary is reopening in November 2022.

Dodo and Kham Meun – Karen Elephant Home 

Two gentle male elephants living with Kriengkrai and his family at his ethnic Karen village. Kham Meun used to work for elephant entertainment shows and rides before his return with Kriengkrai. 

Pyi Mai, Chaba, Bunma – Elephant Nature Park 

Pyi Mai and Chaba are calves and playmates. Bunma is Chaba’s young mother. All three live in Elephant Nature Park. Pyi Mai was rescued with her mother in January 2021 to ENP. Chaba and Bunma were rescued in August 2021.

Khai Mook – Elephant Nature Park 

Khai Mook is an elderly elephant rescued last year to Elephant Nature Park after an 18 hour drive from the central region of Thailand. Khai Mook used to work in the logging industry and also for elephant riding.

UNSPOKEN SOULS was selected as one of the 20 documentaries among roughly 200 submissions for Tokyo Docs 2022 , an international documentary forum that supports the overseas expansion of Japanese and Asian documentaries by connecting them to international broadcasters and distributors. We are currently in the process of proposing our project.

Production Information

Project Value 

We started this project without much of a long term plan because the opportunity emerged so suddenly. When it did, our hearts told us to immediately grab and dedicate ourselves to it. 

Up to this point, we’ve persevered through many challenges from limited starting capital, car accidents and injuries that halted filming, and unexpected dramas in the characters’ lives. Yet we’ve continued to keep going because we want to bring this documentary to the world. Though to be able to do this, we need your help. 

We firmly believe that this is a universal story about our exploitative society and the inherent interconnectedness of animals, humans, and nature. In this period of climate catastrophe and economic turmoil, we want our documentary to contribute to the conversations that we are engaging in to direct the world towards a more harmonious co-existence with all life.

Our Team

1. Yasuhiko Okuno – Co-Director | Co-Producer | Videographer
2. Mieko Saho – Co-Director | Co-Producer 
3. Koh Okuno – Assistant Director | Marketing Strategist 
4. Aumphon Sripuek – Videographer 
5. Leelaa Selakun – Communications Manager
6. Alongkorn Talundet – Digital Technician | Webmaster 
7. Jarunee Thewin – Project Coordinator 
8. Patamon Nisabodee – Graphic Designer
9. Frank Lange – Researcher 

What we want to offer you in return! (PERKS) 

Perk: Elephant Cake + Elephant Herd Choice 

Help support the elephant sanctuaries by feeding the elephants a delicious fruit and vegetable cake! This could be for a loved one or yourself. Cakes can be personalized with a short message and even a photo to celebrate a special occasion. Upon the delivery to the elephants, a photo of the cake and the elephants enjoying it will be sent to you or your beloved receiver of your gift. 

Below, you can find the sizes and select which herd you want to give your elephant cake to. If you don’t want to select a herd, we will select one for you. 

Please Note: Elephant cakes will be made and delivered from February 2023 onwards. For further information of your order, we’ll contact you in January 2023.

Perk: Custom Artist-Made Elephant Music Box 

Get a custom made metal elephant music box made by Thai Artist, Boonkerd Kaewdee (Luka). You can choose between type A or type B, the color tone of the metal, and of course the selection of the song! Please contact us for the choices before ordering! 

Music Box Dimensions: Height 4 inches/Width 3 inches/Length 4 inches/Weight 800 grams

Please note: Orders will be made in January 2023 and the shipping fee will be covered by us. As for more information about the artist and elephant music box, please contact us.

Perk: Film Location Tour by the Co-Directors 

Come have a once-in-a-life-time experience with us at the beautiful filming locations of UNSPOKEN SOULS. With our co-directors as guides, you will be visiting beautiful mountains, learning from the rich Karen culture, and of course, meeting some of the local people and elephants that appear in our film. It will certainly be an unforgettable experience that you cannot find on a regular tour program in Thailand. 

Please Note: This tour ONLY includes planning, the guide, transportation, and the entrance fee of the film locations. It DOES NOT include air tickets to Thailand, accommodation fees, and meals. Once confirmed, the details of the trip can be discussed after January 2023. For further information, please contact us.