Posted on 05/07/2023 6:47:49 AM PDT by billorites
Beth and Les Bogar of West Chesterfield, New Hampshire, spent over a year planning their trip of a lifetime to Bali.
The globe-trotting couple was thrilled to be able to end their trip was a memorable experience getting up close with elephants at the Mason Elephant Park & Lodge.
"It was a vacation that I was dreaming about, and it did come to a screaming halt at the very end," said Beth Bogar.
However, their dream trip took an abrupt turn, after Beth said she was hurt during a photo opportunity with an elephant. She had just finished swimming with the elephant and riding on its back, when Beth reported that the elephant's trainer had her come over to take photos.
Beth told News 9 that the trainer was instructing her on how to pose with the elephant. He suggested that she put her arm under the elephant's trunk.
"When I was with my trainer, we did speak while I was riding, and he said he had been with the elephant for 24 years. He knew this elephant. I just feel as though he was guiding me and he loved my arm get too close to his mouth and I didn't know how close too close was," Beth said.
Suddenly, Beth said that her arm was "pushed" into the elephant's mouth, leaving her trapped.
"I couldn't get my arm out. I could just hear cracking and I just started to panic," Bogar said.
Although she was initially brought to the front office to ice her arm, eventually, her injury began to swell, and she was rushed to a hospital an hour away. With her arm crushed, she had to have emergency surgery.
"The doctor was able to go in there are plates, there's screws, and everything is put back together. But it's gonna be a long road," Beth said.
At first, the resort promised in emails to the family, that were reviewed by News 9, to investigate the incident and help pay for approximately half of the $10,000 medical bill. However, the Bogar family reported that their team has suddenly stopped responding to their calls and messages.
"[They] were assuring us all the while that don't worry, we have insurance. We can handle this situation. We'll get you taken care of," Les Bogar said.
The family said they knew the risks coming into the experience, and they do not blame the elephant at all. However, they are frustrated by the lack of action from the resort.
"I just wish that they could have been a little more helpful," Beth said.
She said she hopes people will think about all the risks before heading out on their next adventure.
"Just think twice before you add something like this to your itinerary, because in a split second, your entire trip can really be changed, and not just your trip, but you're entire life," Beth said.
News 9 repeatedly reached out to Mason Elephant Park & Lodge for comment, but a representative from their team did not immediately respond.
Too bad lady. We keep these magnificent animals in captivity for our amusement and every now and then one shows you who is boss. No sympathy
A little advice to anyone who gets swallowed by an elephant- in order to escape, all you need to do is run around until you are all pooped out.
We went to a sanctuary in Thailand last March. Wife and I took photos of the rest of our group wading with the elephants.
From the way she describes it, the trainer shoved her arm into its mouth. Or that is what she thought happened.
Much loke shark bites, it’ll make a great bar story.
“I could just hear [my arm bones] cracking and I just started to panic”
Yes, hearing an elephant snacking on your arm would create a wee bit of panic. Sound like the elephant was one crunch away from taking her arm completely off. At least elephant teeth aren’t like shark teeth.
Rich bitch.
In nature, we ain’t in control. Well except for glowbull warming. We’re working on that apparently. 🤔😂
An eløøphant once bit my sister.
The Timothy Treadwell syndrome can be fatal. Wild animals are not pets.
“Rich bitch.”
Why do you say that?
“From the way she describes it, the trainer shoved her arm into its mouth. Or that is what she thought happened.”
My read is that the elephant used the trunk to push the arm.
Typical action when food is offered.
She will probably keep getting the same question from her friends; “How did you manage to get bitten by an elephant?” Everybody knows how crabby and bitey Camels can be, but an elephant?
It sounds like that elephant felt something being pressed against his mouth, so he thought he was being fed. The elephant may have used his trunk to guide whatever it was into his mouth.
“What is this? Kinda tastes like polyester.”
Oops! Honest mistake. That happens with horses too, if one is not careful.
The lawyers have a term for this type of situation . . .
JackPot!
Beats swimmin’ wid da fishes.
“The lawyers have a term for this type of situation . . .
JackPot!”
Nope.
Nature, red in tooth and claw. Lesson learned, hopefully .
My high school shop teacher of long ago was stomped to death by an elephant while on a photo safari.
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