Nongnooch World Pattaya Welcomes Baby Elephant in Rebranding Ceremony
Nongnooch Garden Pattaya celebrated its rebranding to Nongnooch World Pattaya with a traditional ceremony welcoming a newborn male elephant named Plai Nongnooch World. The calf, born on October 24 to mother Phang Yok and father Plai Ning Nong, is the third elephant born at the park this year. The event highlights the attraction's shift toward a family-oriented tourism destination combining nature, Thai culture, and sustainable elephant care.
On November 5, 2026, at 9:00 AM, Nongnooch Garden Pattaya held a ceremony to receive a newborn elephant calf and named it "Plai Nongnooch World," marking an auspicious sign during the transition from Nongnooch Garden Pattaya to Nongnooch World Pattaya — from a famous botanical garden to a tourism destination for every family member.
At 8:30 AM, Mr. Kampol Tansajja, President of Nongnooch World Pattaya, along with executives and the venerable Phra Khru Kasemkittisophon, Abbot of Wat Samakkhee Banphot in Phu Ta Luang Subdistrict, presided over the traditional Thai welcoming ceremony. The ritual included garlanding, tying sacred threads, and sprinkling holy water on the mother and calf, amid a procession of dancers and more than 30 elephants warmly welcoming the new herd member.
The male calf was born on October 24, 2026, at 2:55 AM to mother Phang Yok, aged 17, and sire Plai Ning Nong, aged 30. This is Phang Yok's third calf and the third elephant born at Nongnooch Garden Pattaya in 2026.
Mr. Kampol Tansajja stated that the birth during this period is considered a good omen, prompting the name "Plai Nongnooch World" to symbolize the organization's new chapter. This aligns with the development direction toward a tourism destination blending nature, Thai arts and culture, and activities for all families under the concept "More Than a Beautiful Garden. A World for Every Family."
The Nongnooch Garden Pattaya elephant camp has received a Good Practices for Elephant Camps certification from relevant agencies, reflecting its commitment to elephant health and welfare, as well as standardized and sustainable care.
