Muang Salangam , camp mahout in Thailand Born 1950? in Thailand in Thailand . 2009: Muang Salangam, 59, from northeast Surin province, says his 29-year-old elephant “Nam-whan” earns him up to 1,000 baht (29 US dollars) walking 12 kilometres a day. 2015: Senior Mahout Muang Salangam initiated the “pakam spirit” ceremony at Chi Chan Elephant park celebrate Thailand’s National Elephant Day.