Ripley's Believe It or Not!

The Question:

What's with pa dong tribe in Thailand?

Zoe -Age: 16

The Answer:

Dear Zoe–the Padaung women are originally from Burma, but in the last few years have migrated into the northern border areas of Thailand. For generations they have placed a heavy bronze ring around their necks each year starting at the age of 5.

The weight of the rings suppresses their collar bones, giving the effect that their necks are being stretched. This was an accepted form of beautification, despite the physical deformity it causes and potential danger. Removal of the rings after many years can cause the person’s neck to atrophy: the unused muscles simply can’t support the head any more. Recently younger women have “rebelled” against tradition and either never put the rings on in the first place, or take them off regularly, and do not add quite so many….Attached are a couple Ripley drawings concerning these women. Ripley first encountered them in 1923 and featured them in his very first book back in 1929. We have also featured them on our tv show.