Our wild conservation project is based in a small village named Weragala, just outside Habarana. Here, people view elephants as a pest and as a danger. With the village being situated between 4 national parks and on a natural migration route for wild elephants, many elephants pass through this village in search of food and water. All too often elephants will trample or eat a farmers crops, damage a house, or even take a life. People of this village have every reason to fear elephants, as for them, there is no compensation given. Our project aims to turn the elephant from being viewed as a pest to being seen as a resource. Through working with the community and educating them on non-harmful ways to defend their land, we hope to restore the balance that once existed between man and his giant neighbour.
Through the year, we often tell the children stories of the elephants cared for by MEF, and they are always fascinated by our photographs. As part of our developing education programme, we wish to teach the children of the village about the value of elephants and the importance of their conservation in the wild. We plan to include in this programme a day trip to MEF, where these children can get up and close to these incredible creatures and enjoy them. We hope that they will grow up with a different attitude towards them having being able to appreciate their beauty in a safe environment and learning how to live alongside them safely and peacefully.
During our last week, as a thank you and goodbye to all of our children friends in the village, we organised a day trip for a group of 13 of our friends to join us at MEF to meet our elephant friends.
On arrival, their faces lit up as they saw the elephants. They were so excited. But, when I asked them to follow me down to the river to help wash Pooja, they were all too scared. It took a lot of convincing, but once in the water, they were excitedly but cautiously creeping closer to her. Starting by just splashing her with water, they closely came in closer to touch her skin. They giggled cheekily to each other at how hairy her skin was. When Pooja let out a sigh from her trunk, it sent them all running! Every little movement, they backed off and with reassurance re-approached. Soon enough, excitement took over and they were all helping to wash Pooja.
Podi, our Habarana coordinator and good friend, gave them a tour of the museum and we took them around the grounds and showed them the elephant beds, the ecogarden and the volunteer cabins.
We then jumped back in the river to help Gune wash Kavari, one of our giant tuskers. This time, I even managed to get my favourite little boy, Juty, into the river to touch his head, as he was too scared earlier in the day.
Pooja gobbled up lots of yummy plates of fruit. Seeing their faces when she took fruit from their hands was something I shall never forget.
A day out like this and the chance to meet elephants so closely is something that these children would never have the opportunity to do. They loved every minute of it and they will remember it forever. We feel like this will help them to see and understand the value and beauty of elephants and help chance their attitude towards them as they grow up into the next generation. Even the parents had a great time. We are thinking of including this day trip in the education programme planned for farmers, as again, if they get the chance to experience the magic of these animals, it may help give them a new appreciation for elephants and work towards developing sustainable deterrent methods, especially with the support they will have from MEF.
We finished the day with face decorating. Before long, we were all covered with beautiful patterns in every colour of the rainbow!
It can only be described as a beautiful day, for so many reasons.
Love, Life & Elephant Tales 