HALINA POKOJ
From an early age, nature fascinated me, although I had no idea that today, my life would revolve around it. At college I had absolutely no idea about what I wanted to become or where I wanted my life to go. I studied a random combination of subjects including Biology, English, Spanish and Law. Having finished college, I received a place at Bournemouth University to study Law. I soon came to realise what this life would entail, stuck between four walls from 9 till 5, was not the life for me.
As a child, after every nature programme I watched I found myself saying ‘I want to be one of those guys!’ ‘I want to be in the middle of the Amazon Basin researching white-bellied spider monkeys!’. I soon came to realise that I needed to travel. There was a world full of amazing places, incredible nature and unique cultures that I had to experience. That summer my Dad gave me a book that filled me with inspiration and made me realise what direction my life needed to take. It was the story of Elsa the lion, ‘Born Free’ by Joy Adamson. I applied and got a place at Bournemouth University to study Ecology & Wildlife Conservation. The next 3 years of university, turned me into a geek! Hours of studying and no social life eventually paid off, as I was the only one on my course to graduate with a first class honours degree. The course involved a large amount of fieldwork in variety of different habitats ranging from rocky shores on the coast of Dorset to grasslands in the peaks of the Pyrenees Mountains. I learnt the theoretical principles in ecology and their application to ecosystem management and conservation.
During my first summer at university, I volunteered with the AWF to gain experience in the data collection of cetaceans off the coast of Tenerife. I enjoyed this work placement and the exhilarating feeling that comes with working in conservation so much that I returned during my second year. After university, AWF put me in touch with Millennium Elephant Foundation, Sri Lanka.
I am fascinated by all nature, however, like everyone has their favourite animal, mine is the elephant. These mighty, intelligent, magnificent and magical creatures fill me with wander. To me they are symbolic of all nature, so powerful, but with such a fragile existence. Having roamed the world for millions of years, their fate now lies in the hands of humans. With 1/3 of all species on earth predicted to be lost within the next 40 years, I couldn’t sit back and not try somehow to be one of those individuals that makes a difference.
Me and my partner Wayne, also a wildlife enthusiast, packed up our lives in the little village of Woolacombe to move to Sri Lanka, to be part of the energy needed to ensure the continued existence of this ancient animals. We have been working for Millennium for almost a year now, and I can not even begin to describe how truly incredible my experiences have been. To work so closely with these majestic creatures, and to involved in their welfare and conservation, has been beyond a dream for me. We have helped set up and are co-ordinating Millennium’s wild elephant conservation project, ‘Conflict to Coexistence’. This project aims to protect Sri Lanka’s wild elephant populations, by helping to reduce the conflicts they face with humans. Working within rural communities, we are helping local farmers to protect their land from crop-raiding elephants, in turn protecting these wild pachyderms, and helping to ensure their survival.
In the future I hope to return to Bournemouth University to complete a masters degree in Biodiversity Conservation, with aims to travel the world & witness the incredible wildlife that nature has to offer, and to play a part in ensuring it is preserved for future generations.
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WAYNE BEAUMONT
Ever since an early age animals have played a big part in my life, from cats always being in our family, to catching creepy crawlies from the garden and studying them, to owning my first tarantula at the age of eleven. Animals have always fascinated me, I love learning about the different characteristics and behaviours they need to survive.
Over the last 17 years I have cared for a variety of weird and wonderful animals including several different species of tarantula, chameleons, bearded dragons, scorpions, snakes, geckos and cats. I enjoyed telling friends, family and friends children everything I know about these awesome animals.
Apart from animals, my other love is the outdoors. As a child I was in the Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Ventures and completed all three parts of the Duke of Edinburgh Award.
My hobbies include surfing, walking, climbing, diving, camping and exploring.
After studying at a college in the Midlands my family decided to move to Devon, unlike a lot of young people I decided against university as I didn’t want to waste a lot of money when I wasn’t completely sure what I wanted to do.
Instead, in Devon, I worked in management for 10 years, working my way up the ranks, until eventually I was helping to manage a team of around twenty people in a surf shop next to the beach in Woolacombe. This was a perfect place for me and couldn’t have been happier.
In April 2012 Halina and I packed up our things, sold our cars and flew to Sri Lanka to support the Millennium Elephant Foundation in their work for captive and wild elephants. During our time, as well as looking after volunteers, we have managed to set up and coordinate a conservation project ‘Conflict to Coexistence’, based in Habarana, as Halina as explained above.
Having this opportunity to combine my love for animals, my management skills and seeing more of the world, whilst trying to save one of the worlds greatest animals, is like a dream come true.
Not many people can say they love their job… I can!
Love, Life & Elephant Tales 