A Forest Bound Daughter (Part II)

 

I can handle my drink

Prelude:

The story of our adopted daughter - Kamok, is being presented in two parts. First part has dealt about her journey from forest to nursery and settling down with her keepers. This second part unfolds about her preparation for reverse journey i.e. from nursery to forest and forever. However, in this Part II, playmates (in photos) of Kamok have been featured. May like to read on.

With my human parent

3.0 Jumpcut:

I, along with other visitors converged at an open ground midst of the forest. A small area in circular form was demarcated with ropes for the babies to arrive. The ground was slushy and muddy. The red soil was wet due to intermittent rain. An official from the trust provided me an umbrella. For me it was a dilemma whether to hold the umbrella or camera?

Ground was wet and slippery

There was a small ditch full of water at the center. 

Water and feed

At some places heaps of sands were there. Fresh twigs and leafy branches of trees were scattered here and there. 

Enough to munch

Another object which drew our notice was giant feeding bottles with big red colored long nipples filled with milk. 

Give me my drink

They were placed on the ground at different strategic places. With bated breath all the visitors waited for their arrival.

Arrival of stars

I was told by the officials of the trust that Kamok was the youngest female calf in the nursery. Immediately I confirmed them that we would like to foster her as our daughter and the formalities would be done after the program was over.

It's my time

Soon elephant babies started arriving from stockades in batches. Seniors were first to arrive and were followed by the little ones. They all rushed for the feeding bottles of milk. They were helped by the keepers wearing green color overalls. Nearly thirty orphaned elephant babies, of different age, entered into the arena.

Keeper with babies

Little ones needed more help as they were yet to master the skill of holding those bottles with their tiny trunk. Keepers helped them by holding the giant feeding bottle upside down into their mouths. 

However, little grownups were skillful enough in holding the bottles just upright.

Happily 'drunk'

They gulped the milk and a few of them chased the keepers asking for more milk. It was a heavenly scene to watch.

Human parent

While the drinking session was on, very small and cute two babies, accompanied by their keepers, wrapped in bright red and black blankets arrived last. The man in green overall, with a portable mike hanging on his shoulder, announced that one of them was Kamok, the youngest baby. She was incredibly small in size, compared to other baby elephants. She followed her keeper very closely, oblivious of the present audience who were admiring her.

Fight for fun

After they drank milk, it was the time for them to play. They chewed the leaves from the twigs strewn around, played with mud and water. Male calves got into mock fights with others. Boys will be boys! 

Mud bath

It was indeed an extraordinary feeling to watch so many elephant babies playing at one place.

Enjoying mud bath

It continued for nearly one hour.

Mud bath - full enjoyment

Once the clock struck 12 noon they left for their stockades in batches with their keepers, like they had arrived. 

Leaving for stockades

Gradually all of them vanished behind the green curtain of the forest leaving empty milk bottles scattered all over the place.

Vanishing step

At the end of the show, spectators left for the main gate and I went to the office of David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. There, I completed formalities for fostering Kamok. The process was simple and quick. The required forms were filled in and annual fee was paid for fostering. We became foster parents for Kamok. A certificate, in this regard was issued separately.

As we could not bring our fostered daughter Kamok back home to India, we left her with her keepers, as per procedure, who are experts in handling such children. She would remain at the nursery and gradually get ready for reintegration with wildlife at appropriate time.

The objective of David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust was not to domesticate the orphaned elephant babies but to rear them in such a fashion that in due course of time they could go back to the wilderness. This process of integration of orphaned traumatized babies back to wildlife was a very tedious and time consuming one. Average time frame for reintegration of a baby with normal wild life was ten years. However, the time scale varies depending upon several factors viz. the age and stage at which the baby was orphaned, their abilities to manage themselves without human keepers, willingness to lead independent lives etc.  

Till such time they live at David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, all expenses were borne by the trust. Large funds were required to meet all kinds of expenditures – food, medicines, rescue, accommodation, transport etc. Donations raised through the way of fostering the kids were utilized in this noble cause. Angela, daughter of Daphne had introduced this unique concept of fund raining through liberal fostering scheme. Minimum contribution was US $ 50.00 per annum and there was no upper limit. One person could foster more than one baby. Also, several persons could foster an individual child. Like me, there were several others parents across the globe fostering Kamok simultaneously.

4.0 Fast forward:

On 7th September 2016, Kamok became three years old, fit and fine. She has grown naughty as well. It was the right time that she would leave the nursery for two reasons. Firstly, she would prepare herself for next stage towards reintegration in the wildlife and secondly, to create space at the nursery to accommodate newer orphans.

So, the decision was taken that Kamok would be relocated to Ithumba Relocation Unit of Tsavo East National Park. Accordingly, December was chosen as the ideal time for her relocation. In the month of December, monsoon would recede from Kenya leaving behind the Tsavo forest covered with green foliage. Waterholes would be full up the brim and rivers overflowing with water. Thus, there would be plenty availability of food and water for relocated elephant babies.

Accordingly, on 28th December, 2016 Kamok along with two other orphan babies Roi and Oltaiyoni were woken up at 3 am at their stockades. They were given mild sedatives, as preparation for tension free ensuing journey. All of them were loaded in a specially designed truck along with their keepers and were sent off to Ithumba Relocation Unit. The journey commenced in the darkness of night and by 10:30 am they were at the destination. Interestingly, they were received by Dr. Daphne, accompanied by Angela, Robert, Taru and Roan.  

Today, nearly five years have passed, since her arrival to Ithumba Relocation unit. She has accepted her new abode and has mingled well with other orphans who have arrived prior to her. Her daily routine involved going to the forest area and browse with other elephant babies - Siangiki, Enkikwe, Barsilinga, Sirimon, Lemoyian to name a few. She still remained fond of milk bottles and mud bath as well.

From reintegration center, one day Kamok would join the elephant community of the Tsavo National Park. As a foster parent, we pray to God that she should go back to the wild, as early as possible, where she belongs. We dream for a day when adult Kamok would embrace motherhood in the forest and would visit the reintegration center to show off her baby girl to her human keepers as was done by many orphaned elephants in the past.

 

Webliography:

https://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org

https://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/asp/orphan_profile.asp?N=299

https://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/asp/fostering.asp

https://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/updates/updates.asp?Rhino=&ID=985

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/9100415/The-woman-who-fosters-elephants-in-Kenya.html

 

Disclaimer:

The information provided in the article is for general informational purposes only. All information is provided in good faith. This is only for the sharing of knowledge of Philately with philatelist fraternity. No commercial angle, whatsoever, is involved. Under no circumstances I shall have any liability for reliance on any information provided in the story.