Thank Heaves for TIVO! I completely forgot about this and I came home abnd there it was. My wife and I watched it and screamed the whole time "We were just there!"


And I got quite misty-eyed about the blind baby dying.

My TV switched to CBS at 7pm, the VCR went on... just to find the Master's still in play. At the same time the phone rang as I was late for dinner. Just reset the VCR, got the heck out and found those cutie ellees waiting for me when I arrived home.

I'm wondering though... I've seen something previously (a few years back) about Sheldrick and the ellees in Tsavo and in NBO. Was that on National Geo, PBS another news mag-type show? Not that it matters, as I can watch these chubby ones anytime... it just all seemed familiar.

I watched the 60 minute segment with much anticipation as I have had the opportunity to go and see the orphanage. It is so inspiring. I would highly recommend it.

Need help please, sorry to stray a little off the topic but we are here at work discussing Daphne Sheldrick, Karen Blixon and can't think of the woman that worked with the gorillas in Rwanda or Uganda. Thanks.

Carla-
That would be Dian Fossey who unfortunately, met an untimely death in 1985 at the hands of poachers but her work is still carried on today.

peterman:

I am just indeed a visitor who supports 17 of the Sheldrick orphans. I have been an elephant fanatic for years and have been fortunate enough to meet Dame Daphne and her family as well as some other Kenyan elephant experts.

It is almost impossible for individuals to obtain work in the wild-
life field in Kenya. Because there are so very many natives with no work, the jobs must go to them. Sheldrick Trust isn't able to hire foreign volunteers because they just don't have the facilities to put them up. In addition there is some risk. Imagine if a 300 pound ele. stepped on
your foot!

divewop: Indeed blowing in an elephant's trunk will allow him/her to remember you always.

They are also good at remembering voices. At Tsavo in February I saw a large wild bull that I had seen and talked to before. When I arrived and started talking with him again he knew!
They also seem to pick up nuances in the voice. There was a young bull scratching himself on a tree near my tent. He would stop and I'd say, "oh, that feels so good doesn't it" and he'd start again. Every time he stopped I'd say the same thing and he'd start again - almost like a dog showing off to his owner.

They are such incredibly intelligent animals! Many of you saw my pictures of the Amboseli elephant with the spears in her head last summer. In February I saw her again and talked with her telling her I was glad she was OK and she wasn't nervous at all.

The eles. at Amboseli all know the researchers voices. I am told that as long as the researchers talk with them from their vehicle the eles. know who they are. However, were they to get out of the vehicle the eles. wouldn't recognize them (new situation) and might charge.

They also seem to remember who helps them. When they are darted for veterinary care they are immobile but can still see and hear. One bull was treated by the veterinarian about a year ago (and the researchers were with him) and then wasn't seen for a long time. It was thought he might have died. Then one day he showed up approaching the researchers and with his trunk kept touching his leg that had been wounded as though saying to them, "see, it's OK now".

I know scientists pooh pooh this stuff, but when you observe them as the researchers do you know it is true.

I must say there was one segment in the 60 Minutes program that surprised me. It was when the keeper kept backing up away from Emily in Tsavo. I was near Emily a year ago and it wasn't a problem. However, since she has been living wild for the better part of a year perhaps her personality has changed. I'll have to ask Joseph about it when I see him in August.

Glad you all enjoyed the program.

Jan

I highly recommend a book called THE WHITE BONE for all elephant lovers out there.

It is the story of elepahnts trying to survive and it is told from the point of view of the elephants. It is one of the most fascinating novels I have ever read. I see elephants in a whole new way now

That was a great book, Wayne. Sometimes a bit painful to read as well. Thanks for putting up your photos.
Sherry