Yesterday should be a clear indication of why I would be a bad mother. We enjoyed another leisurely day at giraffe manor...gourmet me
als...tea on the terrace...feed a giraffe...everyday life in Africa...but decided to spend the afternoon visiting 2 local animal orphanages.The first houses several different abandoned animals, most lost their mothers due to poaching. This is Kenya's national center for abandoned animals, unfortunately the animals raised here will never be released due to the manner in which they were raised. This center housed many big cats and primates. Some of the primates were not in cages however...baboons are a nuisance animal around here. Unlike our nuisance squirrels...baboons are more aggressive and remarkably clever - a squirrel probably won't kill you. Where is a good source for a snack when you hungry??? School children - I mean their backpacks, not the kids themselves. 
We were roaming throughout he park when there was a sudden stampede of small little pink and grey clothed children around me - one the dust cleared there we could see one unfortunate child is being dragged, by her backpack by a large baboon (no good photos sorry...I thought it might end in tragedy and that would have been tacky to catch on camera - child okay).
We were roaming throughout he park when there was a sudden stampede of small little pink and grey clothed children around me - one the dust cleared there we could see one unfortunate child is being dragged, by her backpack by a large baboon (no good photos sorry...I thought it might end in tragedy and that would have been tacky to catch on camera - child okay).My first official mauling happened here as well, surprisingly not by any dangerous animals but by a herd of school children. Many times when I have travelled and encountered wee ones, I would take their 
photo and then show them what they looked like. This works well in groups of 3...with hundreds of school kids, it is much harder. I have no problem shoving a giraffe or startling a warthog if I need space, but kids...at one point I was simply covered in them. I have bent down to show the kids the photos on the camera and they crowded in and started to climb on me like I was a jungle gym. They were on my back, hanging off my neck...it was complete insanity. For some reason they thought my name was Mary and just kept screaming..."Mary, Mary, Mary" Our guide Margret eventually came back to rescue me.
photo and then show them what they looked like. This works well in groups of 3...with hundreds of school kids, it is much harder. I have no problem shoving a giraffe or startling a warthog if I need space, but kids...at one point I was simply covered in them. I have bent down to show the kids the photos on the camera and they crowded in and started to climb on me like I was a jungle gym. They were on my back, hanging off my neck...it was complete insanity. For some reason they thought my name was Mary and just kept screaming..."Mary, Mary, Mary" Our guide Margret eventually came back to rescue me. With concrete proof of my inability to rear children, I opted to adopt a baby African Elephant. Shukuru came t
o the elephant orphanage at 3 days of age after being found in a man-made trench hole. They are not sure if her mom abandoned her after she fell or she was orphaned and then fell while wandering. Anyway, she is 9 months now and will remain at the center until about 3 - 4 years of age before being released into the wild. Until that time a keeper will remain with her, 24 hours a day. The keepers sleep with them, wander the bush with them...the babies need constant interaction to develop and will cry if separated from a keeper. There are thick wool blankets hanging in each elephants pen, this symbolizes the skin of the mother and we watched little Shukuru rub against it.
o the elephant orphanage at 3 days of age after being found in a man-made trench hole. They are not sure if her mom abandoned her after she fell or she was orphaned and then fell while wandering. Anyway, she is 9 months now and will remain at the center until about 3 - 4 years of age before being released into the wild. Until that time a keeper will remain with her, 24 hours a day. The keepers sleep with them, wander the bush with them...the babies need constant interaction to develop and will cry if separated from a keeper. There are thick wool blankets hanging in each elephants pen, this symbolizes the skin of the mother and we watched little Shukuru rub against it. So I ended my second full day in Africa tucking my new little one into bed (she actually has a blanket) before returning to giraffe manor and nuzzling with 18 feet tall giants. Quite surreal actually.
Asanti for reading!
So will they send you pictures of your little elephant’s development until her release? Will you still have to pay for her when she’s in the wild? Do the blankets have your scent?—how smart would that be?! Silly kids always mauling or bawling.
ReplyDeleteHope you are having a helluva good time!