A time of joy https://ift.tt/ydGBjkf Last month we launched a project near and dear to our hearts: Field Notes, Volume I this is my favorite collection of Field Notes for years, complete with stunning photos and bound in a beautiful hardcover book. We’re thrilled with how it turned out and it’s great to hear others are enjoying it too. You can learn more about the book over here. This month I’m focusing on a special theme: the family tradition of a family in our former orphaned elephant herd, returning for the “holidays” and proudly presenting their new babies to the people who raised them. Celebrating the power of this love is truly what the holidays should be about. A time of joy Humans have an innate desire to gather those we love and share the good news to celebrate our biggest milestones and biggest holidays. We share this trait with our oldest terrestrial relative, the elephant. In fact, I can’t think of a species that more clearly expresses unbridled bliss than the elephant. No milestone is too big or too small: a chance meeting with a long-lost friend? Meeting a herd member a few hours later in a completely premeditated way? Grinding, roaring, followed by a chorus of trumpets, accompanied by ear-splitting, tangled trunks. You couldn’t choreograph joy better. But one holiday takes on a new dimension. I mean, of course, the arrival of a new baby. In elephant society, every birth is precious. Pregnancy itself is no small feat: elephants have the longest pregnancy of any animal, painstakingly carrying their babies for 22 months. Caring for mothers who are coping with drought, drought, danger and the daily challenges that define the lives of all kinds of wild animals. The birth of a new calf is the biggest moment in a female elephant’s life. When the baby finally makes its debut, the rest of the herd seems to realize the gravity of the situation. They come together for a rhapsody, hug the little boy and show their support for the new mom. This is a great reminder that elephants value family above all else, and that love begins when a new person enters the world. Here at Tsavo, we are honored to be part of the elephant family tree. Its roots were planted many years ago, when my mother and father began rescuing the first orphans in the 1950s. Over the decades, its branches have spread through generations of elephants—from young orphans completely dependent on our care, to orphans now thriving in the wild, and even their offspring. We are often asked what happens when an orphan returns to the wild. Do they walk into the bush without ever looking back? Or will they continue to come to us throughout their independent lives? While each person’s rebuilding process is unique, many are closely related to the people who raised them. Nothing proves this connection more than the most peculiar custom among our former orphan mothers: almost every one of them visits us after childbirth to introduce us to their new-born child. With pride and excitement, they felt that this anniversary would not be complete without the addition of their human family. Elephants can be born at any time, but nature seems to favor holidays. This is the most appropriate time of the year—a time of joy, when we come together, reflect on the blessings of the year, and cherish moments with those we hold dearest. Just as we are taking home presents, so are the elephants. These gifts are given in the form of small miracles — babies born to orphans raised through our Orphans Project. We can usually spot a new debut from a mile away: Mom approaches with purpose, waiting for us to notice the little boy next to her. He brings his calf into our midst and invites us to admire the newest addition to our collective family. Some live in the area for days or weeks, while others only make brief appearances before disappearing from their place of origin. It is not a pilgrimage of necessity or convenience. During the dry season, former orphans often gather around our Reintegration Units, knowing that we provide them with fresh water and extra alfalfa when resources are scarce in the wild. Some days there are hundreds of them. But December rolls around and if nature wills it, Tsavo will soon be thinned out by the rains. From the top of the Yatta Plateau to the plains below, the landscape becomes a lush green paradise. Knowing that fresh food and soda fountains await around every corner, the elephants scatter far and wide. This makes it even more amazing when we see an elephant on the horizon with a little baby next to it. He made this trip home to celebrate, having come a long way to be there. I reflected on this topic in a previous Field Notes written in 2020. That’s when we met Chilu’s new baby, the 38th calf born to one of our former orphans. Four years later, our current count of wild-born babies is 69 — and that number is even higher because it only includes the calves we’ve introduced. This year, the holiday season brought many small miracles to our midst. In December, we met three newborn babies from our former orphans. The festivities have begun in Umani Springs, right at the beginning of the holiday season. On the afternoon of December 3rd, we spotted Lima Lima rolling around in the dirt, trying to soothe her pregnant belly. We wondered if it could be the first signs of labor, and the caretaker Evans even put her ear to the side – a house call from her personal midwife! The next morning, Kwanzaa – known for being a very perfect elephant – ran into the staff room and screamed at the top of his lungs, causing quite a scene. We have never seen him act like this before. Finding no one there, he continued his search and finally caught Philip, the chief warden, returning from the mud. Quanza directed Philip to the small trees outside the courtyard where Lima Lima and Sonje stood quietly with the new baby sleeping between them. Lima Lima gave birth early in the morning and sent Kwanza to warn her family! Word soon got out, and both the keepers and the elephants made their way through the trees to reach their beloved Lima Lima’s side. It’s clearly the moment she’s been waiting for: the proud new mom wakes her son up, shows her off to the family, and invites everyone to come and meet her. We named the child Lenny. Everyone, human or elephant, was excitedly separate – everyone except Mwana. Being Umani’s first grandchild, she saw this new girl as unexpected competition, and then became very upset. (I’m happy to report that within a few weeks, Mwana is coming and proving to be the perfect “big sister” to Lenny!) Umani Springs is our newest reintegration unit, established in 2014. Lenny is only his second grandchild to follow in Mwana’s starry footsteps. We know there are more babies on the horizon – Sonje and Zongoloni are both pregnant and hopefully it’s time for Kwanzaa soon – but two babies in a decade is truly amazing. While the holidays were going on in Umani, when we got there, Lima Lima continued to bond with the orphaned herd day and night, allowing us all to admire Lenny’s baby glow – more to come at Ihumba. On the morning of December 6, surrounded by the first rays of sunlight, Kinna appeared from the east. He had been gone for over a week, but this was clearly no ordinary business trip. Her gait was purposeful, her ears perked, and the rest of the herd seemed charged with anticipation—daughters Kaya and Kama, as well as Kilabasi, Kofi, Nasalot, Noah, Nusu, Mundusi, Roy, Tusuja, and Ishan. We soon found out why: Kinna had a little girl with her! We named our daughter Kito, which means “precious jewel” in Swahili. Ten days later, another small miracle came between us. Lenana, who had been absent for nearly two months, arrived at the Itumba warehouses with her eldest child, Lapa, and our little one, who was about four weeks old. They encountered the baby in the wild, as there is usually no excitement among elephants. It seems that this visit was only for our benefit. Pride photo Lenana Lucky, as we call her, paraded around the courtyard. After the introductions to her human family were over, Mom and her sons headed back to the green desert. Although elephants are not associated with any human calendar, this time of year is also their holiday season. After the sufferings of the dry season, nature rains and prosperity prevails. We never, for one minute, take for granted that we are invited to these celebrations. Former orphans and their babies respond to our presence like any other elephant – a legacy that is passed down from generation to generation and does not extend to everyone. While these calves have only known life in the wild, their mothers and nannies have told us they are part of our family. These beautiful moments are the proverbial bow that ties the end of the year. The elephants we rescue don’t always know happiness—some have been harmed by humans, others have been abandoned or injured. But as these scenes remind us, they live entirely in the here and now. What an honor to join in their celebrations during this joyous season. Subscribe to Field Alerts: Field Notes is a monthly newsletter written by Angela Sheldrick to share a unique perspective on our field projects and the people behind the work. The electronic publication includes an interview with a member of the team, available only to Field Notes subscribers. To receive the monthly email edition of Field Notes, please register here. Supporters like you make our conservation work possible. We greatly appreciate any input you may have. Your donation will go where it’s needed most as we work to protect Kenya’s majestic landscapes and the creatures that call them home. Donate #time #joy https://ift.tt/E7Mq8L0
from Pet influencers https://ift.tt/8B3CmQ5
via IFTTT