Carol Buckley, Elephant Aid International 2012

[spiritedlulu]

The start of a New Year

My departure to India is fast approaching–really fast–I leave Jan 18th. I am grateful for your well wishes and support.

It’s time to pack my bags, put the phone on “vacation”, make arrangements to store my vehicle and deliver Java to her Auntie Kate. The two are best friends which makes leaving Java behind more bearable.

Although my plane ticket is round trip, I do not know when I will return. That will depend on how quickly the Care Center Project progresses. Top on the list of priorities are two chain-free elephant corrals, the perimeter fencing and a fresh water well.

Without unforeseen delays we should be operational in a few months!

http://www.carolbuckley.com/elevisions/?p=1091

[Space4Eles]

Thanks to a member of TEC Facebook for drawing this blog to our attention:

Unchained: Indian Elephant Rehab Center to Be a Model for Rescued Zoo Animals

“There’s a zoo in Bangalore where a family of elephants is exhibited on a tiny dirt yard during the day where they can barely turn around,” Buckley notes, but when the zoo closes each day, the animals are released into the bordering forest.

Buckley is about to leave for Bangalore, India, where her nonprofit intends to build the first Elephant Care and Rehabilitation Center, currently in the planning stages. When completed, the 80-hectare facility is expected to become home to seven former zoo elephants and to be a model for other rehabilitation centers throughout India.

http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinc...ed-zoo-animals/

[spiritedlulu]

Message from Carol Buckley's Facebook page:

I landed in Bangalore, safe and sound. it was a fabulous flight. Thanks for your well wishes. We had our first meeting with Forest Department officials this afternoon, only hours after touch down. Tomorrow I head out to the care center property. Very exciting times!

I will report in as internet availability allows.

[spiritedlulu]

Message from Carol Buckley's Facebook page:

Suparna, from WRRC, and I joined Vishnu at the Care Center property today to discuss construction plans with the contractors. We talked about fencing, corrals, shelters and plans to involve local farmers to grow Napier grass for our elephants. After surveying the land we estimated where the corral would go. It is estimated to be 200 acres. This is larger then I thought I would be able to secure for the elephants, so i am over the top excited about the progress made today.

[spiritedlulu]

New Blog Update ...

This afternoon I said good-bye to Bangalore, piled my bags into Vishnu’s vehicle and headed out on yet another classic Indian adventure. Vishnu is a collaborating partner of the Care Center project and long term conservationist, friend and supporter.

http://www.carolbuckley.com/elevisions/?p=1106

[Space4Eles]

The Blue Eared Kingfisher

One of the first birds I photographed on Elephant Lake was this stunning Blue Eared Kingfisher (BEK). The little guy may be small in stature but he has a huge attitude.

When I set up my lakefront office I was unaware of its real estate value to the local winged fishermen. For two days after my arrival, BEK fished from a nearby tree but, on the third day, a flash of blue caught my eye as he landed on a soiled rock jetting out of the dam wall only a few feet below me. The bird droppings on the rock and his territorial behavior made me realize that my outdoor office was his preferred fishing location.

http://www.carolbuckley.com/elevisions/?p=1123

[spiritedlulu]

They are absolutely. gorgeous birds. I have seen several species on the Petes Pond Webcam. Carol is so lucky to be able to see one in the wild up close and personal.

[Space4Eles]

Gorgeous birds indeed!
We were fortunate to see a kingfisher beside the river at Thury Harcourt in Normandy, northern France, in 1989 - our one and only brief sighting ever, but unforgettable.

[Space4Eles]

Elevisions post of 7 February 2012 - full of Carol's wisdom and insight:

thinking about the big picture

Being an optimistic person by nature I will not say the situation for wild elephants is hopeless, but being realistic, I admit it would appear that their chances of survival are slim. A major shift in the universal consciousness regarding our planet, resources and all life would need to occur, and quite soon, for mega vertebrates such as elephants, to survive in a free state on our planet.

http://www.carolbuckley.com/elevisions/?p=1132

[spiritedlulu]

I have seen the headlines and many of them are posted here on TEC, but to me they always seem to be written with some exaggeration and sometimes I think they are a little opportunistic. It helps to read it from someone we trust. A world without elephants is almost too much to bear but I wouldn't want them to live as Carol has described. Bless Vishnu and bless Carol for all that they are doing for the elephants and other wildlife on that precious parcel of land.

[4elephants]

Sometimes the enormity of planetary problems are cold-water to the face...I was reading the DSWT 2011 Newsletter yesterday, pg. 10...

"This year the human population of our planet reached a staggering 7 billion. Here in Kenya, accoding to the press, the human population at the turn of the 20th century stood at 3 million, today it is over 40 million and set to treble in the next 30 years.. This coupled with Global Warming pose another grave threat to the natural world, something that the next generation of Kenyans will find themselves having to address.

It has been estimated that some 200 million people will be forced to migrate by 2050 due to climate change. These statistics also state that 300,000 people will be left dead, 325 milllion will be seriously affected, and 40% of the world's animal and plants species will be annihilated, whilst the economic loss in the region will total US$125 Billion every year." .............

Note: underlines are mine....

[spiritedlulu]

New Neighbors

Well, I guess I’ve done it now. I will probably be arrested for dog nabbing.

Soon after arriving here, after Derrick abandoned me to return to his first home, a hungry suckling dog came scavenging around my place. I felt bad because there wasn’t anything for her to eat so I gave her a dish of soymilk. She was tentative and very apprehensive about allowing me even to walk past her. With her tail between her legs she’d scurry off to a safe distance from me. She would not take her eyes off me until I left the area.


http://www.carolbuckley.com/elevisions/?p=1139

[4elephants]

She looks a bit like the African dog Basenji, except Basenji tails curl up....

[Space4Eles]

Update from Carol:

Blessing the land

I am getting such an education — wild elephant lifestyles in the Bannerghatta forest 101. Living on the land shared by wild elephants is a gift and a responsibility. I look forward to the days and weeks ahead. I am realizing that this project has the potential to be much more than anticipated. One world, one elephant at a time has taken on a much more complicated meaning.

http://www.carolbuckley.com/elevisions/?p=1144

[Space4Eles]

No mention of elephants, but an interesting opinion piece from Carol:

This single experience has caused me to think deeply about how we formulate our opinions. How many times do we jump to a conclusion based on what we think we see or hear or based on limited information? I am now more mindful of the opinions I formulate and less impacted by the opinions of others.

http://www.carolbuckley.com/elevisions/?p=1154

[Space4Eles]

Progress report of sorts

On a wild elephant sighting note: A few nights ago an adolescent male was seen harvesting jack fruit from the tree on the perimeter of the village only a few hundred yards from my house. The fellow was sly and silent; I did not hear a sound. If it had not been for the village dogs sounding the alarm, no one would have witnessed the midnight raid.

http://www.carolbuckley.com/elevisions/?p=1160

[spiritedlulu]

APPU Gets A Loving Home

From The Midday's Mumbai edition: Indian journalist Sanjiv Nair profiles Carol and the Elephant Rescue and Rehabilitation Center

http://epaper2.mid-day.com/showtext.aspx?b...2&edd123=Mumbai

[Space4Eles]

My visa has run out

In the meantime, while I abide by the visa requirements and await the docs required to continue the care center project, I am off to Nepal to continue the work I started last year. There are many elephants in need of pedicures, mahouts eager to learn new skills, veterinarians anxious to receive a new stock of trimming tools and a retirement center to brainstorm!

http://www.carolbuckley.com/elevisions/?p=1173

[spiritedlulu]

Carol's visit to Wildlife SOS India

Gently untangling my hair from her tiny fingers she allowed me to remove her from my head and lower her to the couch. We looked at each other—too cute is all I can say—as she ever so confidently climbed into my lap, took hold of my hand and placed on her belly. There was no misunderstanding this gesture — she wanted a tummy rub.

http://www.carolbuckley.com/elevisions/?p=1177#respond

[Space4Eles]

Thanks for posting, SL.
I was delighted to read a mention of Rajesh:
It was amusing to watch Rajesh, a beautiful full-grown bull with massive tusks, submerged for hours, gently bobbing around in the pool.

And this:
Kartick and Geeta have plans to move the elephants to a very large tract of land. I have decided to accept their invitation to be involved in this project and recommend that you visit their site and support their work for rescued bears and elephants.

[Space4Eles]

Forest dwellers

Our mission for the day was to visit four government outposts to trim the feet of seven elephants ...

Sano Chanchal Kali took this special time of hati la na pita (don’t hit the elephant) to drop off into a fairly sound sleep for most of her trimming. She shifted to her other side without resistance and allowed us to give her one of the most beautiful pedicures to date!

We all commented on how great Dhirendra Kali’s feet looked. I liked the pattern I was seeing. The more remote the outpost, the better condition the elephants and their feet were in, the more skilled the mahouts were and the less pressure the elephants experienced when requests were made for their compliance. But of course, they were living in their element with the river nearby, sheltered under giant trees, on natural substrate and plenty of exercise combing the forest for poachers.

http://www.carolbuckley.com/elevisions/?p=1199

[spiritedlulu]

Wonderful and informative update! So exciting to read about the wonderful elephants of Nepal and Carol's important work.

[spiritedlulu]

Message from Carol Buckley.

This e-newsletter kicks off EAI’s first fundraising projects for Nepal this year. I hope you will help make it a success by telling your friends and neighbors how far the US dollar stretches in Nepal. Be part of the solution, one world, one elephant at a time!

http://us1.campaign-archive1.com/?u=2dfe79...ca&e=e6d9b5effa

[Space4Eles]

EAI's May e-newsletter

Between trimming feet and brainstorming about a retirement center for elephants in Sauraha, Nepal, we—you, I and all of EAI’s supporters—are about to embark on a very exciting pilot project at the National Trust for Nature Conservation Biodiversity Conservation Center (NTNC-BCC) hattisar (elephant stable).

Pursuing last year’s recommendation to create chain-free enclosures for the BCC’s five forest patrol elephants, Naresh Subedi, an EAI advisor, and other NTNC officials have enthusiastically agreed to allow EAI to build a chain-free enclosure to demonstrate its functionality.

http://www.carolbuckley.com/elevisions/?p=1210

[spiritedlulu]

WHOO HOOOOO!!!!!!

Carol Buckley
about an hour ago

Wow, we are 1/4 of the way to our CHAIN-FREE CORRAL goal, and in only 24 hours. This is fabulous! You've got the attention of the mahouts around here and the senior veterinarian, who nonchalantly reported on the status of our ChipIn today. Yes I was surprised, because I hadn't told anyone---on this side of the planet---about the ChipIn. Everyone here is very excited. So here is a surprise. I just ...could not wait, I ordered the materials and they have arrived. Sweetie Kali's corral is currently under construction as-we-speak and scheduled to be completed in two days. I know, I know, but I just could no wait. I knew you would come through for Sweetie Kali. Keep up the great work and hopefully all the funds will be raised by the time I am required to make the payment. Here is a link to the ChipIn. http://elephantaidinternational.chipin.com...or-sweetie-kali

https://www.facebook.com/cora.moore1?ref=tn...&type=1&theater

[Space4Eles]

From Carol Bucley's Facebook today:

The good news is that at 4:30pm, Nepal time, Sweetie Kali was taken off her chains permanently!

The word got around that Sweetie Kali's corral was completed and lots of well wishers showed up for her release. The mahouts are usually a serious lot but today they could hardly contain their enthusiasm. Even the fence crew, who came all the way from West Bengal, India, were beaming when Sweetie's chain was removed for the final time.

Sweetie Kali wasted no time checking out her new space. Within minutes she disappeared into the forest. I must say that she looked pretty pleased with herself!

A huge thanks to everyone who made this possible for Sweetie Kali. We have a ways to go with the fund raising but Sweetie Kali did not have to wait. She is now chain free.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheElephant...&type=1&theater

[spiritedlulu]

Terrific news

[spiritedlulu]

Via Carol Buckley's Facebook page:

This evening Sweetie Kali continued to amaze her mahouts with her calm and confident attitude. She is teaching the mahouts so much!

https://www.facebook.com/carolbuckleyEAI

[spiritedlulu]

http://​elephantaidinternational.chipin​.com/a-corral-for-sweetie-kali

Please spread the word about the ChipIn. We have more projects to pursue but have to pay for this one first. I want to install Sweetie Kali's water trough before I leave and at least get the other elephants off hobbles.

[spiritedlulu]

Today the mahouts were trying desperately to tell me something about Sweetie Kali. I strained to understand, thinking they were speaking Nepalese. It sounded like they were saying Buddha dai, Buddha dai. Even with the hand gestures and increased volume---as if the problem was my hearing, not my comprehension---I could not understand. Finally, ready to give up the effort, we all looked at each other in defeat.

But then one mahout pointed to the calendar hanging on a support beam in the open air mahout hut. That's when the light bulb went on and I heard their words differently; English with a Nepalese accent. It helped to figure out they were speaking English! "Birthday, birthday, today is Sweetie Kali's birthday".

When I finally understood, everyone acted excited or perhaps they were just relieved. The struggle to understand each other was exhausting.

When gathering background information on Sweetie Kali a few weeks ago, I thought I was told that she was already eight years old. How wonderful to be aware that her eighth birthday was today.

Happy Birthday Sweetie Kali!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheElephant...03612590&type=1