Teaching Compassion through Conservation
If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans.
— James Herriot
In this week’s Field Notes from the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, Angela Sheldrick describes how “raising an elephant calf is a family affair. The same applies to our orphans. That is where our Keepers come in, providing the love and support these babies need to thrive. For, just like with humans, elephants’ formative years influence the creatures they become as adults. When they grow up feeling loved, they are able to embody those values as adults, nurturing their own families in the same manner.”
Reteti Sanctuary Elephant keeper shares his love with an orphan
I believe animals can teach us a lot about love and compassion. As a trauma therapist I heard many stories about how family pets or farm animals were the companions who provided love and solace in situations of domestic violence or abuse. Battle fatigued veterans often come home with dogs they have bonded with during deployment. The emotional support from an animal to a human and human to animal can heal deep wounds of separation, abandonment and trauma.ds of separation, abandonment and trauma.
Threats to wild places from human encroachment, mining, development, and wildfires bring on threats to wildlife. A child that has never seen an elephant may not understand this, but a story about a young elephant who has lost its mother is totally understandable and relatable.
During this season of gift-giving I invite readers to consider the needs of wildlife and how we can help. In my experience children are very responsive to this. Children care–they want to know that they are important and that they can make a difference in the world. They want to help too.
There are 1001 things we can do individually to support the movement to save our planet. My own grandkids have delighted in choosing an individual animal they want to support for their birthday or Christmas gift. Personal connections fuel caring and curiosity. Recently, one of our grandsons chose to adopt a rhino as his birthday gift from us. He was excited to tell his school friends that he’s helping to take care of an orphaned rhino and rhinos have a really cool way to poop! This inspired his friends to make him birthday cards with rhinos on them. You never know how far these gestures will travel!
Second chances are made possible at @sheldricktrust for orphans like Apollo, a baby black rhino. He's safe in our care, rescued after his mother died of natural causes. When he’s older, he’ll be reintegrated into the wild in a protected area. pic.twitter.com/m2hdQrCu9Q
— Sheldrick Wildlife (@SheldrickTrust) December 1, 2020
Donations and proceeds from my online store support organizations like The Sarara Foundation and Save Giraffes Now who are working tirelessly to support wildlife and promote conservation so both indigenous people and wildlife can thrive into the future. Consider making a purchase or donating here to support African wildlife or give to a local group in your community that is committed to protecting wildlife and the environment. Step by step we can make a difference!
