Mud, Joy and Healing
Play keeps us vital and alive. It gives us an enthusiasm for life that is irreplaceable. Without it, life just doesn’t taste good. -Lucia Capocchione
©kathykarn
Yes, elephants express emotions and the water hole at the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary in Northern Kenya is a place to witness unbridled joy. A shallow puddle provides a coating of mud to protect the elephants’ skin from the sun and tics; it is also a playground and for elephant style contact sport.
©kathykarn
Orphan elephants enjoy a soak and roll in the mud after regular bottle feedings. They instinctively know a daily mud bath is good for their health.
©kathykarn
Each of these elephants has been orphaned or abandoned due to drought, falling into man-made wells, human wildlife conflict or natural mortality. When a young elephant arrives at Reteti they are often deeply traumatized by the loss of their mother and elephant family. Elephants, like humans, can suffer from PTSD, due to severe trauma. It takes time, 24-hour care and attention from the local Samburu keepers plus proximity with other elephants for an orphan to recover.
©kathykarn
Play and healthy behaviour, like taking a mud bath, are sure signs of healing. When the orphans play rough and tumble in the mud like kids in a playground, it is a sign they feel safe. When they are old enough to fend for themselves, these orphans will be rewilded in the land of their birth. This process can take several years. To date Reteti has successfully released 23 elephants back into the wild since it began its rewilding efforts in 2019.
This seated elephant post bath reminded me of a poem by Dennis Lee. ©kathykarn
The Muddy Puddle by Dennis Lee
I am sitting
In the middle
Of a rather
Muddy puddle,
With my bottom
Full of bubbles
and my rubbers
Full of Mud.
While my jacket
And my sweater
Go on slowly
Getting wetter
As I very
Slowly settle
To the Bottom
Of the Mud.
And I find that
What a person
With a puddle
Round his middle
thinks of mostly
In the muddle
Is the Muddiness of Mud.
Looking for a great gift this holiday season? You can adopt one of these tiny orphans for as little as $50. Reteti is at the forefront of an expanding grassroots movement of community driven conservation across northern Kenya; an effort that is not only protecting wildlife but also growing new economies transforming lives and conserving natural resources. Donate to Reteti here.
©kathykarn
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