“Come see our orphans, I’ll take you over first thing in the morning.” said Robert, my Samburu guide. Before the sun was up, we were bouncing down the dirt track in the land cruiser towards the stables at Sarara Camp, in Northern Kenya.
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When our grandson adopted a rhino for his birthday he explained his choice because “they have a really cool way to poop!” He’s absolutely right, they do. A male rhino poops in one spot creating big pile of dung, known as a midden. This marks his territory and acts as a warning to those who might trespass.
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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. The emotional support from an animal to a human and human to animal can heal deep wounds of separation, abandonment and trauma.
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My love of Kenya and Africa was sealed by a kiss in Oct. 2010. My first day in Nairobi we headed to the Giraffe Centre—a refuge and breeding centre for the endangered Rothschild (Nubian) giraffes. I did not know that there were 9 species of giraffes on the African Continent.
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I confess, I am in love with elephant ears—the real ones. Although, as I write this, I realize one of my favourite pastries as a child was elephant ears so perhaps, I was destined to love elephant ears. I love elephants too, most of you know that, but, those ears—amazing! I remember the day I was hooked.
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At a time when the news is dominated with reports of communities in conflict and environmental disasters, I have good news! Caring people are having a direct positive impact on the lives of others. This week’s story is one of gratitude. Special thanks to readers who have donated money or purchased products from my online store. You are making a difference in the lives of people in Kenya and the wildlife they coexist with.
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As I lay in bed, I heard rumbles in the dark. I knew what they were. That's how elephants talk to each other. They have a deep rumble that comes from their belly and other than their body language—trunks and ears and use of their body—it is one of the main ways they communicate.
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My final and 26th game drive in January 2020 and I felt full. My photocards were full. My external drives were full. My heart was full! Steeped and sated in my encounters with the iconic African wildlife and its people, I wondered what this day would bring.
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. The afternoon is quiet in the heat. No sound of bird calls or animal rustling outside my door. I raise myself up on my elbows and peer through the screen trying to orient myself. An enormous red brown head rises out of the thick grass. There is a huge bull elephant silently enjoying a mud bath directly in front of me.
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The temperature is rising in the mid-morning heat of Amboseli Park near the Tanzanian border in southern Kenya. The dry, grey volcanic dust of Amboseli announces each family of elephants as they march in silence towards us. I have never seen so many elephants in one place. I came to see the elephants of Amboseli, and they showed up.
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I’m delighted to announce one of my images won the Greenpeace 2020 photo competition. I’m proud my photo is associated with Greenpeace, an organization that works tirelessly to raise awareness about environmental issues and conservation. The contest theme this year was wildlife mothers and offspring.
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I know I’m fortunate. I know I am one of the fortunate few to be able to go to these wild places, and meet these extraordinary people, and meet these extraordinary animals. It's a gift and it's very healing for me, it’s very magical for me. My hope is that by sharing my stories I can help build a bridge and let the rest of the world know that these people and these animals and these wild places are out there and we have a responsibility. We have a responsibility to protect them and to speak for them.
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Reteti Elephant Sanctuary is the first indigenous community owned and run elephant rescue orphanage in East Africa. It reflects a growing movement in community focused conservation practices where the local people work to protect the wildlife they have co-existed with for hundreds of years.
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Elephants at the waterhole! The news on the 2-way radio announced that a herd of elephants was heading towards the water hole at the base of the lodge. Robert, my Samburu guide, looked over his shoulder from the driver’s seat and relayed the news. “Let’s go!” I said eagerly.
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Did you know an elephant’s sense of small is four times as strong as a bloodhound’s? They can actually smell water several miles away. This can mean the difference between life and death during a drought. It’s very cool to be sniffed out by an elephant.
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Domenic, Joseph, and I were out patrolling the savannah in the morning when we spotted a herd of elephants making their way in a line across the horizon. The Matriarch was at the head of the line with another female following behind, a small calf hugging her haunches. Several other mothers, aunties, and nannies were part of the group plus one large bull elephant.
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The elephants raced towards us, sounding loud trumpet blasts. Each orphan made a bee line to one of the keepers who, with one motion, stuffed an elephant sized baby bottle into their mouths. In no time, the bottle was empty, and the baby’s trunk reached out for the second bottle. Amos stepped to the side and motioned me in. I was in Kenya feeding a baby elephant—definitely a pinch-me moment.
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The baby elephant flared its ears and shifted its weight back and forth from leg to leg. I was shaken with surprise; it took a minute for my heart to settle. “You’re okay,” I said quietly as I took a breath. “You’ll be okay here. It’s going to be all right. I know you are frightened and wondering where your mum is, where your family is. There are friends here who will take care of you.”
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Zebras sport one of nature’s most recognizable patterns. Several African animals have made an impact in the design world, but who can resist the distinctive black and white stripes of the zebra? Just like our fingerprints, every zebra’s pattern is unique. Is the zebra a white horse with black stripes or a black horse with white stripes?
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