The framework for all six chain-free corrals at the Kasara hattisar is in place. Support and brace posts are concreted. Gateposts mark the entrance to each new corral. Heart work Eyeing the … [Read more...]
Himal Gaj
Himal Gaj is a six-year-old captive born elephant. His father is the dominant wild bull in the area. His mother is a wild born, captive resident of the elephant breeding center at Khosor, Chitwan, … [Read more...]
Elephant abuse in Nepal: Are the mahouts really to blame?
It’s easy to look at an elephant shackled by both front feet to the ground, with open wounds, and blame the mahout. But I challenge you to learn the facts. Elephants belong to hotel owners In … [Read more...]
Foot Trimming in Bardia, Nepal
I'm back from Bardia. What an adventure! It was a 10-hour drive through mountains on rough roads. The 19-year-old driver of our rental truck scared the daylights out of all of us with his speeding, … [Read more...]
in the dark of night
A hauntingly familiar sound of clanking chains passed by my window, so close I thought perhaps my wall would be crushed. The clink clink clink of cold metal bracelets was unmistakable; an escapee was … [Read more...]
Back in Sauraha, Chitwan, Nepal
Working in Asia the past two years I have learned a tremendous amount about how culture and tradition affect collaborative conservation efforts. Among the most important lessons is the need to ensure … [Read more...]
Bahabur’s surgery
Oct 17th [Warning: This post includes graphic photos.] My first morning in Assam, I awoke to learn there was an elephant emergency. Thirty-five-year-old, Bahabur, a skilled koonki … [Read more...]
Drag Chains and Training
Elephant’s World posted two videos on YouTube last week of me training a young elephant named Jon (you can view them here and here). I was surprised to see the videos and happy to know they … [Read more...]
Sweetie Kali’s Water Trough
When Paspat, the mahout supervisor at National Trust for Nature Conservation, asked about a water trough for Sweetie Kali, I nearly fell off my chair. Seriously--- his question was a shocker because … [Read more...]
On Patrol
When Nandu learned that I wanted to accompany Sweetie Kali on her anti-poaching patrol he directed me to Ram Kumar who graciously cleared my request with Paspat, the mahout supervisor. Realizing how … [Read more...]
Update on Nepal pilot project
Starting on May 8th, 2012, I put everything on hold while I focused exclusively on Sweetie Kali’s new chain-free corral. The bandh (country-wide strike) caused a bit of delay in the beginning, forcing … [Read more...]
Breeding Center
Kiran, the government veterinary technician, and I finished trimming feet at the Government Breeding Center yesterday. I was so pleased that things really changed from the first day. I spoke with … [Read more...]
