tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27596499004352917982024-03-13T10:56:46.721-07:00THE JUNGLE GRAPEVINE: Updates from the Field - Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation SocietyCheck out what we are doing and be the first to receive updates from the field.SLWCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13385383717997197891noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759649900435291798.post-75949046689595327342014-01-31T21:06:00.002-08:002014-03-01T05:16:18.592-08:00A Day in the Life of an SLWCS Volunteer - And how HEC became real for one visitor from NYC<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">By Christina Saylor</b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Christina - City Girl gone wild in the jungles of Sri Lanka</b></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Introduction</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Christina Saylor is the typical city girl living and working in the Big Apple where "jungle" and "wild" are generally used as metaphors to imply vastly different things to their true meaning. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">On and Off Broadway, Soho, Central Park, Times Square, Fifth Avenue, Greenwich Village and Herald Square would be more in line with the type of terrain Chris would traverse routinely during her daily peregrinations. The last thing you would’ve expected is for Chris to pack her bags one day and head off to the tropical jungles of Sri Lanka, (where "jungle" and "wild" are not metaphors but do exist in their truest form) to help mitigate human-elephant conflicts! And this is exactly what she did in the summer of 2013. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">NYC citizens are not unfamiliar with poop and are quite adept at side stepping it in its various guises since there is no shortage of the stuff in the big city, left with the compliments of pigeons, dogs, horses and "lord knows what." But even for hardened New Yorkers if they had encountered an elephant turd on Park Avenue it would’ve caused much concern and raised a few eyebrows. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">This is Chris’ story volunteering with the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society (SLWCS) where she tracked elephants and became very familiar with their poop while helping to unravel the secrets of their progenitors.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Christina's Story</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Last summer I spent
two weeks volunteering with the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society
(SLWCS), and believe me when I tell you I learned a LOT about elephant poop. I
am a city girl, after all. I had no idea you can determine an elephant’s sex,
age, and size from its poop. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Extracting secrets from elephant dung</b></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">When I envisioned
participating in the program Saving Elephants by Helping People, I had romantic
daydreams about watching wild elephants sweep their trunks across grassy plains
at sunset while they trumpet a welcoming bellow toward their well-meaning
observers. As it turns out that happened too. But there are a lot of hours to
fill before sunset! And assessing dung is important because it can tell you
whether an elephant has been into a farmer’s crops, snacking at the garbage dump
or eating its’ natural diet of manna grass or other vegetation. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What I could not have
fully understood before my trip is how complicated human-elephant conflict is.
I witnessed it from both sides of the fence (or in this case the road). In
fact, in just one afternoon, I went through the excited anticipation of seeing
a large group of elephants, the quick dissipation of that excitement after
meeting a terrified villager, and the awe of watching a herd move through the
Sri Lankan twilight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But that all happened
in the afternoon, and this post is a “day in the life of.” In order for you to
get a full sense of how much fun it is to volunteer with the SLWCS, I think we
should start with breakfast… <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was August
23rd, four days after I had arrived at the SLWCS field house. That morning,
Leila, the house cook, made hoppers--a fermented crepe that would become my
favorite Sri Lankan treat. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hoppers - my favorite Sri Lankan treat</b></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fortified by
hoppers, Monica, Alex and I set out with Chandima. Our task was cleaning
“sand” traps--spots of cleared earth on steep forested hills meant to capture
the paw prints of otherwise elusive leopards.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Setting a sand trap</b></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Veroni, an SLWCS field
guide, led us up and down the sharp inclines easily finding the traps which
were hidden under dried leaves. After raking them clear, we broke
up the heat-hardened dirt and set a smooth, soft top layer. The slopes were so
steep, we had to prop ourselves against trees to stay upright. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Veroni by a sand trap </b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Setting sand traps is hard work in steep jungle terrain</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Raking the trap</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-swAIBO5PK0M/Uux5sskTmdI/AAAAAAAAGSc/ZAV2PtdbS64/s1600/Alex_Monica_Christy_Siriya.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-swAIBO5PK0M/Uux5sskTmdI/AAAAAAAAGSc/ZAV2PtdbS64/s1600/Alex_Monica_Christy_Siriya.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Taking a break after a hard day's work</b></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">It was hard, hot work,
but we were rewarded with a stop at Veroni’s house where her father extracted
ripe jackfruit from towering trees. Looking at a jackfruit you might
never guess what a treat lies inside its stubby armor-like skin. Veroni’s
father cut one open and spread the skin to loosen its bright fleshy gems. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Veroni's father plucking jackfruits</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Jakfruit - its exterior does not look appetizing at all</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>But once its cut open it undergoes a transformation</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The pulpy bulbs or pods of a ripe jackfruit</b></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Tastes like bubble
gum!” we exclaimed, which, when translated, elicited a laugh from our Sri
Lankan host.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lunch and a swim in
the tank (or lake) near the field house soon followed. I spent a lot of time
looking out over that lake during my stay. The first time I saw it, the horizon
was aflame in amber sunrise. It was my first morning in the field house, and I
was the only person awake. It felt incredible to be in this remote place that
was both utterly strange and beautiful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The sun rise over the lake is spellbinding</b></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Not only was the lake
pretty, but Monica, Alex and I quickly discovered it was the only refuge during
the brutal afternoon heat. After our swim and a bit of rest, we climbed back
into the Land Rover to drive to the Weheragalagama (WG) tank.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The heat refuge - Pussellayaya Tank</b></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">This was such a lovely
part of everyday... heading out to the WG tank where we would wait for the
elephants. They were fickle. Sometimes we would see them; sometimes not. But
the scenery was always gorgeous. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fzZgAQgzqLA/Uux-_LyBKKI/AAAAAAAAGS4/bUCHFqXXVm0/s1600/7004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fzZgAQgzqLA/Uux-_LyBKKI/AAAAAAAAGS4/bUCHFqXXVm0/s1600/7004.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The littoral plain of the WG Tank</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QTbt-tqmi8I/Uux5RUe8Z2I/AAAAAAAAGSU/9F3RHtXnM_o/s1600/mXcpeMwkAxqo2Pyxnpb-Vkuvwj2Ut7nQPTOGjCy3TWI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QTbt-tqmi8I/Uux5RUe8Z2I/AAAAAAAAGSU/9F3RHtXnM_o/s1600/mXcpeMwkAxqo2Pyxnpb-Vkuvwj2Ut7nQPTOGjCy3TWI.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Waiting by the WG Tank for elephants to show up</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IBnger0EeHU/Uux7N6LmbcI/AAAAAAAAGSo/lMqZGY5lgrs/s1600/nNfuspDEwVoJ3A-UZX8wkdEvJOGA4h4IYcv8dYJWIh8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IBnger0EeHU/Uux7N6LmbcI/AAAAAAAAGSo/lMqZGY5lgrs/s1600/nNfuspDEwVoJ3A-UZX8wkdEvJOGA4h4IYcv8dYJWIh8.jpg" height="297" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>At the WG Tank</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wgQP5IdKjiU/Uux0QExB1PI/AAAAAAAAGRI/jQrZJg0PtqQ/s1600/F_pLRwD8M9JYDfnsXypDp0Nn3iyire0waOMx5SKPwZ0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wgQP5IdKjiU/Uux0QExB1PI/AAAAAAAAGRI/jQrZJg0PtqQ/s1600/F_pLRwD8M9JYDfnsXypDp0Nn3iyire0waOMx5SKPwZ0.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Observing elephants at the WG Tank</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WKSmnrGCN88/Uux0fPKJBSI/AAAAAAAAGRQ/ZzOZaKekbEM/s1600/H49S_9y13ILSCSVrQRuSJqsRLEDRFV--1lREIvJKqUM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WKSmnrGCN88/Uux0fPKJBSI/AAAAAAAAGRQ/ZzOZaKekbEM/s1600/H49S_9y13ILSCSVrQRuSJqsRLEDRFV--1lREIvJKqUM.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A family herd and a large bull at the WG Tank</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">This particular
afternoon a family group of 5-6 elephants meandered out of the forest onto the
grass. We watched them through binoculars and recorded characteristics on data
sheets: ear-fold direction, tail length, tuft qualities, scars, etc. Chandima
would compare his close-up photos against our sheets and fine tune the data. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zLyfcyTjvdA/Uux0wI2cvKI/AAAAAAAAGRY/2wCmvwsvCco/s1600/q_dyAI_ey67c37r_rF-xki-fJjTGgnvUm9oVFQ1Fd-U.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zLyfcyTjvdA/Uux0wI2cvKI/AAAAAAAAGRY/2wCmvwsvCco/s1600/q_dyAI_ey67c37r_rF-xki-fJjTGgnvUm9oVFQ1Fd-U.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A data sheet</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">We were all struck by how many scars marked the elephants. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Chandima explained that 80 percent of the WG elephants were marked from shotgun wounds.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent;">Apparently some rural farmers have shotguns but cartridges are expensive and difficult to acquire. So they keep using the same cartridge cases which they fill with stuff like ball bearings and old nuts and bolts.</span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent;">While these homemade ammunition cannot kill an elephant outright some do die from wounds that become infected. </span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="background-color: transparent;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent;">This is a horrendous and prolonged death for an elephant. It can suffer for months before succumbing to the gunshot injuries. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BJqcXis3Bjo/Uux1N3giMEI/AAAAAAAAGRg/BhzzaY4ECwU/s1600/Could-be-a-gun-shot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BJqcXis3Bjo/Uux1N3giMEI/AAAAAAAAGRg/BhzzaY4ECwU/s1600/Could-be-a-gun-shot.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A bull with a healed gunshot wound which had formed into a cyst </b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Most villagers don’t
want to kill the elephants, but they will shoot them if necessary to protect
homes and crops. Almost every member of our family group had at least one
telltale scar. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I felt sad for the
elephants, that they should suffer pain for doing only what is in their
nature--seeking out available food sources. And it was no wonder they looked to
the crops, particularly during dry season (July through September) when the
elephants’ food sources are naturally less abundant, a problem compounded by
the villagers’ slash-and-burn agricultural practices. While the burning
provides a fertile plot in the short-term, it can destroy the already scant
grasses that the elephants eat. Around this same time, many crops grown by the
villagers are coming into harvest. If you’re an elephant, food is food, whether
it’s wild manna grass or someone’s carefully cultivated cucumber patch. We came across d</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px;">ung with cucumber plants that had sprouted from seeds left after an elephant ate a cucumber.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BLR2-o58jc4/Uux364OZAVI/AAAAAAAAGR4/Hd9YYMTDwR4/s1600/e3JDDo_xBZySQ_YjEAmOsQN9kdrJSxEFPx3edp4ivt4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BLR2-o58jc4/Uux364OZAVI/AAAAAAAAGR4/Hd9YYMTDwR4/s1600/e3JDDo_xBZySQ_YjEAmOsQN9kdrJSxEFPx3edp4ivt4.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Burning destroys whatever food that is available for elephants during the dry season</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vCX4dOGcLwI/Uux2OOXDrSI/AAAAAAAAGRo/hbB4thg8BZk/s1600/aBnOTUn9Qqrlau5_JKYISG_-zirjPspvC5kdD4hVYZM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vCX4dOGcLwI/Uux2OOXDrSI/AAAAAAAAGRo/hbB4thg8BZk/s1600/aBnOTUn9Qqrlau5_JKYISG_-zirjPspvC5kdD4hVYZM.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A cucumber seed that had germinated in elephant dung</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After some time, the
family group slipped away. Chandima thought they were headed for another tank,
so we jumped back in the Land Rover and drove up to the road to follow. Not far
along, we came across a farmer and two women who had paused because they heard
another larger group of elephants nearby. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XoEQKpeLgDo/Uux3Ksvd5OI/AAAAAAAAGRw/tJljjaiWSRo/s1600/Ele+@+tree+hut+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XoEQKpeLgDo/Uux3Ksvd5OI/AAAAAAAAGRw/tJljjaiWSRo/s1600/Ele+@+tree+hut+1.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A herd of elephants crossing the road</b></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Elephant-human
interaction on the road is not uncommon, but it can be dangerous. Villagers
typically walk or bike, or as in this case, might drive a hand tractor, which
provides no protection. To help ensure they stayed safe, Chandima invited the
women into the Land Rover and asked the farmer to drive very close behind until we
reached their turn-off. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chandima estimated
there were at least 10 elephants, and I was <i>really</i> excited.
Each time I saw an elephant, I was thrilled and awed!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Then I looked out the
back of the Land Rover at the farmer behind us. I will never forget that moment
because it was the first (and so far only) time I’ve ever seen a true
expression of terror. The farmer was afraid for his life. My enthusiasm
faltered. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">His fear was not
without reason. Elephants are not animals of prey, but they will become
aggressive if they feel threatened. Only three weeks earlier, a farmer had been
killed by a bull elephant. I met his daughter in the English class that was
being taught by SLWCS volunteers during my stay. I also heard from other Sri
Lankans about families who took turns sitting up all night in tree huts over
their farm plots to watch for elephants trying to "steal" their food. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gctw8CQoKAs/Uux4vz1FCoI/AAAAAAAAGSI/5_CrRV-emIE/s1600/gl5Z0HF58DwYEn9C0ifsKSsyk4IU_uPb0RbfkeKW7Tg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gctw8CQoKAs/Uux4vz1FCoI/AAAAAAAAGSI/5_CrRV-emIE/s1600/gl5Z0HF58DwYEn9C0ifsKSsyk4IU_uPb0RbfkeKW7Tg.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Villagers protect crops from tree huts similar to the one SLWCS uses for its observations</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After we escorted the
trio to their turn-off, we found a spot where we could watch the elephants
without disruption. Within minutes, dark shapes formed in the twilight along
the roadside. Chandima and I reached for our cameras, and our soft shutter
clicks chased the forms back into the trees. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We waited, trying not
to move or even breathe heavily. We were rewarded for our patience.
Twenty-eight elephants crossed the road in front of us. Some came quite close,
and always there was at least one watching us carefully.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was an incredible
sight. You would likely not expect it, but these great, lumbering creatures
move with incredible grace. They walk almost lightly, their adept trucks
swinging and plucking as they move. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2AgQuXrw_LA/Uux4cLxozOI/AAAAAAAAGSA/NO8dU5pZqWs/s1600/TCMC7YuD39YgbOubABUEOzPG8lnYokoVAaqar9ujyuQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2AgQuXrw_LA/Uux4cLxozOI/AAAAAAAAGSA/NO8dU5pZqWs/s1600/TCMC7YuD39YgbOubABUEOzPG8lnYokoVAaqar9ujyuQ.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The herd spread out in the littoral grass plain of the tank</b></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Once across, the group
moved further into the grass toward the tank and we drove back to the field
house in the dark. We saw and smelled pre-crop fires burning in the
distance. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There was a special
treat for dinner that night. Siriya had caught small tilapia from the tank near
the field house. He tossed them with oil and chili and fried them crispy in a
wok-like pan over the wood fire in the kitchen. They were delicious! Though I
took the tourist opt-out on eating them bones and all like my Sri Lankan
companions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As I fell asleep under
my mosquito net in the complete rural darkness I thought about how complicated
the HEC problem is. I also thought about how fortunate I was to have the
opportunity to spend time with SLWCS, the villagers and the elephants. It was a
trip that I will, without doubt, remember for a lifetime.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MVWRE4RS_O4/Uux_nQf8Q1I/AAAAAAAAGTI/AP4RtEZw-_E/s1600/Emi+with+SLWCS+staff+and+other+volunteers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MVWRE4RS_O4/Uux_nQf8Q1I/AAAAAAAAGTI/AP4RtEZw-_E/s1600/Emi+with+SLWCS+staff+and+other+volunteers.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Wild Bunch</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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SLWCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13385383717997197891noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759649900435291798.post-24934804579037437542013-12-04T18:17:00.001-08:002013-12-07T10:28:22.692-08:00Volunteer and Intern Memoires: Sri Lanka without guides, maps and hotel reservations<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sri Lanka - on top of Sigiriya Rock Fortress</b></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #222222;">Over the past 10 years many volunteers have participated in the volunteer program of the SLWCS. <span class="apple-converted-space"> We have also </span>hosted students who had come to fulfill their academic internships as well as a few local and international dignitaries. <span class="apple-converted-space"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;">Traveling to the SLWCS project site in
Wasgamuwa is a journey from the known to the sort of unknown,
because Wasgamuwa due to an unexplainable reason had stayed hidden from
the radar of conventional tourist itineraries, guides, news, gossip, and isolated from
the general hubbub. This is what gives Wasgamuwa its unique
flavor and adds to the colorful experiences of the volunteers. Caught in
a time warp unique to itself, Wasgamuwa trundles through life and the cosmos at
the hybrid speed of a rabbit and a tortoise.</span><span style="color: #222222;"> <span class="apple-converted-space"> <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-voUC7dEK6Nc/Up-4haPnHSI/AAAAAAAAGDA/ZVsXmCfDHlk/s1600/Popham+Arboretum-Camera+Trapping-Chicks+154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-voUC7dEK6Nc/Up-4haPnHSI/AAAAAAAAGDA/ZVsXmCfDHlk/s400/Popham+Arboretum-Camera+Trapping-Chicks+154.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Wasgamuwa encapsulated in a clock of its own</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M1ZrNrV8o_s/Up-5y5DghDI/AAAAAAAAGDM/nuZDZ35JQfk/s1600/RC-Sri+Lanka+Trip+Feb+2010-Part+1+032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M1ZrNrV8o_s/Up-5y5DghDI/AAAAAAAAGDM/nuZDZ35JQfk/s400/RC-Sri+Lanka+Trip+Feb+2010-Part+1+032.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Toys 'R' Me - a village boy playing with a toy car he had made</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aX-dMDCE1H8/Up-6Wi2UV9I/AAAAAAAAGDU/kpsaa1eUJVY/s1600/IMG_3445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aX-dMDCE1H8/Up-6Wi2UV9I/AAAAAAAAGDU/kpsaa1eUJVY/s400/IMG_3445.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Family and dog going on a jaunt. The hand tractor has the speed of a mechanized tortoise</b></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #222222;">Excursions into the dry zone jungles with their mysterious depths of light and shadow, myriad jungle denizens, encounters with mythical-looking elephants, and opportunities to immerse in local culture and traditions provide a never ending saga of excitement, adventure and exhilaration. </span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #222222;"> S</span><span style="color: #222222;">ometimes the encounters with the wildlife in the jungle feel tame in comparison to the unexpected interactions with the resident wildlife in the field house.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3AtwUVwzZTI/Up-7bzLAh0I/AAAAAAAAGDg/z6EjIGZWzic/s1600/Dawn+at+PG-Cattleshed+&+Ongoing+Construction+143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3AtwUVwzZTI/Up-7bzLAh0I/AAAAAAAAGDg/z6EjIGZWzic/s400/Dawn+at+PG-Cattleshed+&+Ongoing+Construction+143.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Into the light and shadows of the dry zone jungle</b></td></tr>
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<b style="background-color: transparent; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">A Diplomatic Visit</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">In 2010 we were honored by a visit from the U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Patricia Butenis who stayed at the field house for 3 days. Passionate animal lover, environmentalist and an ardent supporter of all efforts to save elephants, Patricia Butenis is the embodiment of the global ambassador for animal rights, environment protection and wildlife conservation. It was a great privilege to have her visit our project site in Wasgamuwa.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NA4LkhagvTc/Up0X_8rAkjI/AAAAAAAAF1o/hFbtEOrllm8/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador's+Visit+to+Wasgamuwa-July+23-25th+2010+072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NA4LkhagvTc/Up0X_8rAkjI/AAAAAAAAF1o/hFbtEOrllm8/s400/U.S.+Ambassador's+Visit+to+Wasgamuwa-July+23-25th+2010+072.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The former US Ambassador with Dodam the giant squirrel</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">All the staff and volunteers in resident at the time were advised to be in their best behavior and not to utter anything that would lead to tension between the US Embassy and the SLWCS. Last thing we wanted was a US led embargo on our field site. So while the staff and volunteers behaved immaculately, I found out later the resident wildlife in the field house had not. </span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It’s hard to suppress a grin whenever I hear
the Ambassador talking about her experiences at our field site: “I had to
use the bathroom in the company of ogling frogs that were hugging the walls,
geckos with huge eyes peering from the rafters, moths and a host of other
insects jostling around the light, beady eyed toads sulking in the corners
and malicious looking scorpions scuttling on the floor. I had never
shared a bathroom with such an assortment of diverse companions in my entire
life.” I feel glad that I forgot to mention to her about the little micropteran
bat that hangs on the roof in the room she occupied.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0CqH31yxzVI/Up-78BvPCRI/AAAAAAAAGDo/rr87z-rVoJc/s1600/New+&+Old+Images+RC-SL+Trip+November+2010+294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0CqH31yxzVI/Up-78BvPCRI/AAAAAAAAGDo/rr87z-rVoJc/s400/New+&+Old+Images+RC-SL+Trip+November+2010+294.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>An ogling frog</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y2mIq6tSq40/Up5CRO7VfhI/AAAAAAAAF7U/ah0NoSQBGcc/s1600/1453468_10152071635679664_1187239395_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y2mIq6tSq40/Up5CRO7VfhI/AAAAAAAAF7U/ah0NoSQBGcc/s400/1453468_10152071635679664_1187239395_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>One of the sulking toads</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rbNJ6mXFqP8/Up_hqIc25rI/AAAAAAAAGFg/6Lb9LjJCIyc/s1600/Chicks-Dodam-PiggyWiggy-Saiya+304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rbNJ6mXFqP8/Up_hqIc25rI/AAAAAAAAGFg/6Lb9LjJCIyc/s400/Chicks-Dodam-PiggyWiggy-Saiya+304.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The bat that evaded detection</b></td></tr>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Fortunately the wild elephants she met were
well behaved and hopefully made up for this lack of decorum in the lesser
beasts. So it was a huge relief to hear her tell that, “We were
surrounded by about 65 elephants all feeding and making contended noises while
several young babies played.” The elephants continued to behave in an
unassertive manner (for which the SLWCS is very grateful) even when the
Ambassador was observing them from the tree hut and from the top of one of our
Land Rovers.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ysm2iLUmKao/Up0YV1PHUMI/AAAAAAAAF1w/mnl-NobUZfU/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(50).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ysm2iLUmKao/Up0YV1PHUMI/AAAAAAAAF1w/mnl-NobUZfU/s400/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(50).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Two precocious babies that entertained the Ambassador</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qtz1PJITiTg/Up0YmGaJ8aI/AAAAAAAAF14/EgIonQF6FqQ/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador's+Visit+to+Wasgamuwa-July+23-25th+2010+118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qtz1PJITiTg/Up0YmGaJ8aI/AAAAAAAAF14/EgIonQF6FqQ/s400/U.S.+Ambassador's+Visit+to+Wasgamuwa-July+23-25th+2010+118.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The go anywhere Ambassador and the champion of elephants</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WNMwclIgI6A/Up0YoZNSFgI/AAAAAAAAF2A/FOjhAcudSNg/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador's+Visit+to+Wasgamuwa-July+23-25th+2010+079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WNMwclIgI6A/Up0YoZNSFgI/AAAAAAAAF2A/FOjhAcudSNg/s400/U.S.+Ambassador's+Visit+to+Wasgamuwa-July+23-25th+2010+079.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Observing elephants in the corridor</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As
to the ill-mannered fauna that had invaded the bathroom I presume whatever diplomatic
discussions that must have gone on between them and the Ambassador must have
been in our favor, because the Ambassador very kindly selected the SLWCS to
receive the Charity of the Year Award in 2011.
This was in recognition and appreciation of our efforts to help conserve
elephants by developing an applying several successful measures to mitigate
human-elephant conflicts. The details of
the Ambassador’s visit can be read at this link: <a href="http://slwcsupdates.blogspot.com/2010/08/diplomatic-visit-pachyderms-and-people.html">http://slwcsupdates.blogspot.com/2010/08/diplomatic-visit-pachyderms-and-people.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HOyJK7pGtQ4/Up0ZYXNHHII/AAAAAAAAF2I/PzKzdxzqQsc/s1600/Image+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HOyJK7pGtQ4/Up0ZYXNHHII/AAAAAAAAF2I/PzKzdxzqQsc/s400/Image+3.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>As the Charity of the Year SLWCS receiving a check from the American Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka </b></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">In November 2013 we had the most number of volunteers and interns this year. We had six interns from the Rotterdam University in Netherlands and 5 volunteers: Three from England, one from Poland and one from Germany. All piled six deep in the field house with other sundry resident animals and staff. These are some excerpts of their accounts volunteering and interning with the SLWCS.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7UsjVCO2T54/Up5PbrVmgmI/AAAAAAAAF_c/e9Iv3MsmQ4A/s1600/transport+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7UsjVCO2T54/Up5PbrVmgmI/AAAAAAAAF_c/e9Iv3MsmQ4A/s400/transport+1.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Intrepid volunteers and interns heading to the field</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6zmAyLPgC4U/Up5P8IIi0kI/AAAAAAAAF_w/oTPsFxR14h4/s1600/1426366_10152071634519664_7205287_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6zmAyLPgC4U/Up5P8IIi0kI/AAAAAAAAF_w/oTPsFxR14h4/s400/1426366_10152071634519664_7205287_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>All work and no play can make volunteers a dull crowd</b></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">BRYAN</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Intern</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Rotterdam University, Netherlands<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Md3V9iQGJgU/Up5d4crdJeI/AAAAAAAAGCg/0PitKM6fgso/s1600/1460216_559909974086516_840114293_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Md3V9iQGJgU/Up5d4crdJeI/AAAAAAAAGCg/0PitKM6fgso/s400/1460216_559909974086516_840114293_n.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Bryan on the Tree Hut</b></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">According to me, the first two weeks at SLWCS were really amazing. It is the total picture: the location of the field house, the village we’re in, the staff of SLWCS, the duties, the internship itself, the food, the transport, you name it. It really is the way as I expected. The only thing I expected more is the contact with the villagers. In my imagination, I thought it should be more, but we’re a bit isolated between two hills.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4VlO4MaMepY/Up5CzOIMExI/AAAAAAAAF7c/I4djrvwDprs/s1600/960060_10152071832149664_566315450_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4VlO4MaMepY/Up5CzOIMExI/AAAAAAAAF7c/I4djrvwDprs/s400/960060_10152071832149664_566315450_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Dawn at the field house</b></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">It is so different than the situation back home and I think that’s a good thing for a person to develop. Throwing me out of daily routine and see how to cope with that stays really interesting. It is an experience that is very valuable, personally and professionally.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--3OBYmTZrp8/Up5DHdTn7mI/AAAAAAAAF7k/VQkpddKIoes/s1600/1456045_10152071653974664_1568566244_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--3OBYmTZrp8/Up5DHdTn7mI/AAAAAAAAF7k/VQkpddKIoes/s400/1456045_10152071653974664_1568566244_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A rain cloud gathers above the hills. </b></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">This is the first time for SLWCS to have so many internees at one time. I don’t experience it that way, to be honest. I keep in mind that we have not one, but six different persons from abroad working on different subjects. That brings challenges for the organization (on logistics for example) but the supervisors over here (Zeenath and Chandima) do their outmost best to get things done for us. The visa problems we have (and the different times to extend our visa’s) makes some planning a real challenge but the supervisors succeed in getting a workable situation at the Fieldhouse. I am very satisfied with the guidance and overall program of the internship.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">That’s it. I really like the food here, and I don’t care if we get rice three times a day. I don’t care about Singhalese music. I just want to fully enjoy the local situation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Really looking forwards on the next coming days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b>Tina Gentner</b></div>
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<b>Volunteer, Germany<o:p></o:p></b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Tina</b></td></tr>
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Early summer 2013 I decided to spend my vacations in Sri Lanka – for three weeks I planned on traveling around Sri Lanka with a friend but I had two more weeks of vacations and since I do not like travelling by myself and had some good experiences with volunteer work before I looked for a volunteer project based in Sri Lanka on the Web. I am very interested in elephants and my other volunteer projects also involved elephants, that’s why searched the web only for volunteer projects involving elephants. I found the website of the SLWCS and looked at the information given and liked it. I sent them an email and got an immediate response. Since I was told that November is still a good time to do the volunteer project I agreed to stay with them for the first two weeks in November.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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On Nov 4<sup>th</sup>, I was greeted by Chinthaka at the station in Colombo and he took us to the field house via train and bus. Traveling with the other volunteers was a nice experience since we already had the time to get to know each other a little bit. At the field house we met Chandima, Siriya and Lila, the cook. We decided who is going to sleep in which room, had dinner and went to bed pretty early.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Chandima</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Leila</b></td></tr>
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The next day we skipped on the morning activities and just got settled in to the house – in the afternoon we drove up to the tank for the first time and got a first impression of the tree hut. From the next day on we followed our daily duties such as trail transects, checking sand traps or observing human and elephant action from the tree house. Chandima was always with us, sometimes we were also accompanied by Chinthaka, later on Sampath joined in and also Siriya came along a couple of times.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Analyzing a pile of dung with Chandima and Veroni in the field</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Zeenath and Lotte watching elephants from the tree hut</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A massive bull crossing the road by the tree hut</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Another bull approaching the tree hut</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>At the Weheragalagama Tank watching elephants</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Watching a solitary bull feeding at the tank</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Observing a herd feeding by the tank</b></td></tr>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Amadeusz</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Volunteer, Poland</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Amadeusz with Daniel and Joseph at the tank</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I really like the staff working on the project, Chandima is very knowledgeable about all the animals and we have learned a lot during the project. All the staff is making good effort to make sure that our experience is as good as possible and they also consider our views and ideas. I have also learned a lot about the elephants and I found out that there is a lot that we still don’t know about their behavior.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">My favorite activities are watching the WG tank and walking around the jungle doing transects because there is many interesting thing to observe and think that we can learn from the people that work here. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Watching elephants</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">My overall experience was really good and I’m glad that I have chosen this project. The main think that I would improve is communication between the project and the companies organizing the trip and also it would be nice to have a website that is regularly updated.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I fill like this project actually allowed me to help a bit with the elephant\human conflict and it allowed me to better understand why this is happening. I would recommend this project to anyone that is looking for a unique experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Isabelle<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Rotterdam University, Netherlands<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">We’re already two weeks in Sri Lanka. I have a very nice time here! The first day in Sri Lanka we spend in Colombo, but because it was Sunday it was a little bit quiet in the city. The trip from Colombo to Wasgamuwa was very exhausting. Luckily we had places to sit down. But the view was very beautiful! It was almost 7 o’clock in the evening when we arrived the house.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Now two weeks later It goes much better and It feel more like a home. We’re now with 11 volunteers/interns in the house, sometime it’s very busy , but we also have a lot of fun. But what I love is to wake up with the noise of the birds outside. Sometimes it’s very difficult to adapt me to the culture here. In the Netherlands is the culture so different.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Last week was an introduction week for us and we’ve meet the programs of SLWCS. I think this was very nice. We could see also more of Sri Lanka, like the nature, culture and of course the elephants. Every time we left for a transact of something else I hoped to see some elephants. Chandima is the supervisor of these programs. We don’t come here for volunteer work, but I missed that on the trips.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I’m very happy that we have Zeenath here. She helps us a lot with our assignment, she comes with good ideas and know a lot of different things. She also someone we can tell tings to when we are not happy about things and tried to solve it. It’s also an advance that she can speak a little bit Singalees. Without her was it very difficult to do some things for our assignment here, because Chandima is very busy with the volunteers etc. Siriya is a man who you can laugh with and knows a lot about thing in the village and he tries to involve us in the village. Like this week he organised a few boys to play volleyball with, I really loved it!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zeenath</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>With Zeenath in the tree hut</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Posing with Sabina and some elephants</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I’m also happy to be here. I feel very relax here and I’m very happy with the assignment for SLWCS! You here from me soon.</span></div>
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<b>Casper<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Intern<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Rotterdam University, Netherlands<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Casper on the tree hut</b></td></tr>
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After I spend 6 days in Colombo and Negombo, Bryan and I leave Colombo Fort to go to the field house. I was surprised at the other people who were there, but they were friendly and it was very nice to meet them.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>In the train</b></td></tr>
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The place here I really like. I hadn’t expectations about the location or nature around the field house, but when I came here I needed a short time to acclimatize here because I just came from the cities, but now I came in the nature, without the noise of horns, busses and all other kind of transport. But the field house is really nice and I am happy that I am here and can enjoy the nature and views from the field house as the rock besides the field house.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A grandstand view </b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A black nape hare</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A grey mongoose</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>As close as you can get</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>At Sigirya with the rest of the interns</b></td></tr>
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About the internship I am happy at this moment. We have done (Tuesday November 26) already 7 interviews done and I think Bryan and I can finish the data collection at the end of next week.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A herd at the tank</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A discussion at the tank</b></td></tr>
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<b>Maartje</b></div>
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<b>Intern<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Rotterdam University, Netherlands<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Maartje with an elephant</b></td></tr>
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First of all, up till now I am really enjoying my time in Sri Lanka and in the field house of SLWCS. The trip we made to the field house was unexpected, but a nice trip. I saw a lot of Sri Lanka and it was a new experience with so many people in one bus. When we arrived at the field house, it was exactly what I expected. Accept for the bugs of course, but well, you can’t have everything. I know it can be difficult for some people to share one house with 13 people, but I don’t have any problems with that. I also think there are working some really nice people for this organization, like Siriya and Sampath, who needs to be appreciated. They are a big part of the whole experience. Especially because Siriya has taking us to a temple, to the city and has organized a volleyball game with local school kids.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--sRFEAvRev4/UqD21UW8DfI/AAAAAAAAGGA/dWcGLa01qus/s1600/Train_1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--sRFEAvRev4/UqD21UW8DfI/AAAAAAAAGGA/dWcGLa01qus/s400/Train_1.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Maartje with Lotte traveling in the train</b></td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Looking at the food, I expected a lot of rice and curry. And that’s fine because that’s what everyone is eating over here. The first week was about getting to know the organization and what they exactly are doing. I think this was a very good start of the internship. Now we have a much more clear picture about the activities and the goals of the organization.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Doing interviews</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Blending with the locals</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>With Siriya On the Rocks</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Let me show you how we do it in Netherlands</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Working on the assignments with Tim and Lotte</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Four Rotterdam Uni interns hard at work</b></td></tr>
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When it comes down to our research, I think this is going very well. We had some good conversations about their perspectives for the research and what our thoughts are. For Lotte and me, the way of doing research is very clear so that is positive. Another very important note I want to make is that I’m very very glad Zeenath is here. Especially because it is a big group and Chandima’s focus is on the volunteers. Zeenath is very open minded and a strong woman. So every time I think something is wrong or I don’t like how things are going, I’m not afraid to tell Zeenath about it because she can see my perspective as well. Besides, she already knows SLWCS and knows how to arrange things within this organization.<br />
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Over all, I’m still very glad with my decision to do research for SLWCS and enjoying every part of it.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The view from the field house</b></td></tr>
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<b>Daniel Mitchell</b></div>
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<b>Volunteer, England<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Daniel with Amadeusz (on left) at the Tank</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 13pt;">Once we got to the field house the accommodation was pretty much exactly as it was described to us and the facilities were very good and I think the house is a very nice place to stay. The food is also very good and as it was described to us. The staff were all very friendly and welcoming. They are easy to talk to and happy to answer any questions. The local people are also very friendly which is nice.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>There is something about dung...a group photo with a dung pile. </b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Preparing to head out on a jungle trek</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EIsH7SKexY0/Up5QXmsyz4I/AAAAAAAAF_4/DqMzc-AHW1c/s1600/On+a+transect1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EIsH7SKexY0/Up5QXmsyz4I/AAAAAAAAF_4/DqMzc-AHW1c/s400/On+a+transect1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Another photo op with a dung pile</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m_0iD7732bE/Up_AXTBWSHI/AAAAAAAAGEw/NGQZnACix3Y/s1600/1460113_10152071621274664_1806069946_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m_0iD7732bE/Up_AXTBWSHI/AAAAAAAAGEw/NGQZnACix3Y/s400/1460113_10152071621274664_1806069946_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Showering in a rain shower</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gJEwa1mvjCw/Up_CCyF0MZI/AAAAAAAAGFQ/1szpv5ywZy0/s1600/1461777_10200859189182144_1566402728_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gJEwa1mvjCw/Up_CCyF0MZI/AAAAAAAAGFQ/1szpv5ywZy0/s400/1461777_10200859189182144_1566402728_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Tina, Joseph and Daniel going on a transect</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 13pt;">Our daily activities were also great and it was good to see how all the data is collected, all the volunteers get involved and made to feel like they were helping. We were led to believe that we would be doing a lot more walking when we booked the trip but the walking we did do was very enjoyable especially in the forest. We also get plenty of chances to go into the town to go shopping and look around and we did this more than we thought we would which was good.</span></div>
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<b>Sabina<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Intern<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Rotterdam University, Netherlands<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sabina taking a shot at driving a Tuk Tuk</b></td></tr>
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I had a great time, the first 2 weeks in Sri Lanka were really nice, I was so excited to come here. At school we prepared our assignment almost every school day and now we are finally here. I really liked the introduction week, the trip from Colombo to Wasgomuwa was nice.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>In the bus with Isabelle</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>With new friends in the bus</b></td></tr>
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When we finally arrived at the Fieldhouse we saw our first sunset, the view was amazing. The facilities in the house are pretty good, except the internet access. I’m glad that we got Zeenath as our supervisor, she take care of us very well. If there is any problem she will try to solve it. The meals are also good, but I would like to eat more varieties, because we eat rice almost every day with the same dishes.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pYr262FItdw/Up_ArWazkLI/AAAAAAAAGE4/nhCN_htKo7M/s1600/1460110_10152071834389664_1907956979_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pYr262FItdw/Up_ArWazkLI/AAAAAAAAGE4/nhCN_htKo7M/s400/1460110_10152071834389664_1907956979_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The stunning view from the field house</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Voila! This is Sri Lanka</b></td></tr>
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At the moment we have a big group with people from different countries, that makes it really nice. I really enjoy my time here, thank you.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2AxJFWmBgbU/Up5GZ03mWuI/AAAAAAAAF8Q/f-7eHQNGQzc/s1600/1455969_10152071628634664_2124808941_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2AxJFWmBgbU/Up5GZ03mWuI/AAAAAAAAF8Q/f-7eHQNGQzc/s400/1455969_10152071628634664_2124808941_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Where the elephants roam</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xioKLsabviQ/Up5IoRBBDfI/AAAAAAAAF8k/bvBRFcg0xYU/s1600/1460287_10152071648914664_1908834846_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xioKLsabviQ/Up5IoRBBDfI/AAAAAAAAF8k/bvBRFcg0xYU/s400/1460287_10152071648914664_1908834846_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Plenty of reasons to smile</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X1LuBliWrLE/Up5I1iWj-2I/AAAAAAAAF8s/TMlYxcevrwU/s1600/1463452_10152071833639664_1121931874_n+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X1LuBliWrLE/Up5I1iWj-2I/AAAAAAAAF8s/TMlYxcevrwU/s400/1463452_10152071833639664_1121931874_n+(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Up on the tree hut observing elephants</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ugaKdruKgHI/Up5KFJNxNKI/AAAAAAAAF9E/DXzAVwcxrXI/s1600/1463177_10152071621084664_153199667_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ugaKdruKgHI/Up5KFJNxNKI/AAAAAAAAF9E/DXzAVwcxrXI/s400/1463177_10152071621084664_153199667_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Jousting elephants </b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Chilling in the tree hut</b></td></tr>
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<b>Joseph</b></div>
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<b>Volunteer, England<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wb13-Wvmed4/Up-_x-DRW-I/AAAAAAAAGEo/3HlvYyjzmQA/s1600/1456533_776865802330614_438877890_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wb13-Wvmed4/Up-_x-DRW-I/AAAAAAAAGEo/3HlvYyjzmQA/s400/1456533_776865802330614_438877890_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Joseph on the trail of the illusive</b></td></tr>
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The field house fit the description in prior information precisely and was basic but good facilities and very easy for all the volunteers to socialize between each other. The staff were very nice and extremely welcoming, including all the locals as well.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cvZYj_Kb_Ks/Up_A_u0BtfI/AAAAAAAAGFA/sqSycnQbVao/s1600/1456651_10200859240463426_469905169_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cvZYj_Kb_Ks/Up_A_u0BtfI/AAAAAAAAGFA/sqSycnQbVao/s400/1456651_10200859240463426_469905169_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hanging out at the tree hut</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Another Meaningless moment</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Interns and volunteers relaxing in the evening</b></td></tr>
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The food at the facility was basic but very good and was exactly what was described in the information pack, with the bulk of meals being vegetarian curries.<br />
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All the activities we did on the trip were really informative, interesting and we all got involved. The field guides and staff were good at picking up personnel interests and skills and using them to make you feel a valued member of the group and that all the individuals were inputting something to the project.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jepe19CtA5k/Up5KX7jiyLI/AAAAAAAAF9Q/mg7ip27yUos/s1600/Dead+Ele2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jepe19CtA5k/Up5KX7jiyLI/AAAAAAAAF9Q/mg7ip27yUos/s400/Dead+Ele2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The bones of a dead elephant</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dd1kP4e4Z7g/Up5KXe1MCOI/AAAAAAAAF9M/HYAKaF9IJNE/s1600/Dead+Elephant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dd1kP4e4Z7g/Up5KXe1MCOI/AAAAAAAAF9M/HYAKaF9IJNE/s400/Dead+Elephant.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The parts of the skull and leg bones</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hqwVP3BWytE/Up5KYlQbL5I/AAAAAAAAF9Y/CqEtByzPIEM/s1600/Dung+Study+on+transect.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hqwVP3BWytE/Up5KYlQbL5I/AAAAAAAAF9Y/CqEtByzPIEM/s400/Dung+Study+on+transect.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Collecting data on elephant dung</b></td></tr>
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The information we got given about the chances to go to shops and other areas of Sri Lanka on the weekends was fairly accurate as well although would say that you have more chances to visit shops than described in the information pack and our weekend trips can be very easily done if organized with local taxi drivers and the project staff, where they all have contact between each other and is easily sorted out.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q7vKFRzNxWc/Up5K-lqYURI/AAAAAAAAF9k/D84JeAszsZU/s1600/Laying+new+transects.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q7vKFRzNxWc/Up5K-lqYURI/AAAAAAAAF9k/D84JeAszsZU/s400/Laying+new+transects.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Conducting a transect</b></td></tr>
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I feel the overall goal of the project was clearly explained and we got access to see the current affects of elephant and human conflicts around the research sites very openly with helping to maintain electric fences, do vehicle and animal surveys around environmental corridors and learn more about the affects elephants have on the locals by visiting elephant remains and getting local point of views on the project. So overall was a very fulfilling and educational trip.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Heading to the jungle with Veroni</b></td></tr>
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<b>Lotte<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Intern<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Rotterdam University, Netherlands<o:p></o:p></b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Lotte with Nuisance</b></td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: start;">I really enjoyed my first two weeks in the field house. The trip to the field house was pretty good, got to see a lot of Sri Lanka. When we arrived at the field house, it was pretty much what I expected.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cmNNeIO1DfI/Up5NMcXMA6I/AAAAAAAAF-Q/SSpPlQLhLSw/s1600/1474559_10152071608049664_2911297_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cmNNeIO1DfI/Up5NMcXMA6I/AAAAAAAAF-Q/SSpPlQLhLSw/s400/1474559_10152071608049664_2911297_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Wearing a cap made from a native plant leaf</b></td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: start;">I am really happy we have Zeenath as our supervisor. I feel like she really wants to help us as good as she can and puts a lot of effort into this. Right now our research is pretty stable. We know what to do and already planned interviews and a group discussion. </span><span style="text-align: start;">I really like Siriya, we spend a lot of time with him in the
field house and he takes us on a lot of trips. We went on the rock next to the
house, he took us to Hettipola, the temple in the village and to play
volleyball with the locals. I really enjoy these activities and he really wants
to show us all these things.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YkTPioQPfE0/UqNnVXFi4aI/AAAAAAAAGHo/kPik2xIT1lY/s1600/1471939_10152071635109664_1775156929_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YkTPioQPfE0/UqNnVXFi4aI/AAAAAAAAGHo/kPik2xIT1lY/s400/1471939_10152071635109664_1775156929_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Showing the local boys some techniques from The Netherlands</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vR6ouBN3lJk/Up5NkV7_VNI/AAAAAAAAF-Y/jFzN0Nmghi0/s1600/Masterpiece-1A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vR6ouBN3lJk/Up5NkV7_VNI/AAAAAAAAF-Y/jFzN0Nmghi0/s400/Masterpiece-1A.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>First a clean sweep of things...nothing like starting with a clean wall</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1PMGmp-Pywo/Up5NkUHTttI/AAAAAAAAF-c/w2pksPlO5Z4/s1600/Masterpiece-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1PMGmp-Pywo/Up5NkUHTttI/AAAAAAAAF-c/w2pksPlO5Z4/s400/Masterpiece-2.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A fresco comes to life slowly and gradually</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ThfZCTBz8Ow/Up5Nk_VH4GI/AAAAAAAAF-o/7DMyNEhYSoo/s1600/Masterpiece-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ThfZCTBz8Ow/Up5Nk_VH4GI/AAAAAAAAF-o/7DMyNEhYSoo/s400/Masterpiece-4.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>It comes to life under the hands of the artists: Maartje & Lotte</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WyN2SKqwk-Q/Up5Nk6OmI5I/AAAAAAAAF_M/Cn5l26taSI4/s1600/Masterpiece-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WyN2SKqwk-Q/Up5Nk6OmI5I/AAAAAAAAF_M/Cn5l26taSI4/s400/Masterpiece-3.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Working on the finishing touches...a master artist at work</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NR6v-0t62ns/Up5NlOADlyI/AAAAAAAAF-s/7FD-GOO21So/s1600/Masterpiece-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NR6v-0t62ns/Up5NlOADlyI/AAAAAAAAF-s/7FD-GOO21So/s400/Masterpiece-5.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Nearly there...</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IlKNlgR7ehg/Up5NlVJ0UyI/AAAAAAAAF-4/_BCw-vNhsgg/s1600/Masterpiece-5A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IlKNlgR7ehg/Up5NlVJ0UyI/AAAAAAAAF-4/_BCw-vNhsgg/s400/Masterpiece-5A.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>This is how a peacock is born. A masterpiece fresco</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2Foj-Z6hZQI/UqJKwRHTOBI/AAAAAAAAGHA/Iw5Ft_z0zUE/s1600/ATT3274204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2Foj-Z6hZQI/UqJKwRHTOBI/AAAAAAAAGHA/Iw5Ft_z0zUE/s400/ATT3274204.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Maartje, Lotte and Bryan at the Royal Botanical Gardens</b></td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: start;">I think that was all I wanted to mention. I am having a really good time here. I love the view from the house, the contact with the local people and the good vibe here.</span><br />
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<b>Tim Stevenson<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Volunteer, England<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pHI7myGqI3c/Up5YvobwbaI/AAAAAAAAGA0/-LRYdZj6EI8/s1600/Tim+with+Sinha+at+the+tank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pHI7myGqI3c/Up5YvobwbaI/AAAAAAAAGA0/-LRYdZj6EI8/s400/Tim+with+Sinha+at+the+tank.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>An elephant following Tim! Its just another day in the jungle</b></td></tr>
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I fully agree that the train to Kandy and the bus to the site is much better than a bus all the way! While the public bus is certainly an immersion in Sri Lankan life, perhaps a private van/bus would be faster and shorten what is a very long days travelling.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A local train</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hKWhtJ5vcL0/Up5YBmxWhDI/AAAAAAAAGAg/LWGvf7GQ1IQ/s1600/PB110438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hKWhtJ5vcL0/Up5YBmxWhDI/AAAAAAAAGAg/LWGvf7GQ1IQ/s400/PB110438.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Bryan posing in front of a local bus</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--VxdkU9G4nI/Up5ceQbaoQI/AAAAAAAAGCU/uevLidmOS9k/s1600/1467260_566443490099831_1182431972_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--VxdkU9G4nI/Up5ceQbaoQI/AAAAAAAAGCU/uevLidmOS9k/s400/1467260_566443490099831_1182431972_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Kandy Railway Station</b></td></tr>
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The food has been almost uniformly excellent considering the conditions – expectations were well set by the travel information I got. I was worried my stomach might suffer but if anything it’s been better than at home! The introduction of fruit and a bit more variety has been a great help.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S1gnlGPts4E/Up5YUA_RhRI/AAAAAAAAGAo/ESq6hijMs5w/s1600/1474603_10152071612669664_2022159435_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S1gnlGPts4E/Up5YUA_RhRI/AAAAAAAAGAo/ESq6hijMs5w/s400/1474603_10152071612669664_2022159435_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Tim, Lotte and Maartje on the field house veranda</b></td></tr>
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The actual experience of going out, helping with research and of course seeing elephants has been excellent. Chandima in particular (who, along with Sampath, I have literally trusted with my life this week) but all the SLWCS staff in general, and Zeenath, are very competent, friendly, knowledgeable, patient and informative.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x8KMCjsGTuU/Up5Z28F9R5I/AAAAAAAAGBI/m81DVAerX9E/s1600/1472943_10152071634124664_998972083_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x8KMCjsGTuU/Up5Z28F9R5I/AAAAAAAAGBI/m81DVAerX9E/s400/1472943_10152071634124664_998972083_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Chandima with a piece of elephant dung</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ioloPzD6tL4/Up5b0dw7UaI/AAAAAAAAGBk/VaCJOX1syBY/s1600/1479368_10152071674524664_847989974_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ioloPzD6tL4/Up5b0dw7UaI/AAAAAAAAGBk/VaCJOX1syBY/s400/1479368_10152071674524664_847989974_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Zeenath with a friend from the village</b></td></tr>
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<br />
The bouncy land rover ride is all part of the experience too! I particularly like that we can ask about all aspects of Sri Lankan life, not just the wildlife, and I’ve gained a fascinating insight into the reality of HEC and its complexities.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GfWS90Qd5x4/Up5abv-Bi0I/AAAAAAAAGBY/zJVps2GMxOA/s1600/1463024_10152071626834664_1349197813_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GfWS90Qd5x4/Up5abv-Bi0I/AAAAAAAAGBY/zJVps2GMxOA/s400/1463024_10152071626834664_1349197813_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Gloria the bouncy Land Rover</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gBOls3RzCO0/Up5ZYgLGqPI/AAAAAAAAGA4/XBFj5thDbv4/s400/1468784_10152071642324664_932519253_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Chief Priest of the local Temple tying blessed thread (<i>Pirith Nule</i>) on the volunteers</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Trying out some local cuisine</b></td></tr>
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The SLWCS film on the second night was interesting and educational. Perhaps a few more structured evening things would be good, though I liked the casual evening times too <span style="font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-21E524MJNDI/Up5aFl4xu-I/AAAAAAAAGBU/ADGNDZaxGTM/s1600/Sand+traps+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-21E524MJNDI/Up5aFl4xu-I/AAAAAAAAGBU/ADGNDZaxGTM/s400/Sand+traps+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Checking a sand trap</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_y_Rx-peJAQ/Up5cQx41DdI/AAAAAAAAGCQ/3tYCWadrbrU/s1600/1441318_10152071634229664_1179517164_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_y_Rx-peJAQ/Up5cQx41DdI/AAAAAAAAGCQ/3tYCWadrbrU/s400/1441318_10152071634229664_1179517164_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Two large herds of elephants in the background and a massive herd of water buffalo in foreground</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xIH4DacUsFY/Up5cDqeN-CI/AAAAAAAAGB4/tPTJDCfa7W0/s1600/1459909_10152071630199664_1130650970_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xIH4DacUsFY/Up5cDqeN-CI/AAAAAAAAGB4/tPTJDCfa7W0/s400/1459909_10152071630199664_1130650970_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> A mother and a calf</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0H6vak2GAKY/Up5cAADezTI/AAAAAAAAGBw/NAgNVkJhr3Q/s1600/1456779_10152071648549664_1269078239_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0H6vak2GAKY/Up5cAADezTI/AAAAAAAAGBw/NAgNVkJhr3Q/s400/1456779_10152071648549664_1269078239_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A big bull among a large herd of females</b></td></tr>
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Over all I have had a fascinating, educating and enjoyable experience, and have been very lucky with the mix of fellow volunteers as well as the SLWCS staff. Would I recommend to a friend? Definitely!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-04tTNZ_O75o/UqD3tnhFRUI/AAAAAAAAGGQ/XRL_cemmSo0/s1600/photo-tank.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-04tTNZ_O75o/UqD3tnhFRUI/AAAAAAAAGGQ/XRL_cemmSo0/s400/photo-tank.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Wild Bunch</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PluOTdYUouE/Up5cOOr_ymI/AAAAAAAAGCI/YNhOO2G4xzI/s1600/1475973_10152071655999664_541400435_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PluOTdYUouE/Up5cOOr_ymI/AAAAAAAAGCI/YNhOO2G4xzI/s400/1475973_10152071655999664_541400435_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Unforgettable vistas and memories</b></td></tr>
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<b>Photo Credits:</b><br />
<br />
Amadeusz Rzeznik<br />
Bryan Hogerheide<br />
Casper den Besten<br />
Chandima Fernando<br />
Chinthaka Weerasinghe<br />
Daniel Mitchell<br />
Joseph Huntley<br />
Isabelle van den Bosch<br />
Lotte Hoek<br />
Maartje Veeke<br />
Ravi Corea<br />
Sabina Goei<br />
Zeenath Khalid</div>
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<b>For information about the internship program email us at: info@slwcs.org </b><br />
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SLWCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13385383717997197891noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759649900435291798.post-31591529401675722972013-09-27T21:59:00.000-07:002013-09-27T22:04:35.299-07:00Wasserman Family Adventures with the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kIOMDAt98r0/UkZBVAhjWLI/AAAAAAAAFoA/fxFjX2O_6tk/s1600/IMG_7201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kIOMDAt98r0/UkZBVAhjWLI/AAAAAAAAFoA/fxFjX2O_6tk/s400/IMG_7201.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sian, Sam, Scarlet, Rob, Jamie, Izzy & Siriya at the Temple</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
August 2013 my husband and I and our 3 kids, Sam 15,
Izzi 13 and Scarlett 10, spent a week volunteering with the Sri Lanka Wildlife
Conservation Society. We had no idea
what to expect and, unlike many people who volunteer with SLWCS, we didn’t have
a personal project we were working on. I
have a love of elephants and, since we were planning on travelling around Sri
Lanka, we decided that volunteering at the field house would be a great way to
do something useful and also to learn more about the elephant -human conflicts in
Sri Lanka.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SJoZnismG1o/UkZLSApLcrI/AAAAAAAAFoQ/ShjaawZXNoc/s1600/IMG_5784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SJoZnismG1o/UkZLSApLcrI/AAAAAAAAFoQ/ShjaawZXNoc/s400/IMG_5784.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>I love elephants</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
When we arrived in Sri Lanka, the field house was our
first destination. Chinthika met us at
our hotel in Colombo and informed us that we would be traveling for several
hours on the bus and then be met by the Land Rover. We are seasoned bus travellers so we didn’t
mind that at all. We all actually quite
like traveling by bus but even though I made this really clear to Chinthika he
still seemed a bit uneasy. It was when
we got on the Lanka Ashok Leyland that Chinthika’s apprehension started to make
sense. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7DSk5X-9v0k/UkZLmLqRpTI/AAAAAAAAFoY/7t5T4u5qnNo/s1600/IMG_5523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7DSk5X-9v0k/UkZLmLqRpTI/AAAAAAAAFoY/7t5T4u5qnNo/s400/IMG_5523.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>An obnoxious and road grabbing Ashok Leyland bus</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If you have never had the pleasure of taking one of these
buses it is a thrill not to be missed.
Being the largest vehicle on the road gives these drivers a right of way
that they use to their horn-honking advantage.
Amusement park rides are tame
compared to how these guys maneuver. I
was happy whenever we hit traffic because at least the driver was forced to
slow down even if he was doing his best to drive through whomever or whatever
was in our way. And did I mention the
ear splitting soundtrack that adds to the frenetic nature of the
situation? </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ofB9jAqPoX0/UkZMJ265PEI/AAAAAAAAFog/EKTz37qbmfk/s1600/DSC08790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ofB9jAqPoX0/UkZMJ265PEI/AAAAAAAAFog/EKTz37qbmfk/s400/DSC08790.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The commanding view from the driving seat</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
When we finally arrived in the field house the adorable
little scope owl Amarasena, who we knew as Eddy (but later learned it was
actually AD, the initials of the person it was named after), greeted us. As soon as I walked into the building Eddy
flew onto my head and made himself comfortable in my hair. I think he thought I was hiding food. And perhaps I unwittingly was! </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zMCOntLkYQ0/UkZMilygi7I/AAAAAAAAFoo/zxJE9Pf2sg8/s1600/resized+oliver+2-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zMCOntLkYQ0/UkZMilygi7I/AAAAAAAAFoo/zxJE9Pf2sg8/s400/resized+oliver+2-2.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Eddie (AD) digging for food in my hair - good thing I have a thick skull</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Eddy alone was worth the trip to Sri Lanka. To say we all fell in love with him is an
understatement. Eddy’s well being quickly
became one of our major concerns. When
travelling with kids it is always helpful when there are animals about. It was with great relief that we discovered
that the field house had not only Eddy, but also 2 little kittens, and a cat
named Useless. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QqDR7oTEzvo/UkZM7GbdewI/AAAAAAAAFow/I-KZQkEHdDg/s1600/IMG_5557.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QqDR7oTEzvo/UkZM7GbdewI/AAAAAAAAFow/I-KZQkEHdDg/s400/IMG_5557.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eddie was simply adorable</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EAbsQ7AVe7Q/UkZM7AK6yBI/AAAAAAAAFo0/lie8Y0zSReg/s1600/IMG_5580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EAbsQ7AVe7Q/UkZM7AK6yBI/AAAAAAAAFo0/lie8Y0zSReg/s400/IMG_5580.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>No bigger than an adult's palm but so much character packed into it</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8NgsTTd9IaI/UkZNX9aHWlI/AAAAAAAAFpA/qxK_o2GTgeU/s1600/IMG_5597.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8NgsTTd9IaI/UkZNX9aHWlI/AAAAAAAAFpA/qxK_o2GTgeU/s400/IMG_5597.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Scarlet with Eddie</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t0YZ5tn-220/UkZi7HtSrdI/AAAAAAAAFyA/VJmyJKU0iuM/s1600/resized+oliver+2-18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t0YZ5tn-220/UkZi7HtSrdI/AAAAAAAAFyA/VJmyJKU0iuM/s400/resized+oliver+2-18.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Izzy with Eddie</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Feeding the cats was easy enough. The girls just let them
eat from their plates and gave them leftover spicy lentils. These cats eat everything including the
little frogs that hang around the shower.
It took a little time for the girls to get used to snuggling with a cute
little kitten who at some point had wiggly frog legs hanging from its mouth.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fkvp8TjbDNg/UkZNvYbTHgI/AAAAAAAAFpI/wZIelKyBJkc/s1600/IMG_5604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fkvp8TjbDNg/UkZNvYbTHgI/AAAAAAAAFpI/wZIelKyBJkc/s400/IMG_5604.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Useless and Purposeless </b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JHjnLfm7K5g/UkZN__lbpUI/AAAAAAAAFpQ/N3Ci7YIDtA8/s1600/IMG_6285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JHjnLfm7K5g/UkZN__lbpUI/AAAAAAAAFpQ/N3Ci7YIDtA8/s400/IMG_6285.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Izzy with the curry and frogs loving kitties</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Eddy, on the other hand, was harder to feed. That task fell to Sian, a lovely young woman
from Britain who was shooting a documentary about the human-elephant
conflict. Eddy eats live bugs and
geckos. The gecko population around the
field house has shrunk considerably since Eddy’s arrival so the evening hunting
sessions were often long and frustrating.
It became all of our preoccupation to look for anything Eddy could eat
and when we found an unwitting victim we would then get the intrepid Sian to
catch it and feed it to him. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8BEH_547BWg/UkZOtuJ3KDI/AAAAAAAAFpg/re5mt_w6i38/s1600/DSC08914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8BEH_547BWg/UkZOtuJ3KDI/AAAAAAAAFpg/re5mt_w6i38/s400/DSC08914.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sian contemplating her next angle</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fJlM9WkbH-4/UkZOWSGITxI/AAAAAAAAFpY/FCcb4BTuNbk/s1600/IMG_7171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fJlM9WkbH-4/UkZOWSGITxI/AAAAAAAAFpY/FCcb4BTuNbk/s400/IMG_7171.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hanging out with Eddie</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
One evening after working ourselves up into a worried
frenzy about Eddy’s diet, Sian and I scoured the Internet in search of a solution. To our great relief, we found a family in
England who sold frozen mice to bird and reptile owners. I had read a book called <i>Wesley the Owl </i>where his owner fed him frozen mice so I was sure
this was a great idea. Never mind that
London is worlds away from the field house or that the freezer is not exactly
reliable. The absurdity of the situation
became pretty clear when I casually asked if they would deliver to Sri
Lanka. They had never heard of Sri Lanka
and after consulting a map assured us that it would never ever work; the ice
would melt before the plane even landed.
Not to mention customs and all the other obstacles. “Don’t they have mice in Sri Lanka?” they
asked. I’m pretty sure they thought we
were out of our minds. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Thankfully Eddy was learning to hunt for himself and
spent his nights flying in and out of the field house making little squawks and
attempts at hoots. It was not unusual to
wake up in the early morning and find Eddy sitting by your bed, wide eyed and
alert. One morning, Rob was awaken by
Eddy perching on one toe and pecking experimentally at another. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It was because of Eddy’s nocturnal meanderings that we
all decided not to use our ceiling fans.
Even though it was stifling hot and the noise of the swirling blades masked
all the snoring and sleep talking and nightmares etc. no one wanted to be
responsible for the accidental demise of this adorable little creature.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
For us the field house experience had 3 distinct layers
that occurred simultaneously. There was the physical experience of living in
the field house, the emotional experience of building relationships with the
people who were also living there, and the volunteer work experience. All of
these layers were deeply entwined and worked together to create one of the
greatest weeks we have ever spent during our extensive travels. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w2cO7Dc9dEs/UkZPiKKI5HI/AAAAAAAAFpw/W97I4QUssPk/s1600/IMG_7327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w2cO7Dc9dEs/UkZPiKKI5HI/AAAAAAAAFpw/W97I4QUssPk/s400/IMG_7327.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Field House with the Knuckles Mountains in the Distance</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tTQpYabewpc/UkZP8_UdH-I/AAAAAAAAFp4/1iDJBhN-3Bw/s1600/resized+oliver+2-26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tTQpYabewpc/UkZP8_UdH-I/AAAAAAAAFp4/1iDJBhN-3Bw/s400/resized+oliver+2-26.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Making new friends</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5MfiIrI850U/UkZeB5tRkTI/AAAAAAAAFwY/hFdAcLcAd-M/s1600/resized+oliver+2-25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5MfiIrI850U/UkZeB5tRkTI/AAAAAAAAFwY/hFdAcLcAd-M/s400/resized+oliver+2-25.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sam and Siriya practicing for the Jungle Philharmonic</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-azTsPpL1L8o/UkZP_1wq18I/AAAAAAAAFqA/IyQGpL2StyU/s1600/resized+oliver+2-32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-azTsPpL1L8o/UkZP_1wq18I/AAAAAAAAFqA/IyQGpL2StyU/s400/resized+oliver+2-32.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Celebrating new friendships</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XkZ_FW9ZdK4/UkZQbMLNqZI/AAAAAAAAFqI/vrugkoldXDg/s1600/Picking+Mun+Beans+(33).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XkZ_FW9ZdK4/UkZQbMLNqZI/AAAAAAAAFqI/vrugkoldXDg/s400/Picking+Mun+Beans+(33).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Working in Siriya's Mung cultivation</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t1jfwIkFiiA/UkZheDOlkzI/AAAAAAAAFx0/t_xchez0x9A/s1600/IMG_5616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t1jfwIkFiiA/UkZheDOlkzI/AAAAAAAAFx0/t_xchez0x9A/s400/IMG_5616.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nvBcfi3Gm0A/UkZjLj1q61I/AAAAAAAAFyI/VvLlB5M2L_Y/s1600/IMG_7337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nvBcfi3Gm0A/UkZjLj1q61I/AAAAAAAAFyI/VvLlB5M2L_Y/s400/IMG_7337.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Lizz, Sian and one of Useless' friends</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Physically, the field house is pretty basic. There are 5 separate bedrooms with a variety
of mosquito net-covered single beds and the afore-mentioned overhead fans. The floors are cement and there are no real walls
to speak of. Cloth hangings serve as
room dividers, which is significant because in essence you are never really
alone. For privacy loving people that
may sound like a bad thing, but as it turned out the constant togetherness
forced us into an intimacy with each other that was profoundly nice. We became like an extended family in a matter
of days.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_pTT-hC5sZk/UkZPOdGOa0I/AAAAAAAAFps/PDKuk1ZgxoY/s1600/resized+oliver+2-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_pTT-hC5sZk/UkZPOdGOa0I/AAAAAAAAFps/PDKuk1ZgxoY/s400/resized+oliver+2-3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Beds with mosquito nets</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Our volunteer experience was really a mixture of the
greatest hits of things to do with SLWCS with every day being a new adventure. We,
and by we I mean Rob and Sam for the most part, picked mung beans with Syria, we
woke up early to watch the sunrise, we gathered garbage from around the field
house, and we helped move rocks for a construction project at the temple, to
mention just a few. In the interest of brevity I will describe the three things
that stand out as really special. That
is not to say there were only three, but that these seem worthy of special
mention.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--eGqSpbV4-U/UkZa2TWlW0I/AAAAAAAAFvg/2jnJsMt8EU4/s1600/Go+Sunrise+Hike+(10).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--eGqSpbV4-U/UkZa2TWlW0I/AAAAAAAAFvg/2jnJsMt8EU4/s400/Go+Sunrise+Hike+(10).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The rising sun</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>On the Sun Rise Rock</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Starting the day by watching the sun rise</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dtxDszjJiak/UkZQ97uaRwI/AAAAAAAAFqQ/FESagXpuy5w/s1600/Picking+Mun+Beans+(25).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dtxDszjJiak/UkZQ97uaRwI/AAAAAAAAFqQ/FESagXpuy5w/s400/Picking+Mun+Beans+(25).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Picking Mung</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A bumper harvest brings a smile to the hardworking farm hands faces</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A bag mung is a joyous occasion</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Rob carrying a bag a Mung</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Mung picking team heading back to the field house</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A tea break at the Temple</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R8_Qho7A-vc/UkZbUoCuF0I/AAAAAAAAFvs/CQfDlllJ0wE/s1600/Help+to+build+Temple+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R8_Qho7A-vc/UkZbUoCuF0I/AAAAAAAAFvs/CQfDlllJ0wE/s400/Help+to+build+Temple+%25283%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sam and Rob cleaning the Temple</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NIADXjIlwlg/UkZUNviDFrI/AAAAAAAAFrQ/nc0PO9V1Z1Y/s1600/Help+temple+(7).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NIADXjIlwlg/UkZUNviDFrI/AAAAAAAAFrQ/nc0PO9V1Z1Y/s400/Help+temple+(7).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Chief Priest looks critically as Rob cleans up the temple</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sam wheeling away rubble at the Temple</td></tr>
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One afternoon when we were watching elephants at the tank,
a small herd of 9 or 10 elephants came out of the bush. It was a mixed group of bulls and females with
babies in tow. They noticed us as we
were a pretty big group and they appeared to
find us an obstacle on their path to the water because they stopped quite
short of the tank. After several minutes
of shuffling around and bumping into each other like elephants do, I noticed 2
elephants chatting to each other. It
seemed very cute to me as they really looked like they were having a friendly but
intense conversation. I pointed it out to Chinthika who casually informed me
that he had been watching them and he was pretty sure they were discussing
which one of us they would attack first.
Just at that moment their ears went up, they stopped talking and stared
directly at us. Chinthika quietly and
calm as a cucumber told me to move very slowly to the truck. What?
I slowly stood up and my life, my family’s life, flashed before my
eyes. I had read of the elephant attacks
in the SLWCS blog and I did not want to add another one. Luckily when I moved I made a rustling noise
because of the leaves I had been sitting on and one of the babies got spooked
and ran in the other direction. Thankfully
the whole herd followed and we were safe.
I gave Chinthika a dirty look and asked him to give us a heads up the
next time he knew we were the topic of elephant conversation. He just laughed. I guess when you work with wild elephants all
the time that was not considered a close call but for me it is as close as I
ever want to get.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Waiting by the tank for elephants</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-euodSUTI72g/UkZWDCbSA7I/AAAAAAAAFsA/26O7T_GtDlI/s1600/resized+oliver+2-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-euodSUTI72g/UkZWDCbSA7I/AAAAAAAAFsA/26O7T_GtDlI/s400/resized+oliver+2-17.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Elephants arrive to feed and drink at the tank</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OTFhqprTLp8/UkZWTDG55MI/AAAAAAAAFsM/2V155ccKMbg/s1600/Watching+Elephants+in+WG+Lake+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OTFhqprTLp8/UkZWTDG55MI/AAAAAAAAFsM/2V155ccKMbg/s400/Watching+Elephants+in+WG+Lake+%25283%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A herd feeding at the tank</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_QWLnbnspCA/UkZXQbzmsKI/AAAAAAAAFsw/KMF6WH64JIE/s1600/Watching+Elephants+in+WG+Lake+(20).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_QWLnbnspCA/UkZXQbzmsKI/AAAAAAAAFsw/KMF6WH64JIE/s400/Watching+Elephants+in+WG+Lake+(20).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Izzy contemplating her fortune</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jcSdKwBt9Iw/UkZXktzcJrI/AAAAAAAAFtI/wMhh7NtKSJE/s1600/IMG_5828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jcSdKwBt9Iw/UkZXktzcJrI/AAAAAAAAFtI/wMhh7NtKSJE/s400/IMG_5828.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Two elephants having a chit chat whether to charge us</b></td></tr>
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The next amazing elephant encounter was at the national
park. We went one afternoon for a safari
and after seeing many lone elephants, one with a bullet hole in his trunk, we
came upon a raucous party of bulls.
There must have been 20 of them frolicking and wrestling in the pond. It was one of the most spectacular sights we
have ever seen. They were having the
greatest time together. They were
absolutely hilarious in their antics. It
had begun to pour rain after a log dry spell perhaps that is why they were so joyous.
We were fortunate to be able to watch them for a good 20 minutes before they
took their “bachelor party” to another location crossing the road just feet in
front of our truck. Chinthika kept telling us how lucky we were to see such a
thing. He said he had seen these many
bulls elephants together maybe once before.
We certainly felt lucky.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The bull with a bullet hole in its trunk</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A bull with a cool and casual pose</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Feeding in the salad bowl</b></td></tr>
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<b>The boys day out</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>That feels soooo good!</b></td></tr>
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But of all the wonderful opportunities we had, the most
transformative was for my daughters.
Izzi was very interested in helping by teaching kids English. Though it was summer vacation for the village
children, Veroni was able to pull together about 15 kids and Izzi met them in
the school at the temple. I had never
really seen this side of my daughter. It
was as if she had been doing this all her life.
She was shameless and comfortable singing at the top of her lungs and dancing
around to show the kids what different words meant. She taught them “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and
Toes” and the alphabet song. They played
“Red Light / Green Light” outside and they all had a great time. The next day Scarlett went with her and twice
as many children showed up. Izzi and
Scarlett were deeply inspired by the kids and are planning on going back next
summer with a larger group of their friends.
It was a really amazing and bonding experience for tall the kids.<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RUPnShj0eSQ/UkZc19F4qoI/AAAAAAAAFv8/il6LameWyP8/s1600/Teaching+(9).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RUPnShj0eSQ/UkZc19F4qoI/AAAAAAAAFv8/il6LameWyP8/s400/Teaching+(9).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Izzy having the time of her life</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Scarlet with a friend</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Class of August 2013</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-54XuDE2upiU/UkZVKRhMeHI/AAAAAAAAFrs/WEnderSQ_e4/s1600/IMG_7196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-54XuDE2upiU/UkZVKRhMeHI/AAAAAAAAFrs/WEnderSQ_e4/s400/IMG_7196.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Scarlet, Sam and Izzy making a difference where it matters<br /></b><br />
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
The other unforgettable and quietly consistent event that occurred 3 times a day were the amazing meals prepared by Leila. I loved to hang around the kitchen and watch her skillful hands prepare complicated dishes and make it look easy! She is a wizard cooking over a wood fire.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S_FhjyaEt3g/UkZgC_UGjII/AAAAAAAAFxE/-096luOEgWg/s1600/resized+oliver+2-33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S_FhjyaEt3g/UkZgC_UGjII/AAAAAAAAFxE/-096luOEgWg/s400/resized+oliver+2-33.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Leilawathie preparing a dish</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Something spicy and good is cooking in there</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We sincerely want to thank each and everyone who made
this experience so special; Sian and Alex, the other volunteers, Chinthika,
Sampath, Syria, Leila, Eddy (AD), Sebastian, Princess, Useless, and, of course,
Ravi!<br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
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SLWCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13385383717997197891noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759649900435291798.post-39954982214805098192013-09-10T17:37:00.000-07:002013-09-11T17:23:04.216-07:00The Lahugala Kitulana Incident: Saved by the Shoe (Part III Conclusion)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q8vwBDqMyNk/Ui-iceZYbSI/AAAAAAAAFl0/kEHKItwJH8M/s1600/Elephants-Lahugala-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q8vwBDqMyNk/Ui-iceZYbSI/AAAAAAAAFl0/kEHKItwJH8M/s400/Elephants-Lahugala-1.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>During dusk at the Kitulana Tank a tightly bunched herd rushing off to the safety of the jungle </b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b>Prologue</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
In 2004 the Department of Wildlife Conservation requested
the SLWCS to establish a project to mitigate human-elephant conflicts in the
remote Lahugala region. During one of the preliminary field visits we
encountered an injured bull elephant that disappeared soon after we had
observed it. We tried to help the Department of Wildlife Conservation
personnel based in Lahugala to find this elephant so that a veterinary surgeon
dispatched from their head office in Colombo could treat it. This is an
account of what happened when we went in search of this injured elephant.
While it’s true that a shoe was involved in this incident it had nothing to do
with Cinderella’s story. Though to have had a fairy godmother when things
looked pretty desperate during a faceoff with a bull elephant would have made
this a very nice fairy tale.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>The Back Story:</b>
After the project meeting we headed back to the place where we had seen the injured
elephant. To our disappointment it was not there. So we drove
slowly down the road scanning the jungle on either side looking for it.
As we were passing by the Kitulana Tank the two game guards spotted four
elephants far away in the distance, one of them was in the water. It was
known that injured elephants liked to stay in water for its calming and
soothing qualities. Parking the Defender by the side of the road we
decided to walk up to the elephants, to check whether the one in the water was actually
the injured elephant that we had observed earlier on our way to Lahugala.
Now, we had no idea how serious the injuries of the elephant were, but
most probably they were not as bad as the serious
brain hemorrhaging we must have had to go traipsing in the open
towards a group of wild elephants.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
We must have walked at least 200 meters or more on open
ground to get to the elephant that in our minds—at least in the brain dead part
of it—we were convinced was the injured elephant. Induced by a latent suicidal gene that we all
must have inherited from some common ancestor we had walked right up to the
unsuspecting bull elephant. Wonder how
long the ancestor survived with such a trait?
Apparently long enough to pass it on very generously to us. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Standing at various distances and angles from the bull, we
did our best to get a glimpse of its’ front left leg. The elephant quiet unconscious of the fact that
there were several people in the back gawking at its very generous posterior
very frustratingly kept the same position.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
After several minutes—it felt like eons—of this very
uncooperative behavior, the elephant started to shift but unfortunately towards
the wrong direction. In the meantime I
had been frenetically taking photos worried about lighting conditions when due
to the deepening dusk the automatic flash popped out with a click and went
off. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bDf9J6P-qbI/Ui-jFHdt_XI/AAAAAAAAFmA/YuLnoXinhA0/s1600/F1010030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bDf9J6P-qbI/Ui-jFHdt_XI/AAAAAAAAFmA/YuLnoXinhA0/s400/F1010030.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The elephant while feeding had turned slightly right angle to us when the automatic flash went off</b></td></tr>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">The elephant now standing slightly right angle to
us immediately noticed the flash go off and flinched as if it had been struck a
physical blow.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">For a Nano second the
elephant and we stood frozen in time. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">With
not many options available we stood our ground and waited to see how the
elephant would react. Would it decide to run or attack? </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The elephant just as the flash went off</b></td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Part
III - Conclusion</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It took less than a millisecond for fate
to give its verdict and the verdict was: The elephant just erupted. He reminded me of Mount Vesuvius—from the
stories I had read about it of course. Letting
out a mighty roar and blowing air out like a turbine engine he swung around
with head raised ears spread, trunk curled and glared in our direction. Whatever memory that connected a camera flash
to its past seemed not complimentary at all to humans, or turn out to be a boon
that would assure us coming out of this situation intact. As far as injuries were concerned no
surprises there—the elephant was in perfect physical condition. It did
not have one unhealthy molecule in its body as far as I could notice other than
for the unhealthy thought to pulverize us all to the ground. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_y616O6LQ0U/Ui-k5iWHOtI/AAAAAAAAFmQ/r9fsPckuXHI/s1600/F1010027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_y616O6LQ0U/Ui-k5iWHOtI/AAAAAAAAFmQ/r9fsPckuXHI/s400/F1010027.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>It turned on a dime while releasing air like a Pratt & Whitney turbine engine</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Stretched along the edge of the pool
transfixed to the ground we stood and ironically the elephant seemed similarly
afflicted. There was no doubt as to who will come out from this staring match unscathed.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Meanwhile courting annihilation I hastily took
photographs.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">What with trying to balance
on an uneven ground trying to breathe into lungs that seemed to have completely
shut down, and control hands that shook and shivered as if I was out on a first
date (not with the elephant) the photos came out pretty blurry. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The accompanying photos are a testimony to
this.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Suddenly a lot of shouting came from the
side. It was Ari and Jeggan, the two
game guards, they had apparently recovered from whatever trance they had gone
into and were waving their arms and yelling as if to shoo away the elephant. Perplexed I wondered what they were trying to
do. Did they really think they could shoo
away a 10 ton elephant as if it was a barnyard rooster! But quickly realizing what they were actually
trying to do, soon we were all yelling and shouting to frighten off the
elephant. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Standing at the forefront of this action
Chandima and I shouted and waved our arms at the colossal pachyderm—we must have
looked as ludicrous as two Lilliputians challenging Gulliver to a fist fight. Actually it was not shooing chickens but
playing chicken what we were doing—trying to frighten the elephant before it
attacked us by bravely trying to act more dangerous than it was. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The big question was whether it would
buy it? Would it take us as a serious threat and scram? Given the predicament we were in there was not
much that could’ve been done either other than to stand our ground, which again
is rather easy to say than actually do it then.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It was a terrifying situation. The first instinct was to run but there was
no way we could have outrun an elephant especially in those conditions. The elephant stood there—looking flabbergasted.
Probably couldn’t believe that a bunch
of puny humans dared to yell and scream at him—who was just minding his
business until rudely disturbed by an idiot pachyderm paparazzi. I was yelling my head off as well, all
the time thinking whether all this shouting would encourage rather than
discourage the elephant? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">My doubts seemed to be justified when the
elephant started to get larger through the view finder! It charged from
the water causing small tidal waves to erupt and made loud sloshing and
squelching sounds as its’ pillar-like feet smashed through the mud. It
suddenly dawned on me that whatever escape plans that I had been thinking
about, now was the time to execute at least one of them. While these
thoughts raced through my mind I heard the others still shouting and yelling at
the elephant. They were really going at it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-78YLx5xuNfM/Ui-mWvelLeI/AAAAAAAAFmc/Wl6ozWAHCKE/s1600/F1010026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-78YLx5xuNfM/Ui-mWvelLeI/AAAAAAAAFmc/Wl6ozWAHCKE/s640/F1010026.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Charge</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">In a last ditch effort I bent down to
pick up my shoes.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">At least they’ll say “he
made a valiant effort to escape before the elephant got him.” As I
grabbed the shoes in one hand with other hand clutching the camera my glasses
slid off and fell to the ground.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Frantically I snatched at the glasses
with the hand that was holding the shoes and one of the shoes slipped out.
What was I to do? Leave the shoe and run to live another few moments, or get
squashed into my shoe and hope to be reborn as a pair at Payless Shoes? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In the meantime the elephant who despite
all the shouting and yelling seemed to have doubled its efforts to get to know
me personally. He in fact as I had pondered—seemed to be encouraged
rather than discouraged by the shouting and yelling. It must have been a
rugby flanker in its previous life. As I
was struggling with these thoughts a blur went past me and it was Chandima racing
hell for leather. That boy could
sprint! Watching his receding form made
me realize that I better follow suit if I wanted to come out of this alive
however remote it seemed right now. There
was no time for heroics anymore leaving the shoe where it was I turned around and
fled. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I ran over the craters and corrugations on
bare feet as if I was a hydroplane, which only a little while ago I had walked
with such care. I had the urge to look behind but knew it was not
advisable since the last thing I wanted was to trip and fall. I ran
behind Chandima and could not even get close to him. Years later he told me that his only objective
was to stay a few feet ahead of me to avoid getting trampled by the
elephant. Now that is what I call a
heartwarming confession.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Amidst the yelling, shouting, ground
reverberating thudding and ear piercing trumpeting I sped away as if the <i>yakkas</i> (demons) were after me. Not to demonize the elephant but it felt like
the biggest <i>yakka</i> of all time was
coming after me. As fleet footed I
was, I knew for a fact that my speed was a like a tortoise’s compared to the
gigantic strides of the elephant that was probably already inches behind me. How I wished to be anything other than a
tortoise. I ran towards the trees that seemed
to be receding. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">While sprinting I was imagining what it
must feel like when an elephant whacked you with its trunk? It was
imminent and probably a few centimeters away from happening. Probably the first whack will make me airborne
and then who knows I’ll be able to glide up to the tree tops. A devoted guardian angel or a fairy god mother
with a magic wand is what I desperately needed now. I urgently needed the power to levitate or to
have the single shoe in my hand transformed into a Lamborghini in a flash. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Amidst these frenzied thoughts I ran for
my life. After it felt like I had run
the New York Marathon ten times over it suddenly occurred to me that the
elephant was taking its time to catch up? It seemed highly unlikely that a
guardian angel had showed up at the last moment and even more improbable that I
must have acquired super hero abilities all of a sudden to outpace an elephant!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Then I became aware that the shouting
and yelling had stopped! The first panicked thought was the elephant had stepped
on someone else. Damn! I stopped immediately doubled up breathing hard,
hands resting on my knees but hesitating to look behind fearing what I might
see. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In front Chandima was sprinting at
Olympic speed apparently determined to stay ahead of me! Having no other choice I forced myself to
snatch a quick look to see what was going on behind me. Nishantha, Ari,
Jeggan and CC were standing wherever they had scattered to and were staring at
something. Relieved that none of them
looked like they had been pancaked to the ground I followed their gaze and it
was an improbable sight. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The elephant had given up chasing and
was heading away from us towards the jungle at a fast walk. I was so
thankful for the reprieve but wondered what had made it change its’ mind?
Gasping for breath I walked back while watching the bull briskly head towards
the forest swinging its head and waving something in its trunk. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uDCZPnhMw7I/Ui-oCkbrBLI/AAAAAAAAFmo/INKD5UL-NQk/s1600/F1010025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uDCZPnhMw7I/Ui-oCkbrBLI/AAAAAAAAFmo/INKD5UL-NQk/s640/F1010025.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The elephant walking away</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">What was it holding in the trunk? Then
I noticed what it was. It had picked up my shoe and was waving and twirling it
around. The shoe had saved my life or for that matter all of our lives
that day. If not for it, it would have most probably been me that the
elephant twirled, waved, kicked around, and practically amalgamated into the
rich littoral plain of the Kitulana Tank that evening. I was so glad that
I had washed my feet before putting on those shoes that day.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">It would have been rather tragic to get stepped
on by an elephant for having dirty feet. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As the elephant headed for the jungle I suddenly
started to miss my shoe knowing that I’ll never see it again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-atST6En97VU/Ui-pvuvLANI/AAAAAAAAFm0/bQAY6mlml-I/s1600/F1010024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-atST6En97VU/Ui-pvuvLANI/AAAAAAAAFm0/bQAY6mlml-I/s400/F1010024.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>My shoe and the elephant...going, going...</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gB3KBFV3uNM/Ui-qFY5g7rI/AAAAAAAAFm8/CttHshADunw/s1600/F1010023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gB3KBFV3uNM/Ui-qFY5g7rI/AAAAAAAAFm8/CttHshADunw/s400/F1010023.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>...and just about to be gone for ever. So sad </b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Rohitha who suffered from a knee problem
had wisely stayed at a safe distance while we lacking in cerebral faculties were
walking up to the elephant. When the elephant charged he had managed to
get to the safety of the tank bund quickly. The rest of us adrenalin
coursing through our bodies walked back to the bund talking excitedly how a shoe
had saved us. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">At the bund we stopped to discuss this amazing incident
with Rohitha while Nishantha continued on to the Defender that was parked below
by the roadside. When Nishantha walked up to the vehicle the elephant
stepped out from the jungle right in front of him. With the vehicle still locked </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Nishantha was unable to get into it. Having no other choice with alacrity he clambered
on to the roof that probably won him the respect and admiration of a group of macaques that were lounging nearby. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XQPRURwfAlM/Ui-2P-JsuBI/AAAAAAAAFnc/Myb7kxJYL2M/s1600/IMG_5645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XQPRURwfAlM/Ui-2P-JsuBI/AAAAAAAAFnc/Myb7kxJYL2M/s400/IMG_5645.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Wow! This guy is definitely one of us</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The
elephant crossed the road just a few feet away still carrying the shoe and
disappeared into the jungle on the other side. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Fortunately it seemed none the worse for its
experience either. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Probably like one of
Cinderella’s fat stepsisters it could not wait to try out the shoe, otherwise
it could have plucked Nishantha of the roof like a ripe pawpaw.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When we got to the vehicle, Nishantha was
still up on the roof turning this way and that way like a rooster on a weather
wane worried that the elephant will reappear any moment. Our routine
field trip had turned out to be adrenalin generating wild adventure which could
have quite as easily ended tragically. But then this is more or less how
it is every time we are in the field. This is the wilderness that we are
making every effort to protect and conserve. How bland and inglorious our
lives would be if not for the incredible wildlife and their habitats.
This is what the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society fervently
believes and is sincerely committed to conserving for the future. But it also must be said, that saving the
environment, especially our vulnerable wildlife and their habitats is everybody’s
responsibility as well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4z-wGnuohDo/Ui-qld3liXI/AAAAAAAAFnE/NGYncKcJrys/s1600/Lahugala-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4z-wGnuohDo/Ui-qld3liXI/AAAAAAAAFnE/NGYncKcJrys/s400/Lahugala-3.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>During another trip to Lahugala observing elephants the proper way. </b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Postscript</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">At the time we were initiating the
Lahugala Project, Sri Lanka was facing severe terrorist problems. On several occasions when traveling in the Lahugala
area, we had been either 5 minutes late, or early, our Karma barely averting us
from becoming victims of remotely detonated road side bombs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Just to give an idea of what it was like
to travel during those days, once we were returning from Pottuvil in the late
afternoon and had just past Sengamuwa when a mortar fell into the jungle not
even 30 meters away exploding with a muffled thud. The terrorists had suddenly decided to attack
the Special Task Force camp that was nearby.
Smoke, dust and debris mushroomed through the trees and even engulfed the
road we were on. The acrid smell of
explosives was suffocating. We sped away
before a mortar fell on top of us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Wherever we travelled during those days it
was in such a climate of death and mayhem.
Not only to Lahugala but even to the more remotely located Somawathiya Chaitiya
National Park where the SLWCS erected a 3 kilometer electric fence to protect
the pilgrims and the temple from elephants.
It did not matter where we went those days there was always the specter
of annihilation hanging over us. And
yet, just like a Romeo who was enamored by a Juliet, from a very young age we
were smitten by the wilderness—so when it beckoned to us during its time of need
we ran to its aid putting our lives within inches of the maws of death. Several times I’ve had to evacuate the field
teams from our project sites in Kalpitiya and from the East due to intense
terrorist activity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">For the Department of Wildlife
Conservation personnel it was an even worse situation. Some of the parks were massive and had become
havens for the terrorists and to other criminally minded elements to conduct various
nefarious activities. Under staffed and ill
equipped they could patrol and protect animals only within a very limited area. So to
go looking for an injured elephant that was still very mobile under those
conditions was an impossible as well as a highly dangerous task. In fact they would have been blatantly
courting death. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Then there was the issue of actually
trying to find the elephant. As seen from
our experience to go searching for an injured elephant that could move around was
a tremendous challenge and dangerous as well. To find elephants is easy, but to find a
specific elephant in the wild was like searching for a slightly reddish red
herring in the red sea. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And even if one wanted to go in search
of an injured elephant during those days of turmoil, it would have entailed
taking deadly risks—and these risks were not from wildlife but from
terrorists. Not only were they severely
handicapped by the terrorist activities to perform their duties but as
government officials the wildlife department personnel were attractive targets
as well. In the 33 year old conflict
several wildlife department field personnel were killed and some of them I knew personally. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The injured elephant that we went in
search off, months later the wildlife rangers found its dead body in the
jungle. It was identified from its
injured front left leg. It had eventually
succumbed to its injuries. This was just
one elephant. The reality is several
hundred die every year due to human elephant conflicts in Sri Lanka. This is why we are so committed to maintain
what we had managed to accomplish at our project sites in Wasgamuwa. Through the measures we had developed it has
been possible to create an environment of coexistence in a once conflict driven
area. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ivhPTyWRN_4/Ui-q_t5pqlI/AAAAAAAAFnM/lUsgUaHHTx8/s1600/F1040028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ivhPTyWRN_4/Ui-q_t5pqlI/AAAAAAAAFnM/lUsgUaHHTx8/s640/F1040028.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The injured elephant that was found dead months later</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">It is a wildlife department regulation
to burn elephants that are illegally killed as a precaution to prevent the
spread of infections as well to discourage people from taking body parts.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The game guards mentioned that they were
unable to incinerate this particular elephant because they were scared that the
smoke from the burning carcass would have provoked an attack from the
terrorists.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Fortunately those days of death and
mayhem is over and Sri Lanka today is a land of peace, but the challenges to
save our wildlife still persists—these challenges have only changed in form but
not in their magnitude.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">With deep gratitude and respect I
dedicate this blog in memory of all the Department of Wildlife Conservation
personnel who had sacrificed their lives to protect our wildlife and their
habitats. May they travel in sublime
tranquility through <i>Samasara</i> until
they attain <i>Nirvana</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Something to muse over: According to
Buddhism if a person is not fortunate to be born in his or her next life as a human
being, then the <b><i>Prarthana*</i></b> is they will be reborn as an
elephant. This is because Buddhism
identifies the elephant as the noblest of all animals, as well as the most human-like
non-human being in the world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">*wish, prayer
or seeking<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
SLWCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13385383717997197891noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759649900435291798.post-47320784008549515262013-08-24T16:07:00.001-07:002013-08-24T21:05:21.183-07:00Mandi’s Reflections on Interning with the SLWCS in Wasgamuwa<span style="background-color: black;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Mandi (Amanda) Roberts i</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">s</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: black;">a
student</span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">currently
studying for a BSc (Hons) in Wildlife Conservation and Ecology at the University of
Chester in England. For two months from
May 10<sup>th</sup> to the first week of July 2013, Mandi did a study on human
elephant conflicts at the SLWCS project site in Wasgamuwa for her 3<sup>rd</sup>
year dissertation. This is Mandi’s story
about her internship experiences in Indonesia and Sri Lanka.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9yzutDcl6l4/Uhkx9Zz9c7I/AAAAAAAAFhk/7KLshKtmFwU/s1600/IMG_5510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9yzutDcl6l4/Uhkx9Zz9c7I/AAAAAAAAFhk/7KLshKtmFwU/s400/IMG_5510.JPG" width="318" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Mandi Roberts</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">For
Learning in the Wider World, my placement was with<span style="background-color: white;"> <span style="color: #333333;">The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds</span></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"> (RSPB)</span>
project at Harapan Rainforest, Sumatra. I was due to follow this placement with
5 weeks in Sri Lanka with the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society (SLWCS)
to conduct research on Human Elephant Conflicts for my third year dissertation.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Indonesia<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
found organising the placement with RSPB in Sumatra very stressful from quite
an early stage; there was a distinct lack of communication and lack of urgency
to respond to emails which I found unacceptable considering the size of the
organisation. Despite volunteering with my local RSPB reserve for over 18
months, I had never experienced that level of un-co-operation before. I had
felt, prior to leaving the UK, that there was negativity about the placement
despite opportunities to re-arrange it and offering to cancel or postpone the
trip.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fJRHe33ndhM/UhkyQmKlkNI/AAAAAAAAFhs/4yJn1HrT6uM/s1600/Picture5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="398" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fJRHe33ndhM/UhkyQmKlkNI/AAAAAAAAFhs/4yJn1HrT6uM/s400/Picture5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>RSPB Field House in Harapan, Sumatra</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I
felt as though I was a hindrance before I had even arrived but, because it was
such a good opportunity, I decided to put those negative feelings to one side
and tried to make the most of it. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">It
became apparent that those negative feelings would be harder to shake; I found
out that they had not arrange transport for me from Jambi airport to the camp
(I at least had the initiative the night before to email again to ensure there
was transport), the people whom I was supposed to be working with were all off
on holiday for most of the first week—which would not have been a problem but I
had asked them if they wanted me to postpone the trip at any point, and there
was no formal plan for me to start when I arrived. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">This, along with substandard and subsiding
accommodation enhanced my feelings of being a burden and a hindrance. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Once the Head of Harapan project had returned
to camp, he referred to me as a ‘problem,’ I assured him I wouldn’t be a
problem but he repeated this comment over a few days to numerous other people.
I could not tolerate this level of unprofessional conduct, it confirmed all my
previous negative feelings and after a long talk with my mum about my options,
I decided that it would be best to leave that placement early. I spoke to the
founder of SLWCS and he was more than happy in bringing that part of my trip
forward. After reading over my journal entries, I realised that I had not taken
responsibility for my own actions in regards to cancelling the trip when I had
the chance; I found, reading them back to be very interesting; maybe it was a
self-fulfilled prophecy that the Indonesian leg of the trip be doomed to fail.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--XeB18qBuiM/UhkybegQV-I/AAAAAAAAFh0/tz4IAjirpCY/s1600/Picture4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="117" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--XeB18qBuiM/UhkybegQV-I/AAAAAAAAFh0/tz4IAjirpCY/s400/Picture4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sri Lanka - the view from the SLWCS Field House</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Cultural
Immersion – from Schools to Celebrations</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Upon
arriving at the field camp in Wasgamuwa, I felt instantly at ease and welcome
despite the 7 hour drive from Colombo and 1.30 am arrival. I didn’t expect to come to Sri Lanka to teach
children, my first day was at Knuckles Mountain Range with around 60 students
from 3 different schools—ranging from very poor to reasonably wealthy and
primary to secondary. Two of the schools had English teachers but found that
those children did not want to interact, but the children from the very poor
school were smiling and very much enthusiastic about their day—for many of
them, this was their first field trip, despite Knuckles being on their
doorstep. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4zx10zwpo6M/UhkztA-n0kI/AAAAAAAAFiA/cUkP3o1Xtbg/s1600/600902_551060714936461_1366791674_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4zx10zwpo6M/UhkztA-n0kI/AAAAAAAAFiA/cUkP3o1Xtbg/s400/600902_551060714936461_1366791674_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Handing out field work assignments to students</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I
assumed that if you live in the towns or cities, you had to make an effort to
visit the great outdoors, whereas people who live in rural communities had it
for the taking; what I found was that for most people in these rural
communities, working 7 days a week and tending their farms meant they had little
time to visit such places.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-90GIJTLGBjk/Uhkz8Zl0UdI/AAAAAAAAFiI/AAiiyHR_i7I/s1600/417966_551021921607007_975959302_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-90GIJTLGBjk/Uhkz8Zl0UdI/AAAAAAAAFiI/AAiiyHR_i7I/s400/417966_551021921607007_975959302_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Distributing resuable bags* with fellow volunteer, Adam</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b><i>*The reusable bags are made from rPET and were a donation to the SLWCS from Onya Innovations based in South Freemantle, Western Australia. </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">It
was daunting experience particularly as I have no prior experience in teaching
or working with children. I brought a few extra things with me such as
binoculars and a magnifying glass and introduced them to tree rubbings (in
order to get the detail of the bark)—something I did as a child and naïvely
assumed would be a standard practice in schools. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">What surprised me the most, was not the
children’s reaction to these things, though they did seem eager to try out them
out, but that the teachers were perhaps more interested than the children! They
were initially quite reserved but with the reaction from the children, the
teachers seemed to try and jump the queue to try out the binoculars!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n28QqZnxnAE/Uhk1V7msEQI/AAAAAAAAFiU/0rrW9XsZEUY/s1600/382474_551060881603111_1611479203_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n28QqZnxnAE/Uhk1V7msEQI/AAAAAAAAFiU/0rrW9XsZEUY/s400/382474_551060881603111_1611479203_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A group of children working on their assingments</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PE_A26oyfQ8/Uhk1X52HD3I/AAAAAAAAFic/KbslJ41qDyc/s1600/575626_551022938273572_153935727_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PE_A26oyfQ8/Uhk1X52HD3I/AAAAAAAAFic/KbslJ41qDyc/s400/575626_551022938273572_153935727_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Another group working on their assignment</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GE2RGRXyVbA/Uhk1bTzv1WI/AAAAAAAAFik/lhgQPA-H0SY/s1600/944253_551060918269774_132967204_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GE2RGRXyVbA/Uhk1bTzv1WI/AAAAAAAAFik/lhgQPA-H0SY/s400/944253_551060918269774_132967204_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Observing and recording information about the natural world</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IwnCRsiT1YA/Uhk19s9g1xI/AAAAAAAAFis/m9MU70EXo-Y/s1600/947360_551060681603131_90135734_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IwnCRsiT1YA/Uhk19s9g1xI/AAAAAAAAFis/m9MU70EXo-Y/s400/947360_551060681603131_90135734_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Another group removing litter</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D-3WgFjIT48/Uhk2FLRCnxI/AAAAAAAAFi0/wo6AESMPNIo/s1600/945282_551022958273570_760425030_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D-3WgFjIT48/Uhk2FLRCnxI/AAAAAAAAFi0/wo6AESMPNIo/s400/945282_551022958273570_760425030_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>SLWCS Project Manager, Chandima explaining the assignments</b></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wtFye9TiRkI/Uhk2J9oDZ5I/AAAAAAAAFi8/ZmqiI3f0QDo/s1600/947004_551022864940246_610813806_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wtFye9TiRkI/Uhk2J9oDZ5I/AAAAAAAAFi8/ZmqiI3f0QDo/s400/947004_551022864940246_610813806_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>SLWCS Project Manager, Chinthaka assisting a group of students</b></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--e6BJqs5FDs/Uhk2QrJbkFI/AAAAAAAAFjE/rMTTKFCyr0E/s1600/983818_551022991606900_483383888_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--e6BJqs5FDs/Uhk2QrJbkFI/AAAAAAAAFjE/rMTTKFCyr0E/s400/983818_551022991606900_483383888_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The great outdoor classroom</b></td></tr>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iBUPLFP7AJY/Uhk2UpsMkNI/AAAAAAAAFjQ/guSffF3vVVg/s1600/970970_551023038273562_240535766_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="153" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iBUPLFP7AJY/Uhk2UpsMkNI/AAAAAAAAFjQ/guSffF3vVVg/s400/970970_551023038273562_240535766_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Class of May 2013</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I
and a volunteer had been asked to teach English in a class by the principal of
one of the schools; which we were happy to do. There were 50 students aged
around 10-11 years old, the classroom was of a level of heat I hadn’t expected
and the teachers just abandoned us! We did have the field manager for SLWCS,
Chandima Fernando and Field Scout Veroni (who is a teacher in training) so we
at least had people who could translate for us. As some of the students had
been to Knuckles the previous Saturday, we decided to keep to the theme of food
chains, with the understanding that the children have some knowledge of English
and the natural world. Turns out they knew very little of both! It was quite
difficult explaining that a dolphin isn’t a freshwater fish and that vampire
bats aren’t fruit eating birds; but they seemed to enjoy themselves!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n5b9XZJmnpk/Uhk4h3rBr1I/AAAAAAAAFjo/r_bCU0jxCdo/s1600/Picture6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n5b9XZJmnpk/Uhk4h3rBr1I/AAAAAAAAFjo/r_bCU0jxCdo/s400/Picture6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The students apparently enjoyed their English lessons</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">As
it turned out the best way to communicate with kids is through smiley faces and
thumbs up (they got a bit too overexcited with double thumbs up!); we decided
we had pitched the lesson plan too high for the children, they did enjoy
learning the English names for some animals, so myself and Chandima decided it
would be best to start next time with these simple translations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XZtkdBp8u3I/Uhk3obqpSlI/AAAAAAAAFjc/cVbEphD9gYs/s1600/969119_551060638269802_51176055_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="278" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XZtkdBp8u3I/Uhk3obqpSlI/AAAAAAAAFjc/cVbEphD9gYs/s400/969119_551060638269802_51176055_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>An endemic horned lizard (<i>Ceratophora</i> species) in the Kunckles</b></td></tr>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rQpvVdhNKAE/Uhk3qArJKiI/AAAAAAAAFjk/1pXTbMqlR3I/s1600/942798_551060644936468_74010927_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rQpvVdhNKAE/Uhk3qArJKiI/AAAAAAAAFjk/1pXTbMqlR3I/s400/942798_551060644936468_74010927_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A Blue Mormon butterfly</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">It
was the celebration for Buddha’s birthday and two of the staff members were
Buddhist, so I asked if it would be ok if I attended the local temple to see
what the celebrations would be like. Veroni’s family were responsible for the
main gift of flowers and had previously picked several hundred lotus flowers,
which all needed to be prepared (to look as though they’re in bloom) before
being donated; so I and several of the volunteers went to Veroni’s home to help
with the preparation. It was a very relaxing experience, it was nice to see how
other religions celebrate and at what lengths they adhere to the philosophies;
it was a unique experience that I was glad to see and I thoroughly enjoyed it despite
my atheism! The day ended with a trip to the temple to give another gift of
flowers and to light incense sticks; as I and the other volunteers were not
Buddhists we only stayed a very short time as we did not wish to divert
attention to the reason why people were there.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OySnPll5O5g/Uhk4wCAVSqI/AAAAAAAAFjw/8UeAsgmlAiU/s1600/Picture9.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OySnPll5O5g/Uhk4wCAVSqI/AAAAAAAAFjw/8UeAsgmlAiU/s400/Picture9.png" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Siriya with a basket of freshly picked purple lotus flowers</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In Situ Field Research</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kOFJh_Skg5g/Uhk5GjFDDzI/AAAAAAAAFj4/5ZXCP8v5xCo/s1600/Picture10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="65" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kOFJh_Skg5g/Uhk5GjFDDzI/AAAAAAAAFj4/5ZXCP8v5xCo/s400/Picture10.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Their small hills are my mountains</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I
have gained some experience in field research through my degree; however, as I
wish to be based outside the UK, I wanted to gain experience working in a
tropical environment. I found the
hardest thing to deal with was the heat and humidity; which I expected but did
not appreciate how difficult it would be. The actual physical work of the line
transects, creating sand traps and monitoring the electric fence was fine, but
it was made so much harder when I had to deal with the heat and the speed in
which you dehydrate. At times I did find it too much, particularly when trying
to catch up with the field scouts; I decided fairly early on that if they were
going too far ahead then I could just slow down or ask for a break; I passed
this onto the volunteers that turned up in subsequent weeks as I noticed that
some felt too embarrassed to ask for a break. It took a good week to
acclimatise and I did notice that some tasks we did during the first two weeks
were a lot easier towards weeks 4 and 5. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I’ve
been shown how to do GPS mapping which has been great and has given me the
enthusiasm to look into GIS courses once I’ve returned home. Though technology
is not my strong point (in fact, I try to avoid it where possible), GIS is
something that would greatly benefit my career after my degree. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
favourite part of my day involved elephant monitoring. This took place in the
elephant corridor, which was situated between three villages; data surrounding
people and their use of the corridor was collected as too was the elephant population,
demographics and time they were in the corridor. It was a very relaxing part of
the day; I would sit on top of the Land Rover and wait for elephants to show
(which happened less often then I would have liked!)*. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">*Note: </span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i><b>In the forests along the corridor elephants are present most of the time but whether they would venture out into the open is depended on disturbances. In addition elephant movements are also seasonal. This is why the observations made and data collected at the Tree Hut is important to understand the temporal dynamics of the elephants in this area.</b></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">After the busy morning of conducting field
research, it was a great end to the day. I managed to see one herd of 14
elephants, which was amazing but at the same time I’ve seen the growing
conflict between people and elephants. The people use government issued
firecrackers (which are essentially fireworks) to scare the elephants off,
however in some cases, this only aggravates an elephant more and at other
times, they throw the firecracker at the elephants deliberately to injure the
elephant. I knew of some methods prior to coming to Sri Lanka; however I wasn’t
aware of firecrackers and found the practice of using them disgraceful. I am aware that as a westerner, it’s easy to
be so judgemental about the use of firecrackers as the people do deal with
raids of their crops; however, what I did find through conducting surveys in
the villages, was that many of the people found it difficult to describe the
behaviour of elephants they came across in the corridor and their first thought
would be to throw a firecracker. If the
people knew how an elephant behaved, then I think that HEC could be alleviated
a lot quicker, as much of the time, elephants will not react to people
providing they’re quiet and do not disturb them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iOcaeVAhB9U/Uhk5zEsoSaI/AAAAAAAAFkE/XUkS5_e3Gz0/s1600/DSCF1345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iOcaeVAhB9U/Uhk5zEsoSaI/AAAAAAAAFkE/XUkS5_e3Gz0/s400/DSCF1345.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A herd of elephants by the Tree Hut</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HUCL-RbSJaA/Uhk6VAhwCLI/AAAAAAAAFkM/WMG8fS8bJOw/s1600/Picture8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HUCL-RbSJaA/Uhk6VAhwCLI/AAAAAAAAFkM/WMG8fS8bJOw/s400/Picture8.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>An elephant that had approached very close to the vehicle</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">One
aspect that has been brought to the forefront for me is that I’m a lot more
controlling than I would like to believe; I have previously been a store
manager and used to staff members doing what I asked, but I had to remind
myself that I was working with fellow volunteers and not my staff, so it was
not my place to say what could and could not happen. I did find this
interesting and something to be aware of—I just like things the way I like
them!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
assumed my development of communication and interpersonal skills would revolve
around the discussion of ideas to mitigate HEC and other matters related to
conservation; what I found is these skills were developed through the raising
of AD the Collared Scops Owl. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lad_XU_kDmk/Uhk6knTMbEI/AAAAAAAAFkU/YS6XPt7iQQU/s1600/Picture14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lad_XU_kDmk/Uhk6knTMbEI/AAAAAAAAFkU/YS6XPt7iQQU/s400/Picture14.jpg" width="227" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>AD the Asiatic Scops Owl</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">AD
arrived at SLWCS a week before I did*; I don’t have any experience working with
birds never mind raising an owl chick! I found that they had him in awful
housing (a metal bucket with a lid on top) and fed him the wrong diet (a diet
of fish, when his species does not consume it) which I quickly changed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">*You can read
more about AD at: <a href="http://slwcsupdates.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-novelette-about-owlet-ballad-of.html">http://slwcsupdates.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-novelette-about-owlet-ballad-of.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Around
the middle of my first week, we had returned to the field camp from a morning
out conducting research to find that AD had diarrhea, possibly from being fed a
diet of nutrient poor fish. Naturally
very concerned, I attempted to clean him up and asked for someone to get fluids
and sugar water; it quickly transpired that AD was a lot sicker than we had
realised, when he began to have fits. He
had between 10-15 fits, each getting progressively worse than the last, with
three major fits that resulted in entire body convulsions; to hear a chick
scream out of pain is a truly awful thing to experience—he got so bad that the
others had to leave as they found it too upsetting and Siriya said he couldn’t
see AD anymore, it was a horrible moment to experience as he had said what I
was thinking. Chandima had tried to reassure me that AD would be fine, but I
knew from experiences my friends had had with birds of prey, when they finally
show symptoms of being sick, its normally too late. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z89Se_16fU4/Uhk603OeW_I/AAAAAAAAFkc/2QpQRd7X8q4/s1600/Picture11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z89Se_16fU4/Uhk603OeW_I/AAAAAAAAFkc/2QpQRd7X8q4/s400/Picture11.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>AD as a downy owlet</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I
kept a vigil by AD; continuously trying to make sure he had fluids, a small
amount of rehydration salts (Boots own brand!!) and made sure he was
comfortable and able to sleep.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
my own astonishment, he managed to pull through! I felt bad for the times I
wished for someone to put AD out of his misery—and was quite glad I had never
actually said it! I knew that someone—anyone—human or owl—couldn’t have that many
fits and walk away without any problems, and the next day, we found he was
blind. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
stayed in with AD the day after his fits, we played games where I would put him
at one end of my bed and make whistling sounds for him to follow; which he did,
he seemed to enjoy the interaction. I hoped that because he was still so young
(around 3-4 weeks old) he would be able to recover at least part of his sight
as he grew.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As
of writing, AD is living off a diet of crickets, grasshoppers and geckos (we
are currently in very short supply of geckos in the field house!); his sight
has fully recovered and is becoming more adventurous with his flying! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hVcybARrqws/Uhk7DNe41vI/AAAAAAAAFkk/mcFNqKnButE/s1600/Picture12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="391" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hVcybARrqws/Uhk7DNe41vI/AAAAAAAAFkk/mcFNqKnButE/s400/Picture12.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>AD after he recovered from the fits</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I’ve
managed to gain communication and interpersonal skills through the request of
hoona and mia (geckos and mice) forAD’s meals with Siriya, who only speaks
Sinhalese! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JXUX9IW-Lo4/UhlfhLOUeAI/AAAAAAAAFlE/GpG4UGYPhQQ/s1600/house--gecko.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JXUX9IW-Lo4/UhlfhLOUeAI/AAAAAAAAFlE/GpG4UGYPhQQ/s400/house--gecko.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Gecko (Huna or Hoona)</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2lsax4q2xUg/Uhlfl1Ch46I/AAAAAAAAFlM/N7uJksNC1tQ/s1600/golden-mouse-09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="276" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2lsax4q2xUg/Uhlfl1Ch46I/AAAAAAAAFlM/N7uJksNC1tQ/s400/golden-mouse-09.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Mouse (Mia, Miya or Meeya)</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I’ve been discussing AD’s future and in the creation of new, bigger
cages for him until we can find a permanent residence. It’s certainly not what
I expected to find when I came to Sri Lanka, but for me the whole experience
has been made by the presence of AD; I felt like I had to share his story.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tyOhGuoyV7o/Uhk7WS5BB3I/AAAAAAAAFks/KYRI0DI2WxU/s1600/Picture13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="311" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tyOhGuoyV7o/Uhk7WS5BB3I/AAAAAAAAFks/KYRI0DI2WxU/s400/Picture13.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>AD </b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I’ve
raised this little owl from a chick, through a very difficult period when he
was very sick and the knowledge that he would never be able to be released into
the wild is awful, as that is where he should be. Though the trip so far has
been incredible, AD has been at the centre of everything I’ve done here;
leaving him behind is going to be one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">He’s a ‘proper little
owl’ now, though has a bit more growing to do and a very good reason for me to
keep coming back to Sri Lanka!!</span></div>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L2KBLpbfgCA/Uhk73DSws1I/AAAAAAAAFk0/pTF8WJZq2vQ/s1600/IMG_5512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L2KBLpbfgCA/Uhk73DSws1I/AAAAAAAAFk0/pTF8WJZq2vQ/s400/IMG_5512.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A memorable friendship. Mandi & AD (June 2013)</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />SLWCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13385383717997197891noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759649900435291798.post-25176157021116563352013-08-11T09:47:00.001-07:002013-08-11T10:47:22.552-07:00Hannah's First Hand Experiences of Human Elephant Conflicts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Hannah Patterson
is a student currently at the University of Birmingham studying Anthropology
and Classical Literature and Civilization in a joint honours programme. For a month, from July 1<sup>st</sup> to the
31<sup>st</sup> Hanna did a project on human elephant conflicts for her university
dissertation at the SLWCS project site at Wasgamuwa. This is her account of her experiences during
the month she spent at the SLWCS project site. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IGXwEkIL5X4/UgeZSHh8voI/AAAAAAAAFcE/Xw49GVowCTM/s1600/scan0010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IGXwEkIL5X4/UgeZSHh8voI/AAAAAAAAFcE/Xw49GVowCTM/s400/scan0010.jpg" width="336" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hannah Patterson</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I did not really
know what to expect when arranging to do my dissertation research with the Sri
Lankan Wildlife Conservation Society. During the month I spent with SLWCS, I
have been incredibly lucky to not only see elephants on 20 out of the 29 days
but also many aspects of the reality of human-elephant conflict on a first-hand
basis.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-42aAMCriyHE/Ugea5JK_HvI/AAAAAAAAFcU/OzZL2qBY_yA/s1600/600257_10151624331487772_1640570188_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-42aAMCriyHE/Ugea5JK_HvI/AAAAAAAAFcU/OzZL2qBY_yA/s400/600257_10151624331487772_1640570188_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A large herd drinking at the drying out Weheragalagama Tank</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Not having any
previous knowledge about how elephant activity is scientifically recorded I was
eager to learn about the techniques SLWCS used and what sort of results were been
discovered. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Chandima, the SLWCS Field
Projects Coordinator is clearly very knowledgeable in this field and took time
to explain the society’s research procedures to me and their significance to
understanding the human-elephant conflict in this part of Sri Lanka. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eVRQy906itw/UgebL0QbIsI/AAAAAAAAFcc/EMF69rmM3CY/s1600/999977_10151624194922772_1414187267_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eVRQy906itw/UgebL0QbIsI/AAAAAAAAFcc/EMF69rmM3CY/s400/999977_10151624194922772_1414187267_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Heading out to the field with other volunteers and SLWCS field staff</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tM76OiQ_Zg8/Ugeb09VK51I/AAAAAAAAFck/mryUR477ZK8/s1600/Hannah+Patterson-July+2013-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tM76OiQ_Zg8/Ugeb09VK51I/AAAAAAAAFck/mryUR477ZK8/s400/Hannah+Patterson-July+2013-6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>With Chandima and the rest of the team gathering field data</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The observations
at the tree hut revealed how often just one section of the corridor was used by
both humans and elephants and how dangerous it can be for both parties. It was
interesting to see how different people reacted while travelling through the
corridor as young children feared for their safety while attempting to walk
home from school while often tuk tuk drivers seemed indifferent to the threat
of a hiding elephant as they drove their vehicles at top speed making a lot of noise. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0RpYmMXLKq0/UgecOb9ph_I/AAAAAAAAFcs/HPfam4JfqM8/s1600/Hannah+Patterson-July+2013-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0RpYmMXLKq0/UgecOb9ph_I/AAAAAAAAFcs/HPfam4JfqM8/s400/Hannah+Patterson-July+2013-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Tree Hut provided an ideal window into human elephant interactions</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-byEuWa9-63A/UgecpKaOJOI/AAAAAAAAFc0/ysWFe--BPx0/s1600/conflict-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-byEuWa9-63A/UgecpKaOJOI/AAAAAAAAFc0/ysWFe--BPx0/s400/conflict-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A family and an elephant using the corridor at the same time</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ILDWY-cO3JA/Ugec3Nm4qZI/AAAAAAAAFc8/GLyMRKYFVRA/s1600/conflict-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ILDWY-cO3JA/Ugec3Nm4qZI/AAAAAAAAFc8/GLyMRKYFVRA/s400/conflict-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Running away when the elephant begins to head in their direction</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lKQn0KTOfus/Ugey5o0SoPI/AAAAAAAAFdw/4IE4_GOw2Zg/s1600/conflict-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lKQn0KTOfus/Ugey5o0SoPI/AAAAAAAAFdw/4IE4_GOw2Zg/s400/conflict-5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Two Buddhist Monks and a motorcyclist walking past a bull elephant</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lgxhIzsp_MM/Ugeyr-aF0NI/AAAAAAAAFdU/5gUMlWArfd0/s1600/conflict-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lgxhIzsp_MM/Ugeyr-aF0NI/AAAAAAAAFdU/5gUMlWArfd0/s400/conflict-3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Two men cycling past several elephants</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TJE1CfxrdbY/UgeysKhnAJI/AAAAAAAAFdc/5x5E-fcNmpM/s1600/conflict-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TJE1CfxrdbY/UgeysKhnAJI/AAAAAAAAFdc/5x5E-fcNmpM/s400/conflict-4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A man and woman looking alertly at an elephant while walking to their village</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-btk5v0Wf8nE/UgeylyzrvSI/AAAAAAAAFdQ/01r1lqI4jCA/s1600/conflict-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-btk5v0Wf8nE/UgeylyzrvSI/AAAAAAAAFdQ/01r1lqI4jCA/s400/conflict-6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Two Land Master tractors driving past a large bull elephant</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Seeing a herd of eighteen, with one of them a magnificent tusker and a couple
of young calves, on my second day of been in the field was a truly amazing
experience. However, when spending a night in the tree hut I was woken in the
early hours to the sight of a bull elephant with a snare tightly wound around
its trunk, probably making it impossible for it to eat. Chandima contacted the
Department of Wildlife Conservation in the hope that they could do something
for the elephant. However, I heard no news about this matter for the rest of my
stay in Sri Lanka so I remain worried for the elephant’s health.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yjLHWJXBkKE/Uge0BE9wCxI/AAAAAAAAFd8/o4cbhfoqlp4/s1600/Hannah+Patterson-July+2013-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yjLHWJXBkKE/Uge0BE9wCxI/AAAAAAAAFd8/o4cbhfoqlp4/s400/Hannah+Patterson-July+2013-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A herd of 18 elephants under the Tree Hut</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OluI1EVpSwQ/Uge0FfdnmLI/AAAAAAAAFeE/L7py2m3axIg/s1600/Entering-from-d-forest-patc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OluI1EVpSwQ/Uge0FfdnmLI/AAAAAAAAFeE/L7py2m3axIg/s400/Entering-from-d-forest-patc.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A part of the herd approaching the Tree Hut</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D0siNdK8vqI/Uge-fjqPgtI/AAAAAAAAFf4/SEXbkdbBIig/s1600/close-up-snare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D0siNdK8vqI/Uge-fjqPgtI/AAAAAAAAFf4/SEXbkdbBIig/s400/close-up-snare.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The elephant with a snare around its trunk</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--lKulqJwFxc/Uge-iDlsdfI/AAAAAAAAFgA/aaVGvfTKngE/s1600/Could-be-a-gun-shot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--lKulqJwFxc/Uge-iDlsdfI/AAAAAAAAFgA/aaVGvfTKngE/s400/Could-be-a-gun-shot.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A bull with a large cyst that had grown over a gunshot wound</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Human
encroachment into the elephant habitat was made further apparent while
conducting research on the transect trails. It became obvious that some areas
were being used by elephants more often than others. For example, the transect
from the tree hut to the national park proved to be very popular as there were
many samples to record, possibly because it is considered to be a safer route
of travel by the elephants as it is hidden in the forested areas. Furthermore,
throughout my time I saw dung with evidence of crop raiding through the remains
of sweetcorn, cucumber, jack fruit, watermelon and rice. Not to mention that
significant number of the samples we did record also contained large amounts of
plastic and other rubbish. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ddcrYfQ0__s/Uge0lwC7CaI/AAAAAAAAFeM/o-xQhmmDh_M/s1600/Hannah+Patterson-July+2013-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ddcrYfQ0__s/Uge0lwC7CaI/AAAAAAAAFeM/o-xQhmmDh_M/s400/Hannah+Patterson-July+2013-17.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Poop Investigators analyzing elephant dung</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Before arriving
at SLWCS I had never heard of elephants entering rubbish dumps however I have
now seen for myself that elephants will travel to these areas specifically in
search of discarded food from villages and towns. On a trip to Dambulla we went
into a dump on the whim that an elephant may be around and actually just as we
got there three elephants came to the dump almost immediately. It was quite
upsetting to see these magnificent creatures shovel bag after bag of discarded
household waste into their mouths. These rubbish dumps are a rich resource of
food that is easily accessible for the elephants therefore it is understandable
that they would travel to these areas regularly. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k-n7eirqNcM/Uge5VK428NI/AAAAAAAAFec/gtSaX4dWQ2o/s1600/Hannah+Patterson-July+2013-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k-n7eirqNcM/Uge5VK428NI/AAAAAAAAFec/gtSaX4dWQ2o/s400/Hannah+Patterson-July+2013-15.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Three elephants eating at a garbage dumb by the Bakamuna Dambulla Road</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">While conducting
my own research for my dissertation Chandima helped me interview some of the
local people. Everyone was so friendly inviting us into their homes and
appearing genuinely interested in my research and the questions I was asking.
It was fascinating to hear all the real life experiences that these people have
faced with elephants - with some people encountering these animals nearly every
day. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ywt5XuDvlYo/Uge5wbwPbqI/AAAAAAAAFek/cfrkmtYDJ3g/s1600/Hannah+Patterson-July+2013-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ywt5XuDvlYo/Uge5wbwPbqI/AAAAAAAAFek/cfrkmtYDJ3g/s400/Hannah+Patterson-July+2013-16.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A village home broken by an elephant</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BXk17ZQ7E-4/Uge53SAvutI/AAAAAAAAFew/kWEiWtJkK8A/s1600/IMG_1696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BXk17ZQ7E-4/Uge53SAvutI/AAAAAAAAFew/kWEiWtJkK8A/s400/IMG_1696.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The owner inspecting the damage the elephant had caused</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p6OX3vS30ic/Uge57q-OLXI/AAAAAAAAFfA/k342_ltoO4M/s1600/IMG_1691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p6OX3vS30ic/Uge57q-OLXI/AAAAAAAAFfA/k342_ltoO4M/s400/IMG_1691.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The bags of stored food crops the elephant had eaten </b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mCv3zG1PztI/Uge53YJE7II/AAAAAAAAFes/3Ep0DdvWUEo/s1600/IMG_1697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mCv3zG1PztI/Uge53YJE7II/AAAAAAAAFes/3Ep0DdvWUEo/s400/IMG_1697.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Discussing with the owners their experiences with crop raiding elephants</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">However, it is
one thing to hear about these experiences and another to experience similar
ones yourself. While driving past the electric fence one evening a bull
elephant swam across the river to face us on the other side and looked as if it
would try and break through. The elephant had to be scared away by villagers
shouting. However, the next morning the fence has been broken in a different
area and there was clear evidence of crop damage from where the elephant had
walked through a field into the village. Despite the fence being fixed by
villagers immediately, a few days later a man in the village was killed by an
elephant- thought to be the same one that we saw a few times by the fence. This
tragedy had an obvious effect on the community as they all came together to pay
their respects*. Witnessing this grief made the statistic the equivalent of one
person every week dies from elephants attack in Sri Lanka feel almost too real
to bear. This moment made me realise how truly important the work of SLWCS as
these communities live in fear for their safety each day. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><b>*When such incidence happens at SLWCS project sites, the society provides financial assistance to the victim’s family.</b></i><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LxI7MW9wNwc/Uge7jXFEY-I/AAAAAAAAFfM/mEkSSnUA0dE/s1600/He-is-disabled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LxI7MW9wNwc/Uge7jXFEY-I/AAAAAAAAFfM/mEkSSnUA0dE/s400/He-is-disabled.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bull waiting to cross into a village</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SmjM-HFv3L0/Uge7oWuahBI/AAAAAAAAFfU/tA1yXqaNgXw/s1600/IMG_1675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SmjM-HFv3L0/Uge7oWuahBI/AAAAAAAAFfU/tA1yXqaNgXw/s400/IMG_1675.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The villager was killed by an elephant on July 25th night while protecting his crops</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">I have had the
most amazing month here and really do not want to leave! </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">I will definitely miss Siriya and his
hilarious antics.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">I recommend all
volunteers to ask him to dance his “Chicken Dance” before they leave—it is a
must see! I can’t thank Chandima enough for helping me with my dissertation
research!</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">I’m also going to miss the
three cats, Useless and Sebastian, though not the female Princess* that much
since she only ever loved me for my food.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">
</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">Little AD (Amaray the Asiatic Scops Owl) had grown so much while I have
been here and I hope he stays safe and well. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">I’ve been so lucky to see and be up-close to
so many elephants (sometimes too close for comfort).</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">I will definitely be back soon.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><b><i>*Editors note: Sebastian's and Princess' actual names are Meaningless and Nonsense. </i></b></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gMQjSJt1OVA/Uge8UMOovxI/AAAAAAAAFfc/qK_cNaXzUsQ/s1600/12065_10151624330882772_409310765_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gMQjSJt1OVA/Uge8UMOovxI/AAAAAAAAFfc/qK_cNaXzUsQ/s400/12065_10151624330882772_409310765_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Heading out to the field with Siriya in the faithful old Land Rover Gloria</b></td></tr>
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<div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PnGTe-DinZk/UgfNYWDn1XI/AAAAAAAAFgs/GRNflMilR5A/s1600/IMG_0525+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PnGTe-DinZk/UgfNYWDn1XI/AAAAAAAAFgs/GRNflMilR5A/s400/IMG_0525+-+Copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Useless</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7iYyIMKKo0w/UgfJcAKcw7I/AAAAAAAAFgU/7KmLwmOIyL8/s1600/IMG_0751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7iYyIMKKo0w/UgfJcAKcw7I/AAAAAAAAFgU/7KmLwmOIyL8/s400/IMG_0751.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Amaray (AD) with Meaningless (Sebastian) and Nonsense (Princess)</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 17px;">I hope to return to Pussellayaya in the next year or two to see how the society has progressed and revisit what I now consider to be my old friends. This has truly been an unforgettable experience and I am really glad I have been a part of the work that SLWCS does—even if it was for such a short time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P0z_SzcqgoA/UgfKbP0mJgI/AAAAAAAAFgc/NZjuBzXkt1E/s1600/12048_10151624332382772_1049082890_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P0z_SzcqgoA/UgfKbP0mJgI/AAAAAAAAFgc/NZjuBzXkt1E/s400/12048_10151624332382772_1049082890_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Visiting one of the ancient and historic Buddhist Temples</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></div>
SLWCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13385383717997197891noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759649900435291798.post-66827382080479613652013-08-03T17:07:00.002-07:002013-09-11T02:50:36.734-07:00The Lahugala Kitulana Incident: Saved by the Shoe (Part II) <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bucELFk24Ao/UfRVRarIZrI/AAAAAAAAFZ0/QAbep-am21Y/s1600/Lahugala-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bucELFk24Ao/UfRVRarIZrI/AAAAAAAAFZ0/QAbep-am21Y/s400/Lahugala-4.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Lahugala-Kitulana National Park</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b>Prologue</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
In 2004 the Department of Wildlife Conservation requested
the SLWCS to establish a project to mitigate human-elephant conflicts in the
remote Lahugala region. During one of the preliminary field visits we
encountered an injured bull elephant that disappeared soon after we had
observed it. We tried to help the Department of Wildlife Conservation
personnel based in Lahugala to find this elephant so that a veterinary surgeon
dispatched from their head office in Colombo could treat it. This is an
account of what happened when we went in search of this injured elephant.
While it’s true that a shoe was involved in this incident it had nothing to do
with Cinderella’s story. Though to have had a fairy godmother when things
looked pretty desperate during a faceoff with a bull elephant would have made
this a very nice fairy tale.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b>The story so far:</b>
After the project meeting we headed back to the place where we had come across
the injured elephant. To our disappointment it was not there. So we
drove slowly down the road scanning the jungle on either side looking for
it. As we were passing by the Kitulana Tank the two game guards spotted
four elephants far away in the distance, one of them was in the water. It
was known that injured elephants liked to stay in water for its calming and
soothing qualities. Parking the Defender by the side of the road we
decided to walk up to the elephants, to check whether the one in the water was actually
the injured elephant that we had observed earlier on our way to Lahugala.
We had no idea how serious the injuries of the elephant were, but most
probably they were not as bad as the serious brain hemorrhaging we
must have had to go traipsing in the open towards a group of wild elephants.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1xzPWbPirg0/UfRYs4s-c4I/AAAAAAAAFaQ/7UIXlxotVYc/s1600/RC-Sri+Lanka+Trip+Feb+2010-Part+1+496.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1xzPWbPirg0/UfRYs4s-c4I/AAAAAAAAFaQ/7UIXlxotVYc/s400/RC-Sri+Lanka+Trip+Feb+2010-Part+1+496.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Driving slowly we scanned the jungle on either side</b></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Continuing…. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The elephant that we
assumed was injured was standing knee deep in the water with its back turned
towards us. Intuitively I had marked out a tree planning to make a bee
line to it if the elephant happened to be uninjured. Then to my dismay I
realized that we had already passed by that tree and the elephant was still a
good 50 meters ahead of us! That's how far we had to walk to the elephant
and it was all open ground with only space and air in between, which in my
opinion were very inadequate barriers to stop a rampaging elephant.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JICRFq8CU0A/UfRZgh8VWmI/AAAAAAAAFaU/DqG6ySBjJNk/s1600/F1010029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JICRFq8CU0A/UfRZgh8VWmI/AAAAAAAAFaU/DqG6ySBjJNk/s400/F1010029.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>On the right is the elephant we thought was injured</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bV6LkocKy6A/UfSHJETMBbI/AAAAAAAAFak/BTsFRbIPSZk/s1600/19400028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bV6LkocKy6A/UfSHJETMBbI/AAAAAAAAFak/BTsFRbIPSZk/s400/19400028.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The terrain we had to walk and the tree I had in mind in case the elephant charged</b></td></tr>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
The ground that looked like a vast flat grass plain from
the tank bund had totally misled us to believe that this was going to be a romp
in the park. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>The flat
ground turned out to be like a miniature representation of the moon’s surface.
Every inch of it had small crater-like imprints of elephant feet.
The vast number of elephants that converged on the park as the water
receded had left behind these crater-like impressions of their feet everywhere
on the tank bed. With the onset of the dry season these imprints had got
hardened and covered with grass. It was rather deceiving, since one
expected it to be an easy walk on flat open ground, whereas these mini craters
were dangerous ankle spraining traps. Stepping gingerly between the
crumbling edges of these small craters and keeping a wary eye out on the
elephants we trekked onwards.<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-84iiXYKormI/UfSHhidLP-I/AAAAAAAAFas/dW0tlHvj9_0/s1600/F1010001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-84iiXYKormI/UfSHhidLP-I/AAAAAAAAFas/dW0tlHvj9_0/s400/F1010001.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Underneath the grass were miniature ankle spraining craters made by elephant feet</b></td></tr>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As the distance between the
elephants and us got shorter unknowingly we had spread apart, and I wondered
whether the wiser course would have been to clump together, to offer a solid
front as a last ditch effort just like the Spartans had done at the pass of
Thermopylae.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span> In this
situation though a legendary million armed Persians seemed much less formidable
than a right-in-your face, living breathing, and potentially enraged 10,000
pound bull elephant.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span> This
would not even be a standoff; the elephant would just steamroll over us</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">. At
least the Spartans got a chance to knock down a few Persians before they got
annihilated—whereas we would get flattened to the ground and not even get to pinch the elephant</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">.</span><br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
The plan though was very simple and would even be
considered brilliant if it was hatched by a bunch of village idiots. Our
simple plan was to get as close as possible to the elephant to see the
condition of the front left leg. If it was the injured elephant then we
were not in much of a danger as long as the other three elephants that were
little further away did not take offense at our proximity. If it was not
the injured elephant then we would quietly sneak back before it noticed us.
It was just like stealing up on my grandmother when I was a kid if the
fact that I got detected every time could be overlooked. Only one thing
was wrong with this simple and brilliant-if-you-want-to-call-it-that plan,
obviously the elephant knew nothing about it. So to make matters rather
difficult the elephant kept the same position requiring us to get much closer
than we had anticipated. For the sheer folly of our plan we had a good
chance of getting short listed to receive a Darwin Award. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>These awards are given annually to
individuals who have contributed to human evolution by self-selecting
themselves out of the gene pool by their own foolish actions. There was a
very good chance we could end up with the award this year. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br />
The large bull elephant was unaware of our approach because the wind was
blowing towards us which was fortunate. Or was it? Because if the wind
was blowing the other way, it would have alerted the elephant much earlier on
and we could’ve found out from a much further and safer distance, whether he
was actually wounded without having to get this trunk shaking close. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
Probably it is a mental state of grown men—the greater the
danger, lot stupider they get—because we just kept walking up to the elephant,
and Chandima and I had unknowingly become the vanguard of the foot safari.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
As we got near to the elephant which was getting bigger and
bigger, my mind was a raging torrent of thoughts, ideas, and plans in case the
elephant was not injured. If it charges don’t run—stand your ground.
Could I possibly do this? Stand firm and stare down a thundering 10 ton mass of
pachyderm? What if it just kept coming? The ground was unstable so I
should take off my shoes if I had to run. How about photos? Should I take
photos or not! Was there enough light? What if I stopped to take photos will
there be still enough time to run? Should I remove my glasses? Or run with them?
What if they fall while running? Maybe I’ll remove the shoes and glasses, then
take photos and then run! These thoughts were racing through my mind when we arrived by the edge of the pool of water the elephant was and stopped.
We could go no further or to be more accurate any closer, because beyond was
thick mud that would have immediately sucked us in if we had stepped on
it. Even from such a close distance because of the way it was standing it
was difficult to identify whether it was the injured elephant. It was not
more than 50 feet away, which was just a hop step and jump for a healthy
elephant.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
</div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S8OPsZ1sAiw/UfSIL2n9O3I/AAAAAAAAFa0/dvtxaZ1aETI/s1600/F1010030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S8OPsZ1sAiw/UfSIL2n9O3I/AAAAAAAAFa0/dvtxaZ1aETI/s400/F1010030.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The elephant fed quite unaware that we were walking towards it</b></td></tr>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
The grey toned colossus was completely oblivious to the
fact that there was a group of seven people just a few yards away standing and
staring at its gargantuan backside. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>The
elephant with its posterior skin hanging loose in folds—like a chubby man in
baggy pajamas—looked so disarmingly and deceptively cute—from the rear that is.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span> <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: '', serif, '', serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Standing by the edge
of the pool we craned our necks from every conceivable angle to try and snatch
a view of the front left leg. From above we would have looked like a
bizarre religious group standing around our pachyderm deity worshiping
fanatically its’ very generous rear. If elephant dung can be considered
heavenly gifts then our deity was capable of being a prodigious benefactor.</span><u1:p></u1:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vTIc_FDlwEc/UfSJApx5PKI/AAAAAAAAFbA/KIttmLA3GN0/s1600/F1010028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vTIc_FDlwEc/UfSJApx5PKI/AAAAAAAAFbA/KIttmLA3GN0/s400/F1010028.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>As it fed the elephant was turning towards the right</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
I started to take photos with my Canon SLR which had a
standard lens on it at the time. As dusk was descending fast I was worried
whether the photos will come out alright. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Also on the unstable ground it was not
easy to balance and take photos with a steady hand while making escape plans at
the same time. The elephant had finally started to shift from its
position but unfortunately in the wrong direction. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>It was gradually turning to the right
while it fed. It seemed we were not destined to see its front left leg today.
In the meantime I kept shooting with the camera, when suddenly, due to
the deepening dusk and resulting low light the built in flash popped out and
automatically went off! <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The elephant now standing
at an angle noticed the camera flashlight go off and stiffened
immediately. We just froze where we stood as if the ice age had suddenly
descended. </span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It felt as if
time stopped for fate to assess the situation and give a verdict. </span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In that double domed cranium somewhere
in the folds of that massive brain a memory lingered, a memory that was
directly associated with flashing light. </span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What was that memory? Did the camera
flash remind it of the flash of gunshots in the night that preceded the piercing
and excruciating agony that followed in its aftermath? Was that why it
paused? Standing still vainly trying to imitate Lot's wife who was turned
into a pillar of salt I wondered how the elephant would react, fearfully or
aggressively? We were soon going to find out!</span><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">To
be continued…<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DvX8LmEdV5A/Uf3HsMoUl1I/AAAAAAAAFbs/BXbTwNeb9DI/s1600/nd-lahugala-nov2005%252820%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DvX8LmEdV5A/Uf3HsMoUl1I/AAAAAAAAFbs/BXbTwNeb9DI/s400/nd-lahugala-nov2005%252820%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A herd with a small baby rushing to the safety of the forest at the Lahugala National Park</b></td></tr>
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SLWCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13385383717997197891noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759649900435291798.post-53766069398178814732013-07-20T20:25:00.001-07:002013-08-01T15:59:01.371-07:00The Lahugala Kitulana Incident: Saved by the Shoe<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a3HvgcmrX-o/UesJOGzdvlI/AAAAAAAAFRw/T-sbPkttogU/s1600/Lahugala-8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a3HvgcmrX-o/UesJOGzdvlI/AAAAAAAAFRw/T-sbPkttogU/s400/Lahugala-8.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Lahugala-Kitulana National Park</b></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: '', serif, '', serif;">Prologue</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">In 2004 the Department of Wildlife Conservation requested the SLWCS to establish a project to mitigate human-elephant conflicts in the remote Lahugala region. During one of the preliminary field visits we encountered an injured bull elephant that disappeared soon after we had observed it. We tried to help the Department of Wildlife Conservation personnel based in Lahugala to find this elephant so that a veterinary surgeon dispatched from their head office in Colombo could treat it. This is an account of what happened when we went in search of this injured elephant. While it’s true that a shoe was involved in this incident it had nothing to do with Cinderella’s story. Though to have had a fairy godmother when things looked pretty desperate during a faceoff with a bull elephant would have made this a very nice fairy tale.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Part
I</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It was the height of the dry season in
2005 when we came to Lahugala in regard to a project the Department of Wildlife
Conservation of Sri Lanka had requested us to establish to resolve conflicts
with elephants. It had taken us close to
12 hours to get there. That’s how far Lahugala
is from Colombo. Today with better roads
one could probably do it in less than 9 hours.
With me were CC, Nishantha, Chandima, and Rohitha. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zxrTiLsP7Yk/UespQ7Jv1aI/AAAAAAAAFSQ/uZWVAVSLEIU/s1600/19400026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zxrTiLsP7Yk/UespQ7Jv1aI/AAAAAAAAFSQ/uZWVAVSLEIU/s400/19400026.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Team: Myself, Nishantha, Chandima, Jeggan and Rohitha</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">We had come to attend several meetings with
local stakeholders in regard to this project.
Rohitha was an old friend, who had joined hoping for a little bit of
excitement and adventure. My dear old friend should’ve known that going
to a garden with me was perilous enough. And here he was looking for a “little
bit of excitement and adventure” in the wilderness. He had apparently
forgotten that one had to be mentally deranged to go with me to the wilderness
where wild animals range freely and so do I. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hGCAjQu0h5M/Uespsk-2Z0I/AAAAAAAAFSY/B1dj2LOuNqM/s1600/F1010033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hGCAjQu0h5M/Uespsk-2Z0I/AAAAAAAAFSY/B1dj2LOuNqM/s400/F1010033.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Rohitha posing by the park offices had no idea what he had got himself into</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">When I was a child just the mention of Lahugala
invoked thoughts of remote and impenetrable jungles, small village hamlets, and
abundant wildlife, which this entire region actually was until twenty five years
ago. The first time I visited Lahugala
was in 1984 on my way to the Kumana Bird Sanctuary which was even more remotely
located in the extreme southeastern corner of Sri Lanka. During that time Monaragala was the big frontier
town before one entered the lonely and elephant infested jungles that stretched
all the way to Lahugala and beyond. Those
days Siyabalanduwa was a two shop town where all the residents would stare with
wide eyes astonished that you had come to their town. One could get a refreshing cup of tea at one
of the two shops and nothing else before embarking on the long and empty road that
led through Lahugala to Pottuvil. Twenty
five years ago the road once it passed Siyabalanduwa was pretty much uninhabited
until one arrived at Pottuvil and Arugam Bay.
Today of course these areas had been all destroyed for development or
settled with hoards of people. The remote
wilderness that existed is just a memory from the past. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m5-uUQ6KxmA/UespH8Iw3qI/AAAAAAAAFSM/lKItgm4FxRs/s1600/RC-Sri+Lanka+Trip+Feb+2010-Part+1+493.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m5-uUQ6KxmA/UespH8Iw3qI/AAAAAAAAFSM/lKItgm4FxRs/s400/RC-Sri+Lanka+Trip+Feb+2010-Part+1+493.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The incredibly thrilling jungles of Lahugala</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">During that first trip over 25 years ago,
on the stretch from Siyabalanduwa to Lahugala we drove with our senses alert
and eyes scanning for elephants and other wildlife. To our joy there were, close to or over two
hundred elephants congregating by the Lahugala Tank. Unfortunately the tank is situated quite a distance
from the road and not having a powerful telephoto or a zoom lens, the only option
was to get as close as possible on foot to take photos with my small Olympus instamatic. As fate would have it this could be
considered the dress rehearsal for what was to happen during the 2005 visit.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qsq5dm3kT2M/UesovTuh_4I/AAAAAAAAFSE/SpOITXD7XN8/s1600/Lahugala-6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qsq5dm3kT2M/UesovTuh_4I/AAAAAAAAFSE/SpOITXD7XN8/s400/Lahugala-6.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Observing a large herd gathered by the Kitualana Tank</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">A friend and I started to walk up to the
Lahugala Tank which was a considerable distance from the road. Unbeknownst to us a massive herd of water buffalo
were on our left flank. We became aware
of them only when several bulls detached themselves from the herd and headed in
our direction with heads aggressively held high. They looked so menacing that we immediately and involuntarily started to walk backwards .
It had become a habit now whenever I’m in a situation facing a wild
denizen of the jungle and the odds seemed to be stacked totally against me, to
wonder how early humans ever managed to get out of the wilderness unscathed. Since we had no matador training or a red cape
handy we beat a quick and hurried retreat back to the Land Rover. Probably this was not the dress rehearsal for
the recent event since no elephant was involved on this occasion.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xi1qCfYb0qI/UessZPjzvqI/AAAAAAAAFSw/zgUgBc47lQ4/s1600/RC-April-May+Trip+to+SL-Yala+trip+with+Doug+Burkman+120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xi1qCfYb0qI/UessZPjzvqI/AAAAAAAAFSw/zgUgBc47lQ4/s400/RC-April-May+Trip+to+SL-Yala+trip+with+Doug+Burkman+120.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A massive wild water buffalo bull looking alertly</b></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mn8GruyG2rs/UeswqSoSqZI/AAAAAAAAFTE/i1DA_VqqQUs/s1600/Lahugala+Field+Trip+-+Aug+16-19th+2010+205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mn8GruyG2rs/UeswqSoSqZI/AAAAAAAAFTE/i1DA_VqqQUs/s400/Lahugala+Field+Trip+-+Aug+16-19th+2010+205.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A young female wild buffalo walking in a typical aggressive manner. An elephant walking away at the back</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Situated in the farthest corner of the
Eastern Province in the Amparai District, the Lahugala-Kitulana National Park
is one of the smallest national parks in Sri Lanka at 1,554 hectares. It was originally designated as a wildlife sanctuary </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">on July 1<sup>st</sup>
of 1966 and upgraded to a national park on October 31<sup>st</sup> of 1980. The park is situated 318 kilometers east
of Colombo</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><br />
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Situated nearby to the park was the historically
significant Magulmaha Vihara which is supposed to have been constructed for the occasion of the marriage of King Kavan Tissa to Princes Vihara Maha Devi around 200 BC. They were the parents of Sri Lanak's most famous King, Gamani Abhaya or more popularly known as King Dutugemunu who reigned from 161 BC to 137 BC. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k26CixshZdM/UesxVrFivdI/AAAAAAAAFTI/AwNk5-y7xQU/s1600/Bodigaraya+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k26CixshZdM/UesxVrFivdI/AAAAAAAAFTI/AwNk5-y7xQU/s400/Bodigaraya+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A part of the grand Magulmaha Vihara</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lRwKIyd5F-8/UesxmlN0F3I/AAAAAAAAFTQ/acMvQAeeLwg/s1600/Magul+Mahavihara-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lRwKIyd5F-8/UesxmlN0F3I/AAAAAAAAFTQ/acMvQAeeLwg/s400/Magul+Mahavihara-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>From the ruins one can just imagine how impressive it must have been</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-somLhtBm85Y/Uesx6JFHlOI/AAAAAAAAFTY/Gb0_7_L-3Us/s1600/sl_36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-somLhtBm85Y/Uesx6JFHlOI/AAAAAAAAFTY/Gb0_7_L-3Us/s400/sl_36.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>One of the most exquisitely carved moonstones can be seen at the Magulmaha Vihara</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The park consisted of three irrigation
reservoirs or tanks which were the reason for its existence. The Lahugala and Kitulana tanks gave the park
its name. The Sengamuwa tank was the
third and all three tanks drained into the Heda Oya that was located south of
the park. These three tanks during the dry season collectively made this little
park one of the most ideal habitats for elephants in that part of the country.
They provided the most essential conditions for elephants: abundant food,
water and forest cover all in close proximity—a veritable elephant Shangri-La.
Long before Minneriya it was at Lahugala where one could see gatherings
of over 200 elephants. As the waters of the three tanks receded with the
commencement of the dry season the expanding littoral plains became a feast of
lush beru grass (</span><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sacciolepis interrupta</i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">)
that was irresistible to elephants. At the peak of the dry season the
park probably attracted close to 300 elephants and it was a spellbinding sight.
It also meant trouble for the villagers that lived right across the road
from the park. By 2004 human elephant conflict had become a major socioeconomic
concern and environmental issue. Both
people and elephants were getting injured, dying and displaced as a result. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hBqhpDpt_og/UesyumeC0eI/AAAAAAAAFTk/W_fQXInWjBA/s1600/nd-lahugala-nov2005(17).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hBqhpDpt_og/UesyumeC0eI/AAAAAAAAFTk/W_fQXInWjBA/s400/nd-lahugala-nov2005(17).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Lahugala was famous for its large congregations of elephants long before Minneriya</b></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RveyRIkPlJg/UeszR0Pc8zI/AAAAAAAAFTs/9-btv2B-h4M/s1600/Picture1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RveyRIkPlJg/UeszR0Pc8zI/AAAAAAAAFTs/9-btv2B-h4M/s400/Picture1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: justify;">Beru grass (</span><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: justify;">Sacciolepis interrupta</i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: justify;">) that made the park an elephant Shangri-La</span></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">It never ever failed
to amaze me whenever I visited Lahugala to see villages on one side and
elephants on the other side with the narrow road as the interface of the boundary
that divided both species habitats. Not
that elephants respected or took seriously this boundary demarcation. To stand on one of the tank’s bunds to observe
people and elephants going about their lives on either side of the road was a
fascinating spectacle—a vivid visual of the finitely thin interface of the human-elephant
divide in Sri Lanka. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-St4mTkcS8cw/UetAWfMuprI/AAAAAAAAFU0/kulpRJMw-Rs/s1600/Lahugala+Field+Trip+-+Aug+16-19th+2010+554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-St4mTkcS8cw/UetAWfMuprI/AAAAAAAAFU0/kulpRJMw-Rs/s400/Lahugala+Field+Trip+-+Aug+16-19th+2010+554.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Village youth playing cricket with a wild elephant in the background. </b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">In early 2004, the Department of
Wildlife Conservation requested the SLWCS to provide a solar powered electric
fence to protect four villages along the southern border of the Lahugala-Kitulana
National Park. The villages were: Pansal
Godaha, Parana Lahugala, Nawa Lahugala and Dewalagodaha with a combine
population of close to 3,000 people.
These four villages were seriously affected by crop raiding elephants. To safe guard their lives, property and crops
the villages had resorted to shooting, poisoning and maiming elephants in
retaliation. There was an urgent need to
address the escalating human elephant conflicts. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E7ho4SkVd2k/Ues8E7nvKXI/AAAAAAAAFT8/PcLGGhihTOo/s1600/Picture7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="302" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E7ho4SkVd2k/Ues8E7nvKXI/AAAAAAAAFT8/PcLGGhihTOo/s400/Picture7.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A rice field destroyed by elephants</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jyccO2cLYMI/Ues8aqLrFMI/AAAAAAAAFUM/qgXbEHQC5F8/s1600/Picture2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jyccO2cLYMI/Ues8aqLrFMI/AAAAAAAAFUM/qgXbEHQC5F8/s400/Picture2.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A villager heading out to protect his fields carrying a gun</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OaHdrsv-C90/Ues8l-9GnkI/AAAAAAAAFUU/9M7ffqDQLAQ/s1600/Picture5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OaHdrsv-C90/Ues8l-9GnkI/AAAAAAAAFUU/9M7ffqDQLAQ/s400/Picture5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>This old farmer is lucky to be alive. He barely escaped with his life from an elephant attack </b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_ffGbdSPI6I/UetEYHj1tCI/AAAAAAAAFWE/HcMtYjDQp3w/s1600/Elephant+death+in+Lahugala..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_ffGbdSPI6I/UetEYHj1tCI/AAAAAAAAFWE/HcMtYjDQp3w/s400/Elephant+death+in+Lahugala..jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A baby elephant killed due to the escalating human-elephant conflicts</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Another reason for the escalation in
human-elephant conflicts was the rampant illegal logging and clearing of
forests that was going on in the surrounding forest reserves. Unscrupulous businessman from Pottuvil would
send convoys of carts, trucks and Caterpillar heavy machinery with their minions
to cut down valuable timber trees. Following
in the wake of these destructive illicit loggers the land hungry villagers from
Pottuvil and Arugam Bay had come. They had
then converted these vast and beautiful forests into agricultural land to grow seasonal
crops. Due to the lack of water these
lands can only be cultivated only for about 4 months during the rainy season. The rest of the year they lie fallow, a once
thriving forest now converted to a barren and desolate landscape. This illegal and unregulated land grabbing was
also causing a lot of tension between the communities as well. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jEnNGtEtOA4/Ues9DzY6tnI/AAAAAAAAFUc/aJ1QNXvX27s/s1600/Cleared+Jungle-Lahugala-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jEnNGtEtOA4/Ues9DzY6tnI/AAAAAAAAFUc/aJ1QNXvX27s/s400/Cleared+Jungle-Lahugala-2.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Illicit loggers come first...</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZG1WMo779uM/Ues9QZhWYsI/AAAAAAAAFUk/c-cHFo6gDas/s1600/Cleared+Jungle-Lahugala-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZG1WMo779uM/Ues9QZhWYsI/AAAAAAAAFUk/c-cHFo6gDas/s400/Cleared+Jungle-Lahugala-1.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>...and then come illegal settlers </b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The devastating tsunami of December 2004
invariably delayed our project. In mid-2005, The SLWCS started to construct
a solar powered electric fence with funding support from the Asian Elephant
Conservation Fund of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. A few years later, in 2009 the expansion of
the fence was funded by the Canadian International Development Agency. By
the time it was completed in 2009, the fence was 23 kilometers long, protected
four villages and was the longest electric fence we had ever constructed. This fence was also the first electric fence
in the country that was handed over to the Civil Defense Force to maintain.
The trip to Lahugala was to attend several meetings with the villagers and
local officials to discuss matters pertaining to this project. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GgUoyVNdp7Q/UetBwpZHY5I/AAAAAAAAFVE/k-RHIsgEpBI/s1600/F1030004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GgUoyVNdp7Q/UetBwpZHY5I/AAAAAAAAFVE/k-RHIsgEpBI/s400/F1030004.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A meeting with stakeholders</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h6Lu0mhFBDE/UetB9gky6KI/AAAAAAAAFVM/ugtsbygCOQ0/s1600/F1010035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h6Lu0mhFBDE/UetB9gky6KI/AAAAAAAAFVM/ugtsbygCOQ0/s400/F1010035.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Explaining to the local stakeholders about the project. </b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">On the final stretch from Siyambalanduwa
to Lahuhala, to me are some of the most beautiful jungles in Sri Lanka. The thrill of driving through these jungles increases
when one catches a glimpse of an elephant in the distance framed by the trees
or a herd of nimble footed axis deer dashes across the road. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ir9PKO0cZu4/UetCZ8a_uaI/AAAAAAAAFVU/Pkx-WzV-3Xg/s1600/Lahugala+Field+Trip+-+Aug+16-19th+2010+142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ir9PKO0cZu4/UetCZ8a_uaI/AAAAAAAAFVU/Pkx-WzV-3Xg/s400/Lahugala+Field+Trip+-+Aug+16-19th+2010+142.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Driving through the enchanted forest</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5fHmfYVHl5w/UetCpjxlueI/AAAAAAAAFVc/i_ajgTpoZOs/s1600/Lahugala+Field+Trip+-+Aug+16-19th+2010+139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5fHmfYVHl5w/UetCpjxlueI/AAAAAAAAFVc/i_ajgTpoZOs/s400/Lahugala+Field+Trip+-+Aug+16-19th+2010+139.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The road led through some of the most beautiful dry zone jungles in Sri Lanka</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WGtPbQAQE50/UetDydIi01I/AAAAAAAAFV0/zZUWPI0sWS0/s1600/IMG_2924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WGtPbQAQE50/UetDydIi01I/AAAAAAAAFV0/zZUWPI0sWS0/s400/IMG_2924.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A feeding elephant framed by the trees</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c2kxnkDTxJA/UetEH9MvZ1I/AAAAAAAAFV8/JPS3ZsDn1ZA/s1600/RC-Sri+Lanka+Trip+Feb+2010-Part+1+371.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c2kxnkDTxJA/UetEH9MvZ1I/AAAAAAAAFV8/JPS3ZsDn1ZA/s400/RC-Sri+Lanka+Trip+Feb+2010-Part+1+371.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Another elephant feeding at the Lahugala Tank</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">These jungles also act as sort of a connecting
corridor between two divergent landscapes.
After leaving Colombo and until one reaches Siyabalanduwa—which is the last
outpost town before heading to Lahugala and then on to Pottuvil—the road leads
through major towns and rural suburbia. After
Siyabalanduwa the suburbia fades off and the road goes through this beautiful
park-like jungle with enticingly cool shade and the lure of excitement,
adventure and mystery. The Lahugala
villages are an unwanted disruption after which the jungle again continues up
to Sengamuwa where the entire landscape changes drastically. From Sengamuwa onwards until Pottuvil the
land is a never ending vista of paddy or rice fields. This is “Rice Bowl” country and during the
wet season it is one vast green sea of paddy fields. But during the dry season
it becomes a parched land, literarily a “Dust Bowl” where vast herds of buffalo
and a white hued breed of cattle range.
Small herds of goats take residency in the bus stands. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U7PM1Ivlm8k/UetDR7nS9AI/AAAAAAAAFVk/C5mdqOQ0OGg/s1600/Ravi+2009+Images+of+US+&+SL+1415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U7PM1Ivlm8k/UetDR7nS9AI/AAAAAAAAFVk/C5mdqOQ0OGg/s400/Ravi+2009+Images+of+US+&+SL+1415.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Rice Bowl of Sri Lanka...</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L7_PMuRx8BE/UetDkOBFqgI/AAAAAAAAFVs/EhU1pKD2VV4/s1600/Lahugala+Field+Trip+-+Aug+16-19th+2010+382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L7_PMuRx8BE/UetDkOBFqgI/AAAAAAAAFVs/EhU1pKD2VV4/s400/Lahugala+Field+Trip+-+Aug+16-19th+2010+382.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>...becomes the Dust Bowl during the dry season</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">It is not unusual during this time to see
buffaloes and cattle grazing in the company of elephants. They seemed to share grasslands and garbage
dumps not necessarily in that order quite amicably without conflicts. We had observed this behavior numerous times
in various parts of Sri Lanka. Observing
this non-conflict sharing of land and resources is what gave us the idea to
promote livestock farming—especially dairy farming—as a main livelihood for
farmers in high conflict regions to adapt rather than depend on cultivating
rice which elephants raided frequently.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vvzkZTwNTDI/UetE1w-dDuI/AAAAAAAAFWM/7oSjQfS_HZM/s1600/Ravi+2009+Images+of+US+&+SL+948+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vvzkZTwNTDI/UetE1w-dDuI/AAAAAAAAFWM/7oSjQfS_HZM/s400/Ravi+2009+Images+of+US+&+SL+948+-+Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A large herd of domestic buffaloes </b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--k6K7fYOrVs/UetE9GQ0k4I/AAAAAAAAFWU/vTHQ7oJ2sRc/s1600/Sri+Lanka+Trip+Oct+2008+Lahugala+-+1+218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--k6K7fYOrVs/UetE9GQ0k4I/AAAAAAAAFWU/vTHQ7oJ2sRc/s400/Sri+Lanka+Trip+Oct+2008+Lahugala+-+1+218.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A white cow with an elephant in the background</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1fSVrj8_ufE/UetFoXjUcYI/AAAAAAAAFWs/Qv6fVtsXaLU/s400/Sri+Lanka+Trip+Oct+2008+Lahugala+-+1+267.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A herd of domestic buffalo feeding with elephants</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1fSVrj8_ufE/UetFoXjUcYI/AAAAAAAAFWs/Qv6fVtsXaLU/s1600/Sri+Lanka+Trip+Oct+2008+Lahugala+-+1+267.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1fSVrj8_ufE/UetFoXjUcYI/AAAAAAAAFWs/Qv6fVtsXaLU/s1600/Sri+Lanka+Trip+Oct+2008+Lahugala+-+1+267.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-euasvvj5nNY/UetFG9VKzUI/AAAAAAAAFWc/2ORHlvwma84/s1600/Ravi+2009+Images+of+US+&+SL+955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-euasvvj5nNY/UetFG9VKzUI/AAAAAAAAFWc/2ORHlvwma84/s400/Ravi+2009+Images+of+US+&+SL+955.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A herd of goats waiting for the bus</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xuFBVj8wpNQ/UetFPzTDQZI/AAAAAAAAFWk/pTvtKPMQ_fw/s1600/Lahugala+Field+Trip+-+Aug+16-19th+2010+375.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xuFBVj8wpNQ/UetFPzTDQZI/AAAAAAAAFWk/pTvtKPMQ_fw/s400/Lahugala+Field+Trip+-+Aug+16-19th+2010+375.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A nanny goat with twins heading to the bus stand</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">We had passed by Siyabalanduwa and were now
driving through the park-like jungle through which the road stretched sinuously
ahead. This stretch always invoked
nostalgia in me for the days gone by, because even 20 years ago practically all
dry zone roads led through jungle like this.
It was incredibly exciting to travel during those days especially at
dawn and dusk, when practically the only vehicle on the road was the one you were
traveling. Very infrequently one encountered
other vehicles, and when you did most of the time they were stopped and waiting
because elephants were feeding along the road completely blocking it. And no one wanted to take the risk of driving past
them. Sometimes it was a long wait
unless a pugnacious truck driver would take it into his head to barrel through
the herd, air horn blaring and the powerful diesel engine growling. At such times I had noticed that the elephants
would gracefully move aside or fade into the jungle. The other vehicles lined up bumper to bumper
behind the bulldogging truck would sneak past the elephants as well. With the personal knowledge that I have now
about elephants, I know for sure that those elephants wouldn’t have caused any damage
or harm if we had just quietly driven past them. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZmxnonD-34Q/UetGmxRqueI/AAAAAAAAFW8/uuI5zLhTlfI/s1600/Lahugala+Field+Trip+-+Aug+16-19th+2010+295.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZmxnonD-34Q/UetGmxRqueI/AAAAAAAAFW8/uuI5zLhTlfI/s400/Lahugala+Field+Trip+-+Aug+16-19th+2010+295.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Two elephants feeding by the Lahugala road</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">On this day, we had just past the Lahugala
Tank on the left, when on the right side of the road was a large solitary bull elephant,
it was feeding and the time was around 2 pm. Slowing down CC stopped the
Defender close by to it. We noticed immediately
that there was something very wrong with this elephant. The entire left foreleg
was swollen and he favored it whenever he moved by hobbling on three legs. Apparently
it had a serious injury on that leg but we could not see what it was. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VsxoUI1XmAc/UetHEjNx_KI/AAAAAAAAFXE/lk8d2hWb2fY/s1600/F1040026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VsxoUI1XmAc/UetHEjNx_KI/AAAAAAAAFXE/lk8d2hWb2fY/s400/F1040026.JPG" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>We immediately noticed the swollen front left leg</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h4HU_76B3rw/UetHEyhlv1I/AAAAAAAAFXI/ZfI-uXk1-IU/s1600/F1040027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h4HU_76B3rw/UetHEyhlv1I/AAAAAAAAFXI/ZfI-uXk1-IU/s400/F1040027.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>It seemed to favor the front left leg every time it moved</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-awYieTRMylo/UetHEwy9E5I/AAAAAAAAFXQ/e-hfbLmUSfc/s1600/F1040028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-awYieTRMylo/UetHEwy9E5I/AAAAAAAAFXQ/e-hfbLmUSfc/s400/F1040028.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Favoring the left front leg the elephant hopped on three feet whenever it moved</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">We had to pick up the wildlife ranger on
the way to the meeting—so we left planning to inform him or bring him to see
the elephant. When the Ranger, Pradeep was
told about the injured elephant, he was aware of it since several people had
alerted him to it, but had not seen it as yet. On the way back from the
meeting around 4.30 pm, the Ranger asked us to take two Game Guards, Ari and
Jeggan to where we had last seen the elephant. He had requested the head
office in Colombo to dispatch a vet so he wanted these two game guards to get a
good look at it so they could identify it to the vet once he arrived. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When we got to the place where we had
last seen it the elephant was not there. It had disappeared. This was not
unusual since even a wounded elephant will not stay in one place if it could
move however much incapacitated it was. Driving slowly we searched both
sides of the road carefully and was passing by the Kitulana Tank when in the
far distance by the edge of the diminished water were four elephants. One was by itself and was standing in the
water and looked similar to the injured elephant. A regular habit of
injured elephants was to get into water probably because it helped to sooth the
pain. Assuming it was the injured elephant we parked the Defender by the
roadside and climbed the bund to get a better look. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jngTzKjFvxo/UetIACv1kGI/AAAAAAAAFXk/lify_siAypM/s1600/19400008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jngTzKjFvxo/UetIACv1kGI/AAAAAAAAFXk/lify_siAypM/s400/19400008.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Four elephants were feeding by the remnant waters of the dried up Kitulana Tank</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YcB1fx10B8o/UetIhmBOnDI/AAAAAAAAFXs/vwBMpd2nvdQ/s1600/19400027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YcB1fx10B8o/UetIhmBOnDI/AAAAAAAAFXs/vwBMpd2nvdQ/s400/19400027.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Defender parked by the side of the road of the Kitulana Tank bund</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rLAL7vebXTI/UetI8o0UkxI/AAAAAAAAFX0/1gqNi_IDW5g/s1600/F1010032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rLAL7vebXTI/UetI8o0UkxI/AAAAAAAAFX0/1gqNi_IDW5g/s400/F1010032.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>We climbed on to the tank bund to get a better look</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">From the top of the bund we had a good view
of the elephants but they were too far away to say with certainty whether one
was injured. With no binoculars or
spotting scope at hand the only option was to try and get close them. To see how feasible this was, from the bund
we assessed the ground situation. It was
not encouraging at all. All the trees were within 20 meters of the bund
and beyond that it was just a vast expanse of open flat ground. And the elephants were even further away—way
out in the open. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cX_WFsufQWU/Ufrnj0PEopI/AAAAAAAAFbY/BwtREyYWlqo/s1600/F1010003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cX_WFsufQWU/Ufrnj0PEopI/AAAAAAAAFbY/BwtREyYWlqo/s400/F1010003.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The deceptive looking flat ground that was imprinted with thousands of elephant footprints</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aesN1KQEb5g/UetKC_Gre5I/AAAAAAAAFYQ/x_ScblvU-D8/s1600/F1010029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aesN1KQEb5g/UetKC_Gre5I/AAAAAAAAFYQ/x_ScblvU-D8/s400/F1010029.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The distance we had to walk on open ground to get close to the elephants</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_127eQ5qWrA/UetKrIjPG3I/AAAAAAAAFYc/gN6NtXqhKsQ/s1600/F1010002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_127eQ5qWrA/UetKrIjPG3I/AAAAAAAAFYc/gN6NtXqhKsQ/s400/F1010002.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The ground was pockmarked with elephant footprints that were an effective foot trap</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">How deceptive the open “flat” ground became quite evident
as soon as we started to walk on it. Moving through the glade of widely
spaced trees that framed the elephants in the far distance—as much as people
think I’m mentally off when it comes to animals—I wondered albeit very briefly at
the wisdom of walking on such open grounds towards a bunch of wild elephants.
The game guards, Ari and Jeggan seemed confident enough to do so. And we too quite amenably trooped along behind
them like a bunch of boy scouts out on a field jamboree. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>To be continued...</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b><br /></b></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1TPX60jcpKs/UetLHdn5cGI/AAAAAAAAFYk/UENiipM2X9E/s1600/F1010031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1TPX60jcpKs/UetLHdn5cGI/AAAAAAAAFYk/UENiipM2X9E/s400/F1010031.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>We trooped behind the Game Guards like the Scouts of Moonrise Kingdom</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
SLWCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13385383717997197891noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759649900435291798.post-10536885483177455552013-07-03T14:18:00.002-07:002013-07-04T05:55:43.624-07:00A Novelette about an Owlet: The Ballad of Amaray and Mandi<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aQE43Wx7WzM/UdSKMq8i9CI/AAAAAAAAFQU/7QRRz9luh3Y/s188/IMG_5506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aQE43Wx7WzM/UdSKMq8i9CI/AAAAAAAAFQU/7QRRz9luh3Y/s200/IMG_5506.JPG" width="175" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>I love this song</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CK4dM_C3AZo/UdSJIObhu9I/AAAAAAAAFQA/on0_oS0R-ds/s600/noise_feature_TurkishPolka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="151" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CK4dM_C3AZo/UdSJIObhu9I/AAAAAAAAFQA/on0_oS0R-ds/s400/noise_feature_TurkishPolka.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Ballad of Amaray and Mandi. </b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mandi’s heart is completely hooked and she feels tremendous love and affection for Amarasena whose shortened name is Amaray. This is the worst kind of entrapment where one party holds all the strings. There is only one way this ballad could end—that is on a sad note—since it is pretty obvious that Amaray will split one day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Carrying several treats in her hand which she hopes would be received with joy, Mandi walked hurriedly to the SLWCS field house. It does not help to keep the object of one’s love and affection waiting. From where he is Amarasena through half closed eyes looks languidly at the approaching Mandi. Amarasena’s character is the exact opposite of Mandi’s devoted and giving nature. While she works during the day out in the field in the sweltering tropical heat and in the evening to get his meals, Amarasena meanwhile spends his time lounging in the field house napping mostly and passing his time in broody contemplation. Only at dusk does Amarasena sees it fit to emerge from his lassitude to prepare for another night of nocturnal romping. Poor Mandi, the SLWCS field staff thinks, observing this impossible situation. They wonder whether they should have warned her that there is only heartbreak when one is smitten by an Asiatic Scops Owl that is no bigger than ones’ palm. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uv9Knn1bRes/UdIV1uVe1ZI/AAAAAAAAFLA/PEJ6KQ2AwUY/s1024/IMG_5499.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uv9Knn1bRes/UdIV1uVe1ZI/AAAAAAAAFLA/PEJ6KQ2AwUY/s400/IMG_5499.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>This is all about me? </b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mandi is an independent research volunteer from England.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">She had come down to conduct a project on human-elephant conflicts to write her university dissertation thesis.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">She was staying at the project site for two months.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Amarasena also had been at the field house about two months.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">He came to the field house around the same time Mandi had arrived.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BRhDl2CBsGM/UdIYTnwyOqI/AAAAAAAAFLw/0Bw9DOK-BLo/s566/IMG_5608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="392" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BRhDl2CBsGM/UdIYTnwyOqI/AAAAAAAAFLw/0Bw9DOK-BLo/s400/IMG_5608.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Love hath no boundaries</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">He is quite fickle though and will slide up to the other volunteers or up to anybody for treats and affection. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">He is definitely a hit with all the volunteers as well as the visitors who come to the field house. The European volunteers: Erik, Esther, Lisa, Katy and Claire and Singaporean volunteers: Daphne, Darren, Matthew and Varun had become huge fans of the little owlet.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">They had all left with heavy hearts.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Apparently the charm Amaray turns on had garnered him an international fan base.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Amarasena the person for whom the owl had been named should take a few lessons from Amarasena the owl.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yb3TcZDMaAs/UdIWMZKVC5I/AAAAAAAAFLI/8HN27NLCfco/s1600/IMG_2356+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yb3TcZDMaAs/UdIWMZKVC5I/AAAAAAAAFLI/8HN27NLCfco/s400/IMG_2356+(1).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Singaporeans: Daphne, Mathew and Varun with the Field Staff: Siriya, Sampath and Chandima. Amaray is on Sampath's (fourth from left) right shoulder </b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bCDW5rxcLeg/UdIW_SseEoI/AAAAAAAAFLY/mglFHhDe5ig/s1024/IMG_5450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bCDW5rxcLeg/UdIW_SseEoI/AAAAAAAAFLY/mglFHhDe5ig/s400/IMG_5450.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The volunteers from Europe and Singapore with the Field Staff</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Amarasena or Amaray also called AD (which is the initials) had been named in remembrance of an acidic and recalcitrant ex senior staff person.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">This senior staff member due to his misanthropic and insincere nature, sour countenance and dishonest behavior had become the most unpopular person on earth.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">It is incredible how he had single handedly managed to become that!</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">It is hard to say who is been insulted here.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I guess we will never know what the human Amarasena’s reaction would be if he finds out that an owl had been named after him.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Or what the owl would think, if he knows how his human name sake is regarded as. But I for one would feel highly complimented if someone was to name an owl in remembrance of me.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">It could have been lot worse with a leech, a bed bug, a cockroach or even a toad sulking in a dark corner been named Amarasena.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I feel we had shown proper decorum when naming the owl Amarasena.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Now a fact is owls are sexually monomorphic which means both sexes look alike therefore trying to sex identify them based on their appearance is rather difficult. So there could be a fifty percent chance that Amarasena is a female—not the former staff member since he at least looked like a grouchy old man when I last saw him. I meant our little scops owl if it does happen to be a female then we will just have to call her Amaradevi. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Craig had all of a sudden descended on the field house from England and seemed to be enraptured by the miniscule owl as much as Mandi is. We are very concerned that this won’t evolve into some complicated romantic love triangle that we’ll have the onerous task of untangling. Everyone fervently wanted to avoid such a situation, so the field staff had surreptitiously packed off Craig to our field camp deep in the jungle and casually forgotten to send the Land Rover back. Fortunately Craig has a craving for the solitude and serenity of the jungle and a penchant to roam the green aisles. Hopefully he will not miss Amarasena that much. Who knows in time he might find something else to focus his affections on such as a slender Loris or a devil bird. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xv1kSZmaJ5M/UdIZFOmgafI/AAAAAAAAFL4/LvOP71Z_Z-E/s1024/IMG_5503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xv1kSZmaJ5M/UdIZFOmgafI/AAAAAAAAFL4/LvOP71Z_Z-E/s400/IMG_5503.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Craig the usurper vying for Amaray's affections</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U6fymW97w2g/UdIaIpr83pI/AAAAAAAAFMI/0RkUQcjtk8g/s1024/IMG_5505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U6fymW97w2g/UdIaIpr83pI/AAAAAAAAFMI/0RkUQcjtk8g/s400/IMG_5505.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Craig: You better make up your mind...either its me or... Amaray: Are you talking to me?</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Now to get back to Amarasena, he is an orphan who had ended up at our field house and in Mandi’s care.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Amarasena and a fellow sibling had fallen from their nest which was a hole, high up on a coconut tree and it was Sampath, one of our staff members who had found it and brought the orphaned owlet to Wasgamuwa.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Over the years orphans of various species had been taken care off at the field house and then given their freedom.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">So it was the best place to bring the baby owl.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">At the field house the little baby owl would get all the care it needs and also had the best chance of getting rehabilitated to live a life of freedom.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0Cs2jfBSai0/UdIbAt0PrBI/AAAAAAAAFMQ/mLPGtCazcEQ/s1024/IMG_5508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0Cs2jfBSai0/UdIbAt0PrBI/AAAAAAAAFMQ/mLPGtCazcEQ/s400/IMG_5508.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>You ungrateful owl</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O_I-ssm13Hk/UdIbOG3zq4I/AAAAAAAAFMc/A15pZ2S-t9o/s1024/IMG_5512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O_I-ssm13Hk/UdIbOG3zq4I/AAAAAAAAFMc/A15pZ2S-t9o/s400/IMG_5512.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>But I forgive you</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Isn't he adorable?</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">It was a windy day in May 2013 when Sampath had gone to the back garden of his wife, Saumiya’s parents’ home in Aralaganwila to check for wind fallen coconuts.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The sun was setting in the evening sky in the west as he walked to the back of the property. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">As he approached one of the coconut trees a loud hissing sound halted him in mid stride—his first thought was, it must be a snake—probably a cobra. Alarmed he looked around slowly and cautiously expecting any second for a large cobra to rush at him from under the fallen and decaying coconut fronds. Then he noticed a glob of white at the base of a coconut tree and the hissing was coming from it. He approached the white downy blob and saw that it was some baby animal. After picking up the hissing ball of white down Sampath had looked around carefully and noticed another similar one underneath a coconut frond. Unfortunately it was already dead. Only Amarasena had survived the fall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Holding gently he had carried the little baby bird to the house and put it in a box with some cloth. Unable to identify the hissing white ball that seemed to be impersonating a bird, he had called our Field Projects Coordinator, Chandima, an avid birder and expert to find out what it was. When Chandima asked him to describe what he had, Sampath told him that he had some sort of baby bird that looked like a large cotton ball, had enormous eyes and hissed loudly like a leaking bicycle tube. After Sampath had described what the baby bird looked like, Chandima told him that it was a baby scops owl. He instructed Sampath to make a sugar solution and feed the baby chick immediately since it could be dehydrated. After feeding the sugar solution and with no meat available, Sampath had fed the baby owl some boiled sweet potato. While sweet potatoes are not part of its natural diet it would have had the same effect as giving the sugar solution—it provided the little chick with much needed energy. Later he had got some fresh fish, sliced them into small pieces and fed the owlet. It had eaten this with gusto. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Samapth the owl rescuer with a baby crocodile</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">That night Samapth kept the little owlet wrapped in cloth in the box. The next day morning he was happy to observe that the little owlet had survived it first night. It looked healthy and in good spirits. Samapth had to go to meet up with Chandima and to pick up several volunteers from the Hotel Goldi Sands at Negombo. With no one else to take care of the baby owl, he decided to take it with him. Operation Owl Rescue was now underway and Mandi’s fate was sealed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">A small cake box was converted to a traveling case with little holes to transport the owlet. Putting the baby owl in it Sampath took it with him to Wennappuwa. When he boarded the bus he kept the box on the overhead rack along with his backpack. When the bus stopped at Habarana for tea he could distinctly hear the little owl hissing loudly inside the box. Fearing that the other passengers might hear and not knowing what it was and alert the conductor, he had taken the owl with him to the tea shop where he sat away from the other passengers and managed to give it some water without attracting any attention. At Nittambuwa he had to get off to catch the connecting bus. Here he had taken it to the toilet and again given it water to drink and sprayed some to cool it down. He had managed to do this covertly without attracting any unwanted attention. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Boarding the connecting bus Sampath made it to Chandima’s house at Wennapuwa without further incidents. Now the little owlet was in the capable hands Chandima who was an expert birder, ornithologists and ecologists. Collecting the Land Cruiser they left to Negombo to pick up the volunteers. Once they were on their way to Wasgamuwa they had called ahead and asked Siriya the field house caretaker to catch some fish to feed the baby owl. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Siriya catching fish to feed Amarasena</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">That night Amarasena and Mandi met in Wasgamuwa for the first time. We couldn’t have asked for a better surrogate girlfriend for Amarasena. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Chandima taking care of Amarasena</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">At the beginning he had been fed on fish caught from the lake at the bottom of the property which he had eaten with relish until he had got seriously sick after eating a skink.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">A twenty four hour vigil by Mandi and her frequent efforts to keep him hydrated had pulled Amarasena back before he could wing his heavenly way to owl hoot-hill.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">He had completely recovered from whatever that had afflicted him and is now almost fully fledged and can make short flights.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Ever since Amarasena was cured from whatever life threatening affliction that Mandi had managed to save him, he is fed only natural prey as much as possible. This is easier said than done though. Amarasena’s parents have stealth flight and excellent night vision capabilities making them efficient and deadly nocturnal hunters. While the staff stumbled around trying to catch a few measly geckos, in as much time his tiny parents would’ve caught enough to fill an ark! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A gecko during better days </b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The efforts to catch natural prey were basically limited to the vicinity of the field house. Practically every evening as the sun sinks behind the Sudu Kanda range and the Southerly situated peaks of the Knuckles Mountain range lights up with the brilliant hues of the setting sun, Mandi and Chandima goes hunting for Geckos and other small animals to feed Amarasena. Collecting common geckos and other small creatures every evening to feed Amarasena in such a small area is having a serious impact on the local populations. It is time to give Amarasena his freedom otherwise the populations of small creatures will plummet beyond recovery at our field site. In addition we don’t want Amarasena to become a failure to launch case either. We had enough problems getting rid of his human namesake that the last thing we want is the owl namesake taking over. This was actually the main reason why wanted to wean him away from fish and other unnatural foods and provide him with natural prey. If Amarasena is to be rehabilitated successfully to live a life of freedom, then he had to become familiar with the type of prey he would have naturally fed if he hadn’t become orphaned.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5Dp6IBRynFU/UdIetyl8dxI/AAAAAAAAFNk/usbyLQbzCKw/s1024/IMG_5607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5Dp6IBRynFU/UdIetyl8dxI/AAAAAAAAFNk/usbyLQbzCKw/s400/IMG_5607.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Eggs of geckos and garden lizards are also consumed with relish</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BX70qmr0rPc/UdIe7wJfVFI/AAAAAAAAFNs/0zYbegYrHio/s1024/@elephnat-corridor+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BX70qmr0rPc/UdIe7wJfVFI/AAAAAAAAFNs/0zYbegYrHio/s400/@elephnat-corridor+(1).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A garden lizard - fortunately it is too large for Amaray to swallow.</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oeLEhPhz_ns/UdSMZ3SO8MI/AAAAAAAAFQ0/pecw8_ypv7c/s1024/IMG_5487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oeLEhPhz_ns/UdSMZ3SO8MI/AAAAAAAAFQ0/pecw8_ypv7c/s400/IMG_5487.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Frequently Amaray is shown what awaits him in the great outdoors </b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">He had learned to swallow geckos and other various small creatures whole as fast as they were offered to him.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">It was fascinating to watch how dexterously and efficiently he used his beak and feet to maneuver the geckos and other small animals head first before swallowing them.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IhwpubZBHLk/UdSD84z4gBI/AAAAAAAAFOA/O3r6tXW73Sw/s1024/IMG_5568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IhwpubZBHLk/UdSD84z4gBI/AAAAAAAAFOA/O3r6tXW73Sw/s400/IMG_5568.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hellooooo...is that a gecko? </b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tiwwosZMJhU/UdSEVqMq6PI/AAAAAAAAFOI/1m4ccT3FiGY/s1024/IMG_5569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tiwwosZMJhU/UdSEVqMq6PI/AAAAAAAAFOI/1m4ccT3FiGY/s400/IMG_5569.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>I guess it is</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G6Ohy8XRxm4/UdSEVd4w8GI/AAAAAAAAFOE/3ZUfjStxuWY/s1024/IMG_5570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G6Ohy8XRxm4/UdSEVd4w8GI/AAAAAAAAFOE/3ZUfjStxuWY/s400/IMG_5570.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Got to get this right. </b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hWRzlatURJs/UdSEVhu59GI/AAAAAAAAFOQ/aLj3A_LVy6o/s1024/IMG_5571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hWRzlatURJs/UdSEVhu59GI/AAAAAAAAFOQ/aLj3A_LVy6o/s400/IMG_5571.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>According to the Manual got to get that head going in the right direction</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vRYK-PPh7c0/UdSEV8_OBxI/AAAAAAAAFOY/liFe_J8bWoY/s1024/IMG_5572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vRYK-PPh7c0/UdSEV8_OBxI/AAAAAAAAFOY/liFe_J8bWoY/s400/IMG_5572.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Little bit of footwork and...</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xsnrChBux-4/UdSEWMuy0CI/AAAAAAAAFOk/YSID8hM4WUQ/s1024/IMG_5573.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xsnrChBux-4/UdSEWMuy0CI/AAAAAAAAFOk/YSID8hM4WUQ/s400/IMG_5573.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>...there it goes...twoot, twoot</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bglUInzkE1g/UdSEWSStF7I/AAAAAAAAFOg/wsXjd1Bm7iE/s1024/IMG_5574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bglUInzkE1g/UdSEWSStF7I/AAAAAAAAFOg/wsXjd1Bm7iE/s400/IMG_5574.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Now where is the next one?</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sometimes in his haste to eat, he gets the orientation wrong and swallows the geckoes tail first, apparently without any ill effect.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Irrespective of what end goes first, Amaray’s eyes would close in sheer pleasure and ecstasy of feeling them sliding down his gullet. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Since we didn’t teach him to maneuver his food this way—even Mandi’s abilities as a surrogate fiancé have their limits—these are obviously hardwired behaviors similar to how newborn baby mammals know to suckle.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HI6henOFHbg/UdSFmgGFH5I/AAAAAAAAFO8/in9rjLfN6gI/s1024/IMG_5609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HI6henOFHbg/UdSFmgGFH5I/AAAAAAAAFO8/in9rjLfN6gI/s400/IMG_5609.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>I think I got the wrong end!</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mrp8bloCDFs/UdSFmllutjI/AAAAAAAAFPI/Z-jMHd5d_Gk/s1024/IMG_5610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mrp8bloCDFs/UdSFmllutjI/AAAAAAAAFPI/Z-jMHd5d_Gk/s400/IMG_5610.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>No time to worry about it now. </b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RAWSwlu1Kac/UdSFms-PrdI/AAAAAAAAFPA/92e_5U68yIE/s1024/IMG_5611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RAWSwlu1Kac/UdSFms-PrdI/AAAAAAAAFPA/92e_5U68yIE/s400/IMG_5611.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>It does not matter what end goes first it ends up in the same place.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xPUd5A9Bh7w/UdSFnNDDEvI/AAAAAAAAFPQ/lQnkMsjKscY/s1024/IMG_5612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xPUd5A9Bh7w/UdSFnNDDEvI/AAAAAAAAFPQ/lQnkMsjKscY/s400/IMG_5612.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A double headed oddity. I hope I'm not scaring the kids. </b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">One morning I came across an endemic brown capped babbler trapped in an old chicken cage. It was fluttering inside the abandoned cage trying to find a way out. Taking off my t-shirt I threw it over the bird so it won’t get injured and gently picked it up swathed in the t-shirt and brought to the field house. Chandima checked the bird and decided to let it go immediately since it did not seem to be too stressed, dehydrated or injured and needed any care. It was not fed to Amarasena. We had to draw a line somewhere and this was it. We were definitely not going to feed him endemic species. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3h-2-5P5PQc/UdSIB3DYTlI/AAAAAAAAFPk/y2-JWxoWvts/s1024/IMG_5613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3h-2-5P5PQc/UdSIB3DYTlI/AAAAAAAAFPk/y2-JWxoWvts/s400/IMG_5613.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Brown Capped Babbler</b></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SOMUoyYSxcg/UdSIB4GXIUI/AAAAAAAAFPw/epEwXOXHCOw/s1024/IMG_5614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SOMUoyYSxcg/UdSIB4GXIUI/AAAAAAAAFPw/epEwXOXHCOw/s400/IMG_5614.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>It seems like Chandima is giving a lesson in dental hygiene to the Babbler while volunteer Chris from Scotland is looking as if he had never seen a bird before. </b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Leeiro7AXG8/UdSIBzD5DFI/AAAAAAAAFPo/rYY1861pg3c/s1024/IMG_5615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Leeiro7AXG8/UdSIBzD5DFI/AAAAAAAAFPo/rYY1861pg3c/s400/IMG_5615.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Brown Capped Babbler just prior to its release</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Chandima informed me just a few days ago that Amarasena goes on short flights and can catch small prey successfully now. This means in a couple of weeks he could be set free and should be able to live by himself. Probably he will set up base in the field house since he is used to it and sees it as his territory. The day he goes off by himself would be a joyous occasion, since there is no greater satisfaction than giving a wild animal a second chance to live free. We have to now come up with a plan to ease Mandi’s sorrow at this inevitable separation. Maybe an introduction to the actual human Amarasena will help her to quickly overcome the grief of separating from the owl Amarasena. After one short encounter with the acerbic human counterpart I’m sure Mandi will not give two hoots about Amarasena (I mean the owl) after that. But I’m sure though the owl Amarasena will have a lot to hoot about once he is set free.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NmcGxVejrog/UdSL6Lk6jqI/AAAAAAAAFQo/nO7Tg1NxyUU/s1600/1472.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NmcGxVejrog/UdSL6Lk6jqI/AAAAAAAAFQo/nO7Tg1NxyUU/s400/1472.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>I don't think I want to leave this place ever</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Our main focus is human-elephant conflict and developing measures for its mitigation for the long term conservation of the endangered Sri Lankan elephant. In the course of these efforts we have many exciting encounters with wild elephants and other wildlife. Yet it is the smaller denizens of the jungle when they come into our lives that bring us the greatest enjoyment and pleasure for having known them at such a personal level. They leave lasting memories that so much enhances and enriches our lives. Here’s to you Dodam* your memory still lives in our hearts and minds. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-go-L8h-9SyE/UdSOrwyXs-I/AAAAAAAAFRA/H-S0oQfiyBk/s448/Cow+Selection-Cock+Fight-Piggy+&+Wiggy-GP+Sky+457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-go-L8h-9SyE/UdSOrwyXs-I/AAAAAAAAFRA/H-S0oQfiyBk/s400/Cow+Selection-Cock+Fight-Piggy+&+Wiggy-GP+Sky+457.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Dodam 2010 to 2011</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">*You can read about Dodam the giant squirrell in these previous blogs: </span><a href="http://slwcsupdates.blogspot.com/2010_05_01_archive.html" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">http://slwcsupdates.blogspot.com/2010_05_01_archive.html</a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><a href="http://slwcsupdates.blogspot.com/2010_08_01_archive.html" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">http://slwcsupdates.blogspot.com/2010_08_01_archive.html</a></div>
<a href="http://slwcsupdates.blogspot.com/2010_10_01_archive.html" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">http://slwcsupdates.blogspot.com/2010_10_01_archive.html</a>SLWCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13385383717997197891noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759649900435291798.post-87091421704167999502013-05-18T07:11:00.001-07:002013-05-18T19:01:55.402-07:00The Crossing Point: Behaviors that shows how critical corridors are to elephants<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qdsol7promY/UZbI52iSQtI/AAAAAAAAFDU/ObuIZ-BbPhI/s1600/PICT0671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qdsol7promY/UZbI52iSQtI/AAAAAAAAFDU/ObuIZ-BbPhI/s400/PICT0671.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A magnificent tusker crossing the road at the Crossing Point</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">To be up on a tree hut in the jungle is
an exhilarating experience. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">It was undoubtedly also about making connections with one’s childhood—bringing to life
childhood fantasies as a result of reading Swiss Family Robinson, Tarzan of the
Apes, and Robinson Crusoe.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">Incidentally,
Daniel Defoe based Robinson Crusoe on Englishman, Robert Knox’s experiences of
20 years forced incarceration in Sri Lanka by the last King of Kandy, Sri
Vikrama Rajasinha. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZCXMmYwCXo0/UZbJNPdbwOI/AAAAAAAAFDc/zX5ax6frmj4/s1600/Corea+Image+6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZCXMmYwCXo0/UZbJNPdbwOI/AAAAAAAAFDc/zX5ax6frmj4/s400/Corea+Image+6.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Group of volunteers in t he Tree Hut - <i>a la Swiss Family Robinson</i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I assure we were not making an enactment
of “Me Tarzan You Jane” since for me to play Tarzan at this age was a sure way to
end up becoming a paraplegic.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Seriously,
aside from the childhood fantasies—the actual reason why we were up on a tree
hut in the Wasgamuwa jungles was to observe and study elephants.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Observing wild elephants from a Tree Hut
can turn out to be a fascinating activity. Not too many things in life
come close to that experience.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">To have
an entire elephant herd feeding underneath while the tree hut swayed to a gentle
breeze with background music by various avian and forest fauna is a
life changing experience. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">There is a
real danger of getting addicted to it. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q0k1s-ANV14/UZbKWlV09zI/AAAAAAAAFDo/xMr4soaKzYU/s1600/P1020056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q0k1s-ANV14/UZbKWlV09zI/AAAAAAAAFDo/xMr4soaKzYU/s400/P1020056.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Studying a herd of elephants from the Tree Hut</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">For a while we had been noticing that
the tree hut corridor was an unusual place mainly because both elephants and
people used it frequently throughout the year.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The more we visited the corridor the more we realized that we knew very
little about what went on when both elephants and people were in the same
place.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Of course we had more than enough
information from second and third hand accounts.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">But we had very little primary information
from first hand observations.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Over time
the idea that we should build tree hut observation posts in the corridor got
mooted as an activity to study the interactions of people and elephants.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">This was back in 2003 when we had just
completed erecting our second solar powered electric fence around the
Weheragalagama village.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AtmYHKTVV_I/UZeGbmPN9EI/AAAAAAAAFJw/J-xm57bxieo/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador's+Visit+to+Wasgamuwa-July+23-25th+2010+126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AtmYHKTVV_I/UZeGbmPN9EI/AAAAAAAAFJw/J-xm57bxieo/s400/U.S.+Ambassador's+Visit+to+Wasgamuwa-July+23-25th+2010+126.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Volunteers observing and taking down data from the Tree Hut</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Several tree huts were built at the
beginning. One we built across the Weheragalagama
Tank (reservoir) and found out that during the rainy season we could only
access it by boat. Over the years the
tree hut at the Tree Hut Corridor became our primary observation hut due to it
been located along the route that elephants moved between the Wasgamuwa
National Park and the Himibiliyakade Forest Reserve. The people who mostly traveled through the corridor belonged
to two villages that were located in the forest reserve adjacent to the buffer
zone of the national park. The elephants
of course ranged all over this region and were part of the large population of
elephants that inhabited the area known as the lower Mahweli River Basin.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eV0DKUHthZ8/UZbKsEt47lI/AAAAAAAAFDw/YSSnvFtoQYs/s1600/IMG_2889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eV0DKUHthZ8/UZbKsEt47lI/AAAAAAAAFDw/YSSnvFtoQYs/s400/IMG_2889.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Tree Hut</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Until we started to conduct these
observations in 2003 we had very little understanding of the interactions of people and
elephants.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The observations from the tree
hut definitely opened up an entirely different window that allowed us to get a
good understanding of how elephants behaved when people were around. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Fortunately the corridor was used both by
bulls and large herds consisting mostly females and young.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">As time went by we gradually began to notice
the nuances and the different patterns of behaviors of bulls and cows in
response to various anthropogenic disturbances.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We’ve made some remarkably interesting
observations of elephants as well as people over the years from the tree hut. Cows and young, solitary bulls and/or groups
of bulls—I meant elephants not people—reacted to disturbances along the Tree Hut
Corridor very differently. </span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GlBY7nVifRI/UZbK8Svob8I/AAAAAAAAFD4/Y9sTKg-aDEM/s1600/Corea+Image+7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GlBY7nVifRI/UZbK8Svob8I/AAAAAAAAFD4/Y9sTKg-aDEM/s400/Corea+Image+7.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Observing a herd of elephants from the ground as they are crossing the road at the Crossing Point</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Female herds with
young when they were just about to emerge from the forest always rushed back
when they heard a human noise.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">We had also
noticed that female herds retreated only when they were just about to emerge
from the forest, but once the disturbance had moved away they soon returned
unless they had been really frightened off. It was ironical in a way how these
massive animals were so frightened of us puny humans. Another interesting
behavior was, once an entire herd was out in the open grassy woodland area any
number of tuk tuks or other vehicles and people could come along the road and
they will not move back to the forest. They would just stop whatever they
had been doing, bunched together and remained completely motionless and silent
behind tall grass or scrub until the disturbance had moved away. We have
observed tuk uks, cyclists and motorcyclists driving past herds of elephants
that were crowded together and hiding behind tall scrub and Mana grass just a
few feet away from the edge of the road. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The drivers and passengers in these vehicles
just drove past quite oblivious that a herd of wild elephants were just a few
feet away!</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">On some occasions a herd
would rush back to a safe distance and wait quietly until the disturbance had
moved off.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Bulls reacted somewhat differently.
While the occasional bull would charge or attempt to chase people and vehicles,
this did not happen frequently. Most bulls
tend to be laid back continuing to feed completely ignoring the people and
vehicles. Others would stand erect with heads
raised and ears spread looking towards the direction where the disturbance was
coming from or would slowly amble away into the jungle. If they were taken unawares then they would
trumpet piercingly turn tail and run.
Some would stop after a short distance and stare while others kept going
until they disappeared into the forest.
It seems elephants were startled and frightened by the sudden appearance
of people the same way people frightened each other. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bCH7sROhC78/UZbNLUzayMI/AAAAAAAAFEQ/tb3un3FnvSg/s1600/Sri+Lanka+Trip+Oct+2008+Somawathiya+-+1+268+(7).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bCH7sROhC78/UZbNLUzayMI/AAAAAAAAFEQ/tb3un3FnvSg/s400/Sri+Lanka+Trip+Oct+2008+Somawathiya+-+1+268+(7).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A bull charging - most times these are mock charges...but whose waiting to find out!</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">On one occasion three bulls were feeding
right across from the tree hut about 50 yards away when a land-master two wheel
tractor with a trailer loaded with men, women and children came chugging down
the road. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">These were farmers after
working in the fields heading back to their village before night fall. The
three bulls though did not pay any attention and nonchalantly kept feeding seemingly
oblivious to the tractor and it occupants. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The tractor driver though stopped
immediately when he saw us signaling that there were elephants across the road.
</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The driver and the passengers stood up and
peered to catch a glimpse of the elephants, but due to the tall Mana grass and
the short height of the tractor they could not possibly see them well.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">From the tree hut we gestured to the driver
to keep driving. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">He drove up to where we
were and then refused to go any further saying that without been able to see
the elephants he was not going to take the chance.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Normally we would have escorted the tractor
with our field vehicle.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">But that day the
vehicle had dropped us off at the Tree Hut and gone on an errand.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">With dusk falling fast it was important for
the tractor to keep going while there was enough light to see the elephants.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-noFr4U3BrMI/UZbRo4XVPWI/AAAAAAAAFEg/Z9x3--pVAfQ/s1600/DSCF4306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-noFr4U3BrMI/UZbRo4XVPWI/AAAAAAAAFEg/Z9x3--pVAfQ/s400/DSCF4306.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Land Master Tractor with agitated villagers</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">While we were trying to convince the
driver to continue on another tractor appeared at the other end.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">That driver stopped immediately when he saw
us guessing rightly that there must be elephants around.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">In the meantime the women were imploring
us to help them to get to the other end of the road so they could get home
safely.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Deciding fast, a villager who
happened to be with us and I climbed on to the tractor and went with them
hoping to get a ride back from the other tractor.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Standing on the iron railings of the trailer
we kept an eye on the elephants. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">When
we got to the other side to our consternation the driver of the second tractor
refused to bring us back.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Abandoning
wherever he was going and with total disregard to our situation he turned
around and followed the tractor we had traveled back to the village.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Not expecting to be in such a dilemma, the
two of us stood on the middle of the road and stared at the receding vehicles
like two castaways watching a ship disappear over the horizon.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I wondered what it would do to his Karma if
we were trampled by an elephant.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Not
that that our Karma was in good shape either, considering
we had to now hoof it down the road passing by three bull elephants.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">For a moment the villager and I, eyed each other wondering who will be the first to get pulverized by an elephant.
Shaking these macabre thoughts of our
minds we convinced each other that the elephants looked calm enough and likely won’t
bother us. Imbued by this false sense of
elephant human brotherhood and having no other choice we walked back towards
the Tree Hut. While they had completely ignored the tractor now all three bulls
had stopped feeding and were looking in our direction with raised heads, alertly
watching as we walked down the road. This
was another anomalous behavior, while most times bulls were not bothered by vehicles
or people on some occasions they were very alert to and vary of people moving
on foot. I wondered whether this had to
do with the distance that separated the people and elephants at any time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c2D7QpIItRo/UZeKnY2ioKI/AAAAAAAAFKQ/FZXc9i3IaBo/s1600/IMG_0920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c2D7QpIItRo/UZeKnY2ioKI/AAAAAAAAFKQ/FZXc9i3IaBo/s400/IMG_0920.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Keeping a weary eye on the elephants we walked to the Tree Hut</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mentally I calculated what our chances were
of reaching the Tree Hut if one or all of them decided to get to know us
personally. Our chances looked pretty
dismal. The road stretched straight like
a buff colored ribbon through Mana grass with no place to take refuge in case
of an attack. The few trees that were
there had trunks as straight as poplars seemingly to discourage people from
climbing them. With the three bulls
staring—the two of us walked down the road like two self-conscious village
damsels. Acting nonchalant we
walked down at an even pace keeping a vary eye on the elephants. The planets must have been in proper
alignment in our astrological charts and our Karma must have been better than anticipated because
we made it back to the Tree Hut without incident. What is closer to truth is contrary to
currently held beliefs elephants are not eager to step on people every
opportunity they get.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ooB2QDB5Xhg/UZeK4uw7Y4I/AAAAAAAAFKY/WIm71VuCLb0/s1600/PICT0679.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ooB2QDB5Xhg/UZeK4uw7Y4I/AAAAAAAAFKY/WIm71VuCLb0/s400/PICT0679.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The road stretched along with no place to hide</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a5gpwOR018Y/UZbSa-4re1I/AAAAAAAAFEw/Hn09WWemDz8/s1600/IMG_6420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a5gpwOR018Y/UZbSa-4re1I/AAAAAAAAFEw/Hn09WWemDz8/s400/IMG_6420.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Bulls tend to ignore people most of the time</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">How people reacted and behaved in the
presence of elephants was also part of our study but in all honesty observing
human behavior was more entertainment than science!</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I must profess that when people and elephants
were present in the corridor, the elephants behaved in a far more dignified
manner than people.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Village men
inebriated to the high heavens were the worst.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Imbued by a false sense of bravado from the liquor these drunks’ attitude
was to tangle with the elephants.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">At
least David when he challenged Goliath had a sling shot! These idiots had only alcohol fumes.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">On many occasions we had transported such intoxicated
villagers to their homes fearing for their lives.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">No wonder then, that of the 80 odd people
that are killed annually by elephants the majority are drunks. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZS4d8eUPVRs/UZeBUew2t0I/AAAAAAAAFIg/AoqMdAzSleM/s1600/IMG_7568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZS4d8eUPVRs/UZeBUew2t0I/AAAAAAAAFIg/AoqMdAzSleM/s400/IMG_7568.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A motorcyclist riding by a herd hiding motionless behind scrub</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9ZgUF0f4Ql0/UZeBxmAh2gI/AAAAAAAAFIw/eegAQ2sq-n8/s1600/IMG_7566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9ZgUF0f4Ql0/UZeBxmAh2gI/AAAAAAAAFIw/eegAQ2sq-n8/s400/IMG_7566.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>A
belligerent drunk attempting to challenge the elephants!</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Another rowdy behavior we have been observing
lately was several pimped up tuk tuks that had taken to escorting convoys of small
Land Master tractors.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rgVNLkZNeq8/UZbTbioH0sI/AAAAAAAAFE8/v9iUQqxjkGs/s1600/17335_220057260854_557205854_3711741_6691404_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rgVNLkZNeq8/UZbTbioH0sI/AAAAAAAAFE8/v9iUQqxjkGs/s400/17335_220057260854_557205854_3711741_6691404_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The ubiquitous and obnoxious Tuk Tuks</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">These three
wheeled vehicles adorned with chrome fittings and equipped with strobe lights
and musical horns were such a rude and contrasting element that completely
ruined the sublimity of the forest environment.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">At dusk they would race through the corridor with their lights flashing
and horns blaring, providing the vanguard to the much slower Land Master
tractors.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Shattering the peace and
tranquility – they created a cacophony that was totally uncalled for and was
not effective at all if the intention was to chase away elephants.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">On all occasions when we had been present at
these displays of tuk tuk machismo—the elephants had either stood still quietly
behind a wall of scrub or had already withdrawn to the forest edge as soon as
they had heard the distant sounds of the approaching vehicles. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v-z5_HKvRO8/UZeFBGPBc9I/AAAAAAAAFJY/b7svBqXOVzk/s1600/MG+Farm+Roof-Tree+Hut+Filming-WNP+Visit+165.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v-z5_HKvRO8/UZeFBGPBc9I/AAAAAAAAFJY/b7svBqXOVzk/s400/MG+Farm+Roof-Tree+Hut+Filming-WNP+Visit+165.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A Tuk Tuk with lights ablaze and horn blaring driving past a herd</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">This is an issue we are now trying to address
through our education and awareness programs.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">We intend to use footage of our observations to edify local villagers
how to behave when elephants were present in the corridor.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Another plan that is been developed is to use
mobile phones to provide advanced notice to villagers when elephants were
present.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">This is to warn villagers who
have to travel through the corridor in advance so they could plan ahead to get
home safely.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tnit1OH0f1E/UZbURSidskI/AAAAAAAAFFI/1ZyChplWt9U/s1600/DSCF4310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tnit1OH0f1E/UZbURSidskI/AAAAAAAAFFI/1ZyChplWt9U/s400/DSCF4310.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A Tuk Tuk escorting a Land Master Tractor</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The elephant behaviors we observed from
the Tree Hut were not only very fascinating but obviously had implications to
understanding the dynamics of human elephant conflicts.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Eventually we hope this information would
help us to improve our efforts to overcome the challenges of conserving elephants
in a rapidly changing world.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">After the elephants had fed at the Tree
Hut Corridor they would head towards the gravel road to cross. After
crossing the road still feeding they would head towards the tank (reservoir)
that was located south of the tree hut.
It was a circuitous rather than a direct route and if plotted on a map would
show an arching line. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cnf060EW7lY/UZd1P_X7_QI/AAAAAAAAFF0/IbuZqSw5KUw/s1600/IMG_1141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cnf060EW7lY/UZd1P_X7_QI/AAAAAAAAFF0/IbuZqSw5KUw/s400/IMG_1141.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The elephants head to the tank through the Tree Hut Corridor - a massive bull on the left</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">This was more or less their routine behavior.
But what was really interesting about this was that once they began their
move towards the reservoir nothing could stop them. This extraordinary
behavior we found out quite by accident. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7dkc3HBoGvY/UZd0GI44EWI/AAAAAAAAFFo/klc0JGOWBN0/s1600/IMG_7573.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7dkc3HBoGvY/UZd0GI44EWI/AAAAAAAAFFo/klc0JGOWBN0/s400/IMG_7573.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A herd crossing the road to head to the tank in the far distance</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">It was a beautiful afternoon in February 2012
and we were in the Tree Hut with a film crew from France 3 television channel filming
a herd of 35 elephants. With the light fading fast and the elephants
grouping to make their final move to the reservoir, I called up to the field
house and asked one of the staff to bring immediately the three British volunteers:
Emma, Gemma and Katherine who were staying with us at the time. After
completing their afternoon assignment they had just got back to the field house,
and there was nothing like completing the day with some elephant viewing from
the Tree Hut. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ACmFg12_lRg/UZd2ZzguIjI/AAAAAAAAFGA/7qVN1vgLBxM/s1600/DSCF4262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ACmFg12_lRg/UZd2ZzguIjI/AAAAAAAAFGA/7qVN1vgLBxM/s400/DSCF4262.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A mother and calf just below the Tree Hut</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xRvPH0q7kLM/UZd2Z6i6PMI/AAAAAAAAFGE/E2FEcBtOkHg/s1600/DSCF4281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xRvPH0q7kLM/UZd2Z6i6PMI/AAAAAAAAFGE/E2FEcBtOkHg/s400/DSCF4281.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Two young bulls play wrestling by Tree Hut</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The herd as they fed was moving across
the grassy woodlands towards the road which they will soon cross. It was
always the big bulls that crossed the road first followed immediately by the
rest of the herd. The bulls would approach
the road slowly and cross it sedately showing no concern. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ex-W_KjQ-Tg/UZd9gfFQyPI/AAAAAAAAFHg/HkU4fg1LjuI/s1600/PICT0796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ex-W_KjQ-Tg/UZd9gfFQyPI/AAAAAAAAFHg/HkU4fg1LjuI/s400/PICT0796.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A bull approaching the road in advance of the herd</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iPZJeqTPXoA/UZd9uglhY1I/AAAAAAAAFHo/90HfgyMN77Q/s1600/1.+Bull+crossing+road.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iPZJeqTPXoA/UZd9uglhY1I/AAAAAAAAFHo/90HfgyMN77Q/s400/1.+Bull+crossing+road.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Bulls crossed the road unhurriedly and sedately</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The female herds were different. It was fascinating to watch how cautiously
they made this maneuver. Once the big bulls had crossed, the females
bunched together would move as one phalanx across the road keeping the little
calves tucked in the middle or by their sides. It was also amusing to
observe the stragglers. These were the ones who had been so preoccupied
feeding—they were completely unaware that the rest of the herd had moved on.
When they realized or more likely were alerted by an inaudible signal from
the others, they would dash wildly across the road, their tails streaming, ears
spread wide and trunks stretched out trumpeting furiously.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gfl_ShupMMI/UZd-Fo7XwcI/AAAAAAAAFHw/NteaSadYdsc/s1600/Cow+Selection-Marble+Beach-Trinco+Dump-Ollie+743.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gfl_ShupMMI/UZd-Fo7XwcI/AAAAAAAAFHw/NteaSadYdsc/s400/Cow+Selection-Marble+Beach-Trinco+Dump-Ollie+743.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A part of a herd crossing with a calf tucked in the middle</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QBEBpSmXG24/UZd3BbdswcI/AAAAAAAAFGY/KlQEXyTqc04/s1600/Photo+1-Observing+elephants+from+tree+hut.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QBEBpSmXG24/UZd3BbdswcI/AAAAAAAAFGY/KlQEXyTqc04/s400/Photo+1-Observing+elephants+from+tree+hut.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A herd feeding nearby to the Tree Hut</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">With the sun just minutes from
disappearing over the hills the entire herd and the massive bull were now
gathered by the side of the road intending to cross it. Within the next few minutes they would be
gone. There was still no sign of the other Land Rover with the
volunteers. It would be very unfortunate if they arrived just after the
elephants had left. Anxious that the volunteers were going to miss a
great opportunity to see a large herd of elephants, I called down to Sampath
from the tree hut and asked him to take our Land Rover and block the herd as
they tried to cross it. Sampath took off immediately. It did not
come to our minds at the time, but we had completely forgotten that Mahanama
the National Film Corporation representative assigned to the French film crew
was fast asleep in the back of the open side vehicle.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sampath drove the vehicle slowly to
where the elephants were and stopped right in front of them. It was an
incongruously matched situation. The Land Rover had a canvass roof and was
opened on all sides and was no match for an enraged bull or for that matter
anything larger than a cow if it came to a head to head battle. But on a
side note: this particular Land Rover has had more than its fair share of
encounters with elephants and other natural hazards. It had always come unscathed from these
encounters with its occupants none the worse for their experiences. In
appreciation of its valiant nature, volunteers had named it Gloria. Once we
got surrounded by a raging grass fire inside the Wasgamuwa National Park set by
illegal cattle herders and poachers. We had no choice other than to keep
driving through that uncontrolled and rapacious conflagration. Even then Gloria had risen to the occasion and
managed to drive us to safety through a Hades invoking crackling wall of fire
and blinding smoke. Up to now Gloria had never failed us. Unfortunately Mahanama was not aware of the legendary
fortitude of Gloria. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rROgubJrdt8/UZd3-xFJzJI/AAAAAAAAFGk/fEe_CPfiNoc/s1600/Ravi+2009+Images+of+US+&+SL+024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rROgubJrdt8/UZd3-xFJzJI/AAAAAAAAFGk/fEe_CPfiNoc/s400/Ravi+2009+Images+of+US+&+SL+024.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Gloria the intrepid Land Rover</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aGlGnFJuoAg/UZd42QARTJI/AAAAAAAAFGw/Pd8qpZ-2tls/s1600/Ravi+2009+Images+of+US+&+SL+2365.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aGlGnFJuoAg/UZd42QARTJI/AAAAAAAAFGw/Pd8qpZ-2tls/s400/Ravi+2009+Images+of+US+&+SL+2365.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The grass fire raging behind through which Gloria had driven us to safety</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">When Sampath drove up to the herd and
stopped we did not know what to expect. Maybe they would move back? Or try a different route? The herd stood their ground and the massive bull trumpeted piercingly and
charged. Mahanama who was fast asleep in the back woke up when the bull charged
trumpeting. In his half awaken state he
saw a mass of elephants looking down on him from trunk touching distance and
one enraged colossus bearing down with all intent of making him part of the
body work of the car. As the bull charged from the side there was a loud
thud from the back, Sampath had immediately assumed that another elephant had
hit the vehicle from the rear. When he
had looked quickly behind expecting the worse it was Mahanama who had rolled
off the seat to the floor and was crying and moaning as he tried to crawl
underneath the seat. The poor fellow—just imagine waking up to a gauntlet
of angry elephants surrounding your bedside, with an enormous bull charging
with the very intent of pulverizing the vehicle and passengers into a morass.
Goldilocks’ experience with the three bears seemed like a picnic. From his position lying on the seat the bull must
have looked like the Titanic bearing down on him! Instinctively he had dived to
the floor hoping to creep underneath the seat. Unfortunately Land Rover
seats are not made for creeping under by elephant fearing people.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S9HDjoBbYbk/UZd5fQZNXpI/AAAAAAAAFG4/zimXMH2sanc/s1600/IMG_7582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S9HDjoBbYbk/UZd5fQZNXpI/AAAAAAAAFG4/zimXMH2sanc/s400/IMG_7582.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sampath and Gloria stopped in front of the herd </b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Sampath! What are you trying to do?”
Mahanama had shrieked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I’m trying to block the elephants from
crossing the road,” Sampath had replied.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Block the elephants! Oh my God you people
are crazy! Mahanama had yelled and then shouted, “<i>Buddhu Ammey</i> (Enlightened Mother) please help me to get out of this
alive.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Curled up on the floor, Mahanama had lamented
why he ever undertook this job, wailing that he was not even married, now he
will die a bachelor and not live to see his progeny. On the day he left with the film crew he gave
a solemn promise that he would quit his job if they ever assigned him to
another film crew that planned to visit our project. We of course were amazed by his attitude
because we genuinely liked him very much and wanted him to come back. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DyoTjDTdl5o/UZd_nx1f-AI/AAAAAAAAFIE/G0rVWy3y-PA/s1600/IMG_1198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DyoTjDTdl5o/UZd_nx1f-AI/AAAAAAAAFIE/G0rVWy3y-PA/s400/IMG_1198.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Mahanama's view of the bull elephant...Wake up little Suzi...Wake up</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qqe0XrJG20I/UZd7xeTNL_I/AAAAAAAAFHI/a1LjfyhMs1M/s1600/IMG_7277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qqe0XrJG20I/UZd7xeTNL_I/AAAAAAAAFHI/a1LjfyhMs1M/s400/IMG_7277.JPG" width="293" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Mahanama on left with volunteer Gene during happier times</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">After his initial show of rage which was
matched by the stoic Gloria the bull stepped back to the herd. Bunched
together, they glared at the vehicle making disparaging noises. Since all that glaring did not make the
annoying vehicle go away so they attempted to cross the road from the front and
back of it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tJ8MlQqXze8/UZd8dd6XReI/AAAAAAAAFHQ/TmLCOOZnoI0/s1600/Cow+Selection-Marble+Beach-Trinco+Dump-Ollie+706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tJ8MlQqXze8/UZd8dd6XReI/AAAAAAAAFHQ/TmLCOOZnoI0/s400/Cow+Selection-Marble+Beach-Trinco+Dump-Ollie+706.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The bull charging the vehicle</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Every time they attempted to cross either
from the back or the front of the vehicle, Sampath would thwart their efforts
by reversing or going forward, while in the back Mahanama lying on the floor
bemoaned his fate. Yet his fears had not
stopped him from narrating about an elephant that visited his village in the
south and had the habit of biting people.
The big bull with raised trunk showing off his cavernous maw and
corrugated molars would have been a disquieting reminder about the people
munching rabid pachyderm back home. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QRCe_-jNdjw/UZd84dnYt8I/AAAAAAAAFHY/aViATIl9Yfk/s1600/Cow+Selection-Marble+Beach-Trinco+Dump-Ollie+709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QRCe_-jNdjw/UZd84dnYt8I/AAAAAAAAFHY/aViATIl9Yfk/s400/Cow+Selection-Marble+Beach-Trinco+Dump-Ollie+709.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Probably what reminded Mahanama of the people biting elephant</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">From the tree hut it looked like Gloria
and the elephants were doing some mid-western square dance in right
angles. When the elephants attempted to
cross in front Sampath drove Gloria forward and they would step back and then
try to cross from the back. Sampath would
reverse and the elephants would move back, stand and wait for a moment and try
to cross again from the front. This went
on for a while until the sun had practically sunk out of sight and there was
only the diffused ambient light. After a little bit more of this back
and forth tangoing I called Sampath and asked him to come back to the Tree Hut.
It was an interesting observation, because we had expected them to either
move back and tried a different route or to do some real damage to the vehicle.
They had not done any of that other than
to just stand exactly where they wanted to cross the road making rumbling and
pipsqueak noises. Some had their trunks tucked into their mouths. Surprisingly they had made no attempt to
annihilate the vehicle and the occupants along with it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6TWTQSqhiBE/UZd-ysO7cGI/AAAAAAAAFH4/ynts4A7QVzA/s1600/Cow+Selection-Marble+Beach-Trinco+Dump-Ollie+692.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6TWTQSqhiBE/UZd-ysO7cGI/AAAAAAAAFH4/ynts4A7QVzA/s400/Cow+Selection-Marble+Beach-Trinco+Dump-Ollie+692.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Standing by Mahanama's bedside</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The bull had initially acted as if he
had every intention of pulverizing the vehicle. But when he realized that
the vehicle and its occupants were clamoring to get pulverized—not Mahanama though
obviously—the bull had given up the idea and stood placidly with the herd.
I have a suspicion that elephants practiced reverse psychology. The
bull after that initial effort made no further attempts to smash the vehicle
into the road. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I was glad that we had a film crew with
us during this incident. This was behavior that needed to be captured on
film. The footage would also be a big help to convince relevant
authorities how important it is to protect corridors and crossing points that
elephants used as part of their natural ranging. Being highly intelligent
animals the elephants could have easily taken a different route effectively
bypassing the vehicle to go where they wanted too. A lesser species would
have done just that. But these elephants
had showed an innate inability or a marked lack of wanting to take such an
initiative. They had steadfastly stood their ground at the exact point
from where they always crossed the road. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ikASCGJvk6Y/UZeFWVGllaI/AAAAAAAAFJg/9P6yEI6KFc0/s1600/Wasgmauwa+Encounter-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ikASCGJvk6Y/UZeFWVGllaI/AAAAAAAAFJg/9P6yEI6KFc0/s400/Wasgmauwa+Encounter-1.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>We are not moving until you do...</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The implications of these
observations show that elephant corridors need not be as big meaning area wise. The currently held belief is that large swaths of
land need to be put aside as corridors to connect existing protected areas to
provide room for elephants to range naturally. Our observations show that to
provide connectivity the critical points need not be as large as it had been envisioned.
Apparently elephants show a high fidelity to the crossing points from which
they transfer from one part of their range to another, especially where roads
had bisected their range and created edge effects. If these points and
the land on either side can be safeguarded then they are able to range as they
need. It will also to a large degree prevent conflicts with people. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nNvYGyhjsyg/UZeIz_fC31I/AAAAAAAAFKA/mgq7uxn8Vm0/s1600/Ollie-WNP-Chopper+Filming-Kandy+Perahera+221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nNvYGyhjsyg/UZeIz_fC31I/AAAAAAAAFKA/mgq7uxn8Vm0/s400/Ollie-WNP-Chopper+Filming-Kandy+Perahera+221.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Get off the road!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">This behavior probably sheds light as to
why elephants fall victim to trains. When they are at a crossing point
waiting to cross it seems they take affront to any effort to obstruct their
intentions and are incapable of backing off or even moving away to cross from a
different place. This could be one of
the reasons why elephants get hit by trains. Probably these casualties could be drastically
reduced if an effort is made to identify these points and have the railways
impose a regulation for trains to travel at a slow speed until they have passed
these sections. A long term practical
solution would be to elevate the train tracks on to trestles along these
sections leaving room for elephants to cross from underneath. I doubt this would happen any time soon
though unless private funds can be found to initiate such an effort. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3_94FxNtH54/UZeAQqZNu4I/AAAAAAAAFIM/K8-sgm02CDo/s1600/37.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3_94FxNtH54/UZeAQqZNu4I/AAAAAAAAFIM/K8-sgm02CDo/s400/37.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>An elephant hit by a train</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The SLWCS had over the years attempted
to map some of these corridors and crossing points but it had been an uphill task.
To do such a project it needs a lot of resources such as GPS units, GIS
software, powerful computers and skilled personnel. Recently we made an
effort to safeguard several such crossing points which were on privately owned
land. The idea was to purchase these lands and transfer them to a land
trust. Unfortunately the funding we were expecting did
not come through and the project had to be put on the back burner. While
there is global consensus on the importance of corridors to maintain wildlife
movement, gene flow and connectivity of ecosystems when it comes to
establishing elephant corridors there are very few backers. The irony is
that conservation measures developed to save the elephant will automatically
provide protection to hundreds of other species. Yet funding for such
projects are extremely difficult to obtain. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hYNCFxetbz8/UZeAjBo7qKI/AAAAAAAAFIU/lzDobbq_bqM/s1600/Cow+Selection-Marble+Beach-Trinco+Dump-Ollie+688.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hYNCFxetbz8/UZeAjBo7qKI/AAAAAAAAFIU/lzDobbq_bqM/s400/Cow+Selection-Marble+Beach-Trinco+Dump-Ollie+688.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Corridors and Crossing Points are vital for elephants to range freely</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The observations we continue to make
from the Tree Hut Corridor is a great insight into elephant behavior and interactions
between people and elephants to understand human-elephant conflicts. They
offer us a different perspective as well as help to identify some of the
elements that contribute to conflicts.
Hopefully these observations will help us to improve the measures we have implemented to mitigate conflicts for the long term conservation of the elephant.
One of the clearest observations is how elephants tend to move through
the same area or for that matter use the same route irrespective of
disturbances to get to water and food. When villagers or government officials
with no knowledge about the habits of elephants attempt to develop these areas,
they are basically setting up for conflicts. Even this corridor which
through our efforts had become safe for people and elephants was not spared.
Recently the local Provincial Council decided to concrete an entire
section of the road that cuts across the corridor which was totally
unnecessary. Through discussion with the contractor we managed to get
them to keep the disturbance to a minimum. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As we continue these observations helped
by our international volunteers our knowledge and awareness is bound to
increase, which in turn will translate into effective conservation efforts to
save the endangered Sri Lankan elephant. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GI3SEp_Nn1w/UZeCsO0ZcHI/AAAAAAAAFJA/SzPNjkvw3zE/s1600/17335_220045520854_557205854_3711714_6839338_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GI3SEp_Nn1w/UZeCsO0ZcHI/AAAAAAAAFJA/SzPNjkvw3zE/s400/17335_220045520854_557205854_3711714_6839338_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Gloria underneath the Tree Hut</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
SLWCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13385383717997197891noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759649900435291798.post-85700401332132128522012-12-15T23:45:00.001-08:002012-12-16T17:40:17.157-08:00Volunteer Adventures with the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society<br />
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<b>Elephant Encounters by the Tree Hut
Corridor<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Safe on the Defender </td></tr>
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It was mid-July 2010 and we
were headed to the Tree Hut Corridor to observe and film elephants. With
me in the Defender were the film crew from New York based Greener Media Film-production
Company and three international volunteers. The volunteers: Emma, Rachel
and Samantha had come down from the UK and the USA to volunteer with the SLWCS
for a month. The film crew consisted of Phil, Jon and Jesse, and this was
their second visit in two years to Sri Lanka. They were producing a
documentary film on human-elephant conflicts (please visit <a href="http://www.humanelephantconflict.com/">http://www.humanelephantconflict.com/</a>
for information about this film).
Expectations were high in the vehicle—today we hoped to get footage of
wild elephants and people interacting along the Tree Hut Corridor which we
frequently monitored as part of our ongoing efforts to gather data on
human-elephant conflicts. Monitoring and recording these observations was
one of the several activities volunteers helped us with. </div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1dkMbM39UOM/UM1Xhp6TVUI/AAAAAAAAE60/D3idrOvTEwo/s1600/11.+Observing+elephants+from+tree+hut.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1dkMbM39UOM/UM1Xhp6TVUI/AAAAAAAAE60/D3idrOvTEwo/s400/11.+Observing+elephants+from+tree+hut.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A volunteer recording observations from the tree hut</b></td></tr>
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Turning off from the main road
we drove down a gravel road that led through the Weheragalagama village, over
the tank (reservoir) bund, down the causeway where the water from the tank spill
drained, pass the Tree Hut Corridor to two small villages located deep in the
forest reserve. As we drove along on the bund the Himbiliyakade Forest
Range stretched parallel in the west directly across the tank, forming a chain
of green undulating hills with the Knuckles Mountain range providing the backdrop in the far distance. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5MR23tV4_8E/UM1X0I5wtPI/AAAAAAAAE68/dFj6V6TpoeM/s1600/Weheragalagama+Tank-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5MR23tV4_8E/UM1X0I5wtPI/AAAAAAAAE68/dFj6V6TpoeM/s400/Weheragalagama+Tank-2.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The hills of the Himbiliyakade Forest Range mirrored on the Weheragalagama tank</b></td></tr>
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The sky was a vast blue empty nothingness with a few scattered cirrus clouds floating lazily like strands of white candy floss let loose by an errant child. Brahminy kites and a pair of white bellied sea
eagles soared and glided on air currents rising from the tank. Without
doubt they were keeping their eyes out to snatch any unwary fish that came up gasping
for air. Closer to the surface by the water with similar intent were
egrets, woolly neck storks, lesser adjutants, white-throated kingfishers, stork billed
kingfishers, common kingfishers, pied kingfishers, painted storks, pond herons,
ibis, spoonbills, bitterns, water hens, terns, pelicans and many more avian
denizens. They were also keeping somber vigil to catch whatever unsuspecting
fish that came anywhere near them. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Brahminy Kites circling over the tank</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Great Egret</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Lesser Adjutant Storks</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Black-winged Stilts</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Spotted Redshank</b></td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">In the water itself there were annhingas (snakebird or oriental darter), cormorants, otters, crocodiles, snakes and water monitors waiting to grab or chase down any piscine that was stupid enough to come anywhere close to them. And then representing the most predacious and voluminous fish eater of them all were a few local fishermen laying nets from their colorful outrigger catamarans. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f_Guq9szMbs/UM1bJhLqjYI/AAAAAAAAE7c/_rytzz4YcZA/s1600/Nick's+bird+photos+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f_Guq9szMbs/UM1bJhLqjYI/AAAAAAAAE7c/_rytzz4YcZA/s400/Nick's+bird+photos+(1).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Annhinga aka Snake Bird or Oriental Darter and a Grey Heron</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Water Monitor</b></td></tr>
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Together this consisted of a
four-pronged attack on fish for consumption from that particular body of water
alone. Taken from a global context it is a wonder how fish ever managed
to survive for over 400 million years since the Devonian Period—when they got
really numerous or in the jargon of evolutionary scientists “radiated,” when
all these predatory avian, reptilian and mammalian fauna had a passion for
eating them! Going by the great demand for fresh fish in nature, Sushi
must be the first and most popular fish recipe in the world and it was definitely
not invented by the Japanese—unless of course the Japanese could trace their
ancestry to a kimono dressed piscivore from the Devonian Period.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Defender crossed the
causeway splashing over the shallow puddle of water that had seeped from the
spill. On the other side the road had several large potholes and corrugations
created by the last monsoon rains. The Defender with its spring
suspension rocked and bucked like the ark must have done during the deluge.
To everyone’s relief the road smoothened out soon enough and we came to
where the road cuts across the Tree Hut Corridor. Here it stretched straight
up to the horizon and disappeared over it. That sight for some reason never
failed to invoke in me a yearning for the infinite wetlands of my childhood
that are no more.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_KMONf-WMTY/UM1jJdw-vxI/AAAAAAAAE7s/PXki4vc5Pfo/s1600/View+from+the+tree+hut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_KMONf-WMTY/UM1jJdw-vxI/AAAAAAAAE7s/PXki4vc5Pfo/s400/View+from+the+tree+hut.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The road that cuts across the Tree Hut Corridor</b></td></tr>
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Making a right turn and crossing
a ditch we head off-road up to a tree where a large and comfortable tree hut had
been constructed by us. The most distinguished
guest we had in this tree hut was the former U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka, the honorable
Patricia Butenis, an ardent and passionate environmentalist and animal lover. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5u1T1Jt0yOs/UM1vKnkqEqI/AAAAAAAAE8U/gJPdNW6WOCI/s1600/Manisha+Mannar+Maureen+in+Hallowen+Gym+Dress+874.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5u1T1Jt0yOs/UM1vKnkqEqI/AAAAAAAAE8U/gJPdNW6WOCI/s400/Manisha+Mannar+Maureen+in+Hallowen+Gym+Dress+874.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Arriving by the Tree Hut</b></td></tr>
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Turning the vehicle around, I reversed and
parked it underneath the tree. But before anyone got off the vehicle it
was important to scout the area to see whether any elephants were around.
The tall Mana grass (<i>Cymbopogon
confertiflora</i>) that grew tall was very effective at hiding elephants. Several times we had narrowly escaped bumping
into one when getting off the vehicle to climb up to the tree hut. The
front bumper offered a good vantage point to scout the area to make sure there
were no elephants lurking nearby. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IzgD6jyl3AI/UM5qy23zsrI/AAAAAAAAE_Y/MbQoAeCrEwU/s1600/MG+Farm+Roof-Tree+Hut+Filming-WNP+Visit+082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IzgD6jyl3AI/UM5qy23zsrI/AAAAAAAAE_Y/MbQoAeCrEwU/s400/MG+Farm+Roof-Tree+Hut+Filming-WNP+Visit+082.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The tall Mana grass hid elephants very effectively</b></td></tr>
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Once it was confirmed that there were
no elephants I allowed the group to get off and climb up to the tree hut. Everyone found a comfortable spot with a good
view of the jungle and sat down to wait for the elephants to show up. The
film crew was anxious to film how elephants and people reacted to each other as
they both moved through this corridor.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A-XMA8TbW_I/UM1vYK0yf4I/AAAAAAAAE8c/RhANaWVW50k/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador's+Visit+to+Wasgamuwa-July+23-25th+2010+122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A-XMA8TbW_I/UM1vYK0yf4I/AAAAAAAAE8c/RhANaWVW50k/s400/U.S.+Ambassador's+Visit+to+Wasgamuwa-July+23-25th+2010+122.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>People are allowed to alight and climb only after checking for elephants nearby</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rkntuyReGDA/UM1vwj7btyI/AAAAAAAAE8k/ALJYLtcpYDY/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador's+Visit+to+Wasgamuwa-July+23-25th+2010+121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rkntuyReGDA/UM1vwj7btyI/AAAAAAAAE8k/ALJYLtcpYDY/s400/U.S.+Ambassador's+Visit+to+Wasgamuwa-July+23-25th+2010+121.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Climbing up to the Tree Hut a la Swiss Family Robinson</b></div>
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In Sri Lanka the relationship
between people and elephants goes back several thousand years. The
elephant is viewed as a living cultural and religious icon because of the
important role it still played in the culture of the country. But today
this relationship had reached a new low, which is human-elephant conflict that
resulted in the death of over 200 elephants and about 80 people annually.
For the past 16 years the SLWCS has been addressing this issue by
developing innovative measures to mitigate human-elephant conflicts under its
land mark and international award winning project, Saving Elephants by Helping
People (SEHP). These efforts have slowly and gradually brought dividends
to the people and elephants at our project site in Wasgamuwa in the Central
Province of Sri Lanka. Earlier enemies now tolerated each other to an extent
that it was possible to observe people and elephants using a corridor and not
trying to kill each other. This was an incredible sight to see especially
on days when men, women and children traveled back and forth from school and
work on this road while on either side there were elephants. These were
the interactions that the volunteers were going to observe and record and the
crew from Greener Media hoped to film. The SEHP Project in 2008 received
a prestigious UNDP Equator Initiative Equator Prize for its outstanding efforts
to alleviate poverty through the conservation and sustainable use of
biodiversity. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oE8wdcGnoDw/UM14P1d4VlI/AAAAAAAAE-k/4PiinDylfJw/s1600/18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oE8wdcGnoDw/UM14P1d4VlI/AAAAAAAAE-k/4PiinDylfJw/s400/18.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Receiving a UNDP Equator Initiative Prize in 2008</b></td></tr>
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By the time we settled
ourselves in the tree hut it was about 4 pm, which was just about the right
time, because as the sun started to sink behind the hills and the day got
cooler elephants began to move out of the forests and head towards the
grasslands. Up in the tree hut the film crew set up their camera and
sound equipment to get into instant action as soon as the first elephant showed
up. It was vitally important to be quiet and I had insisted on it and had
imposed while in the tree hut any and all conversations or anything anyone had
to say had to be whispered or mimed. Unless of course, it was an urgent
matter such as an elephant was trying to climb up the tree! The tree of course had been selected to ensure that an elephant could not push it down. </div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Elephants had very good
hearing and they would get alarmed at the merest sound of our voices. It
was not to our best interest to alarm them before they came close to the tree
hut. Most wild animals were easily frightened and took instant flight at
the sound of the human voice. I’m not surprised at all! There are a few
people I know whose voices scare the hell out of me too! Elephants were
no exception unless they were otherwise occupied, such as charging to attack or
when raiding fields and homes for food. Then no amount of shouting or
screaming would deter them and the only hope was to have a good exit plan.
It had been suggested that if an elephant made a determined charge while you were on foot to leave something behind as a memento while attempting to get away.
The shirt or the backpack left conspicuously behind would suffice since there
really wouldn't be enough time to discard the pants and the time it would take
to do so would be counterproductive—unless of course one was wearing a
sarong. Actually this had worked—meaning not jettisoning the lower
garment but leaving something behind. It had helped to distract or
divert the attention of a charging elephant. I had once experienced this
quite accidentally and quite unintentionally of course, at Lahugala in the
Eastern Province of Sri Lanka. I had not repeated it again, nor do I have the intention of doing it again either. Therefore I cannot guarantee that it works always. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Twenty feet above the ground out
of the reach of elephants we whispered like conspirators, and mimed to convey
complex ideas using facial expressions for which generally actors receive
academy awards. Phil who was the producer as well as the cameraman
whispered, “How long will we have to wait before they showed up.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
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“That is hard to say but
generally by around this time they should start coming out of the forest,” I
replied. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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“Are there days that they
never show up,” Jesse inquired in a bass whisper that reminded me of Barry
White. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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“Of course some days they don’t
show up, but hopefully today will not be one of those days.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
The SLWCS gathered data on
human elephant interactions from the tree hut so the three volunteers got
prepared to record their observations that evening. This was one of the
several field activities that volunteers helped us with. Emma had the
clipboard to record data while Rachel and Samantha would observe and report
whatever the activities they observed. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VdOfqaOw9Dw/UM5lecZu6wI/AAAAAAAAE_A/Ek0VH49KHis/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador's+Visit+to+Wasgamuwa-July+23-25th+2010+125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VdOfqaOw9Dw/UM5lecZu6wI/AAAAAAAAE_A/Ek0VH49KHis/s400/U.S.+Ambassador's+Visit+to+Wasgamuwa-July+23-25th+2010+125.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The U.S. Ambassador pointing out at elephants while volunteers: Emma and Samantha record their observations</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5CYHMJUVsPE/UM1xVD6SY7I/AAAAAAAAE9E/znJuWRHA-Ac/s1600/Corea+Image+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5CYHMJUVsPE/UM1xVD6SY7I/AAAAAAAAE9E/znJuWRHA-Ac/s400/Corea+Image+5.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A part of a herd with a small calf walking away from the Tree Hut</b></td></tr>
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The reason to gather this
information was to look at the temporal dynamics of how elephants used the Tree
Hut Corridor and how important it was to their annual ranging cycle. Because
people and elephants both used the corridor we wanted to find out the effects and impacts
they had on each other. It was an unusual and incredible sight to see.
Groups of children walked to school or home on this road and on either side
there were elephants! Only very rarely had we observed bulls attempting
to charge or attack people. On these rare occasions the bulls had been mostly
bluffing and the people too have also learned to behave sensibly during these
times. Probably that is why so far there had been no untoward incidents.
On several such occasions when SLWCS field teams had been present they
had intervened to safeguard the people by transporting or escorting them to the
safety of their homes in our field vehicles. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7oHaCnkebiQ/UM1wHCkvgSI/AAAAAAAAE8s/GmkWapjFZaE/s1600/A+cyclist+riding+past+Nondiya.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7oHaCnkebiQ/UM1wHCkvgSI/AAAAAAAAE8s/GmkWapjFZaE/s400/A+cyclist+riding+past+Nondiya.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A Cyclist on the road that went across the Tree Hut Corridor</b></td></tr>
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The crack of a snapping branch
sounded very loud in the stillness of the late afternoon. It completely
halted our whispered discussion in mid-conversation. I gestured hurriedly
for everybody to be quiet and we gazed in the direction the sound had come
from. Suddenly there was another crack
and then another and soon all that could be heard were elephants feeding in the
forest. They were browsing and grazing and the sounds gradually got
louder and louder as they moved towards where we were. Everybody kept
scanning up and down the forest edge to spot where they would emerge
from. </div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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The film team immediately got
their equipment ready and the volunteers took up their positions to make
observations and record data. Rumbles from the elephants reverberated
over to us interspersed with the peculiar squeaky noise they made. This was a high pitched sound I have heard
members of a herd make when they were relaxed and content or when they were
nervous and stressed. The piercing trumpet calls set our hearts thumping
and bodies tingling with adrenalin. As
the sounds of feeding and calling got closer it became apparent that it was a
large herd and they were spread out as they fed and moved towards the tree hut.<o:p></o:p></div>
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An elephant that was barely
visible through the trees gradually drifted into view, its sinuous trunk snaking
around bunches of grass that it scythed effortlessly and transported to its
cavernous maw. Just behind it was
another elephant similarly occupied and if they continued would come right
underneath the tree we were waiting. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wg2l887plos/UM1w4syTevI/AAAAAAAAE80/pSt0RewACZ4/s1600/MG+Farm+Roof-Tree+Hut+Filming-WNP+Visit+101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wg2l887plos/UM1w4syTevI/AAAAAAAAE80/pSt0RewACZ4/s400/MG+Farm+Roof-Tree+Hut+Filming-WNP+Visit+101.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>An elephant emerging from the forest</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oLxyEQ22Y-A/UM11mtGUjzI/AAAAAAAAE-E/wMdE-zoyT8c/s1600/MG+Farm+Roof-Tree+Hut+Filming-WNP+Visit+285.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oLxyEQ22Y-A/UM11mtGUjzI/AAAAAAAAE-E/wMdE-zoyT8c/s400/MG+Farm+Roof-Tree+Hut+Filming-WNP+Visit+285.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>For such large animals the fluidity in their motions is incredible to watch</b></td></tr>
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As they fed some of them would throw grass and dirt over their backs. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">This must be grass that must have tasted bad.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I wish I could do the same when eating out at
a swanky restaurant.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The dishes that were not up to expectations could be sent sailing over the shoulders. Yikes! This
dish tastes awful, here it goes.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Sorry
old chap did not mean to festoon you with this delicate gourmet dish.” Just imagine
the fun on a day when several disgruntled customers were around at the same time.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">It would be like a Greek wedding! As
more of them appeared—elephants I meant and not disgruntled customers</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px;">—</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">the
ones in the lead would raise their trunks to check for danger.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tdInDm6tuuI/UM11GYq5xuI/AAAAAAAAE98/-VOh3gKCXoo/s1600/MG+Farm+Roof-Tree+Hut+Filming-WNP+Visit+396.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tdInDm6tuuI/UM11GYq5xuI/AAAAAAAAE98/-VOh3gKCXoo/s400/MG+Farm+Roof-Tree+Hut+Filming-WNP+Visit+396.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>As they grazed they would throw grass and soil on to their backs</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--g_mBJag2_Q/UM1x6lP9JXI/AAAAAAAAE9M/Y_53e0TCARA/s1600/MG+Farm+Roof-Tree+Hut+Filming-WNP+Visit+094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--g_mBJag2_Q/UM1x6lP9JXI/AAAAAAAAE9M/Y_53e0TCARA/s400/MG+Farm+Roof-Tree+Hut+Filming-WNP+Visit+094.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A part of a herd emerging and a lead elephant checking for danger</b></td></tr>
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About half the herd had come out into the open when
in the distance emanated the distinct sound of a tuk tuk also known as a Bajaj
three wheeled vehicle. With its small two-stroke engine sputtering and
straining the tuk tuk appeared far away headed in our direction and would
shortly go past the tree hut. As the tuk tuk got nearer and louder the
entire herd became completely silent and then there was the sound of them
rushing back to the jungle. One minute
they were there and in the next they were gone. The film crew and the
volunteers looked deeply disappointed. Due to their despondent state I
had to remind the girls to note down what they had observed. </div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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"What do we do now?” Phil asked
miserably.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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“We wait, the herd will come
back.” I retorted. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Likewise in a short while we could
hear them feeding and moving in our direction. This time though they had
moved a bit north from where they were before. Earlier they would have
come right underneath the tree hut. But
now they would appear a little bit further away from where we were. While we
could still see them it was not as good as if they had been right underneath
us. Peering through the canopy we
attempted to get a visual of the elephants. I was staring at a place where I could just
make out an elephant when I felt a light tap on my shoulder. It was Jon to point out where most of the herd
had come out from. It seemed they had moved
even further away and were hardly perceptible from the tree hut especially for
filming. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Phil looked at me and said in
a dejected tone, “They are a bit too far to get good footage.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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It seemed at that range it
would not be possible. I had not expected them to move that far when they
returned.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“What do you suggest,” Phil
asked.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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“It depends on you, and if you
are courageous enough.” I replied. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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“What do you mean?” Phil
asked.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
“We could approach them in the
vehicle.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
“Why do you need to be
courageous to do that? We are in a vehicle...will be safe...right? Or we are not?
Jon asked hesitantly.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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“Well... not actually inside.”
I remarked casually. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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“Oh! What do you mean?” Phil
asked looking me straight in the eye probably having a presentiment about what
was going to come. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
“What I had in mind was for
you to be outside.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
Jon’s expression was
quizzical, “you want Phil to be outside the vehicle when we drive up to the
elephants?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
“You and him both”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
“What the ...” Jon
exclaimed. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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“Alright, let me make it
clear. You both will up on the roof of the Defender and the rest of us
will push it up to the elephants. This way we will not cause any alarm by
driving up to them. There it is. What do you guys think? Are you up to
it?” <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
Phil grinning, “You have some
brilliant ideas I must say.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
“That is just terrific,” Jon
retorted.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
So how often have you done
this? Rachel wanted to know. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
“I have lost count,” I
grinned. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
Emma, Samantha and Rachel
demanded that they also wanted to be on the roof with the guys. “We’ll be good
and not be a disturbance. We will behave,” they promised.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
“How you behave does not matter.
It all depends on how the elephants will behave. I remarked.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
“How would they react?” Jesse
inquired.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
Elephants were unpredictable
as much as any other animal, human being or politician was. There was no way of
saying how an elephant or a herd would behave under a given situation. There
was only one way to find out. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
Let’s do it and see how
they’ll react,” I said climbing down from the tree hut. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>A roof top view of elephants<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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Phil climbed onto the front
bumper and from there to the mud guard and sat himself on the front crossbar of
the roll cage on the roof. When he gestured that he was ready I passed
the camera up to him very carefully. Behind Phil to the side Jon knelt
down with the recorder and the shotgun microphone. Jesse, the three
girls and I pushed the Defender towards the elephants. From the driver’s side window I steered it while
pushing against the window sill. After the initial effort the slightly
inclined road and its own momentum kept the car moving forward without much
effort on our part. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
The gravel crunched loudly underneath
the wheels and our bare feet. The crunching gravel and our labored
breathing were the only sounds that were audible as we pushed the car. The mobile roof top elephant-cam slowly and
gradually inched forward and got close to the herd. I kept looking up
frequently to make sure that we didn’t roll the vehicle with Phil and Jon on
the roof right into the midst of the herd. Honestly, I wanted this
documentary to get completed. We needed it to create global awareness
about the plight of the Asian elephant. A pancaked film crew would be of
no help. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_jTa3yPW7jI/UM10PloAQdI/AAAAAAAAE9s/fa5tkPjiatE/s1600/MG+Farm+Roof-Tree+Hut+Filming-WNP+Visit+118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_jTa3yPW7jI/UM10PloAQdI/AAAAAAAAE9s/fa5tkPjiatE/s400/MG+Farm+Roof-Tree+Hut+Filming-WNP+Visit+118.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Filming and observing elephants from the roof</b></td></tr>
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Remarkably the herd did not
pay much attention to the slowly approaching vehicle. One or two elephants looked up and stared at
us and then went back to feeding as if a Defender cruising on human power was
something they were quite used too. When we got to about 30 feet from the
herd I called a halt. It would have been possible to get much closer but
I was concerned. There were too many people on the roof to clamber into
the vehicle hurriedly if an elephant took offense at been pried upon from a Land
Rover roof!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SspJlNF5XLc/UM10tFWzslI/AAAAAAAAE90/FAxZtY3sPls/s1600/MG+Farm+Roof-Tree+Hut+Filming-WNP+Visit+136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SspJlNF5XLc/UM10tFWzslI/AAAAAAAAE90/FAxZtY3sPls/s400/MG+Farm+Roof-Tree+Hut+Filming-WNP+Visit+136.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A part of the herd emerging from the forest</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Phil filmed the herd until
failing light made it impossible to shoot anymore. Some elephants ventured very close to the vehicle. He managed to get some remarkable close up footage of elephants and also of pedestrians, people on bicycles, motorcycles and the ubiquitous and
raucous tuk tuks going by the herd.
Whenever one of these intruders came along, the herd would just clumped
together and remain silent hiding behind tall grass or scrub. These people had either walked or driven by
quite oblivious to the fact that a herd of wild elephants were just a few feet
away. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6ao4_5PYXRg/UM1y-SOwU-I/AAAAAAAAE9U/E7sSV4-bSKA/s1600/RC+SL+TRIP+MARCH+2011+077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6ao4_5PYXRg/UM1y-SOwU-I/AAAAAAAAE9U/E7sSV4-bSKA/s400/RC+SL+TRIP+MARCH+2011+077.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A noisy Tuk Tuk driving past an elephant</b></td></tr>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SsibqgJOSYc/UM1zBffOC4I/AAAAAAAAE9c/Ay7vNDslYvk/s1600/MG+Farm+Roof-Tree+Hut+Filming-WNP+Visit+165.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SsibqgJOSYc/UM1zBffOC4I/AAAAAAAAE9c/Ay7vNDslYvk/s400/MG+Farm+Roof-Tree+Hut+Filming-WNP+Visit+165.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A Tuk Tuk with lights blazing driving by a herd that is hardly discernible</b></td></tr>
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</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HY7bdCzeYtM/UM13b-47HoI/AAAAAAAAE-U/y5JUH5kaDr4/s1600/MG+Farm+Roof-Tree+Hut+Filming-WNP+Visit+377.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HY7bdCzeYtM/UM13b-47HoI/AAAAAAAAE-U/y5JUH5kaDr4/s400/MG+Farm+Roof-Tree+Hut+Filming-WNP+Visit+377.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>One of the feeding elephants had ventured quite close to the vehicle</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u2sVAoG40-U/UM13cxXk5_I/AAAAAAAAE-c/XCDX4sF-N0I/s1600/MG+Farm+Roof-Tree+Hut+Filming-WNP+Visit+409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u2sVAoG40-U/UM13cxXk5_I/AAAAAAAAE-c/XCDX4sF-N0I/s400/MG+Farm+Roof-Tree+Hut+Filming-WNP+Visit+409.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>To approach people this close while feeding means the elephants felt comfortable with the situation. Notwithstanding how comfortable the people felt though!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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After sunset only the stupid and
the drunk venture on foot in areas where elephants frequent. An interesting fact is, of the eighty odd
people that are killed annually by elephants in Sri Lanka, the majority is men
and of these men the majority had been intoxicated at the time. The false sense of bravado that intoxication imbues
had been the main cause for their deaths.
According to the accounts of sober companions who had been present—these
men had gone to challenge the elephant and/or refused to seek safety which had
of course led to their unfortunate demise. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">It is in fact quite disconcerting even to
imagine this ridiculous situation: where a puny man is telling a 10,000 pound
elephant to bugger off the road.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NWQH6DYlE3A/UM1zyJyGLcI/AAAAAAAAE9k/aQIt_GVAyzs/s1600/IMG_7566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NWQH6DYlE3A/UM1zyJyGLcI/AAAAAAAAE9k/aQIt_GVAyzs/s400/IMG_7566.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A man walking past a herd that had clumped together and are hiding in the grass</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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On a pitch black night we were
driving to one of our field stations located deep in the forest. The night was
so dark it felt like a solid wall. Coming
around a bend—we gasped in disbelief because illuminated in the head light
beams were two men. They were drunk to
high heavens, stood on the middle of the road holding on to each other, and were
staring in our direction with wide unfocused eyes. The headlights had probably
blinded whatever visual faculty they had in their alcohol infused state. Good thing we don’t believe in metaphysical
apparitions. Otherwise the manner in which
they just popped out of the darkness like that would’ve scared the hell out of anybody. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
What was even more incredible was
the fact that we had just passed by several bulls that obviously these two men must
have walked past too. This goes to show
the leniency of elephants sometimes towards idiot and drunks or just shows that
the guardian angels of drunks and imbeciles must work overtime. We hauled in the two inebriated nut cases
into the Land Rover to drop them off at their homes in the village. I feared we will get high just breathing the
fumes they were emanating. By the time
they were dropped off at their homes—assuming they were their homes but going by the
commotions we heard as we left it could be that they had gone into the wrong
homes—everyone was practically gasping for air. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
This evening fortunately for
us after dusk ended no one came on the road—no not even drunks to disturb the tranquility
of the elephants and us. In the dark it was great to sit under that vast lustrous
canopy and listen to the sounds of the herd feeding contentedly. The years of hard work resolving
human-elephant conflicts in this area by the SLWCS seemed to have paid off at least for
these elephants and the people of this area. But it is tenuous at most. <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">There are undesirable elements with vested interests, lack
of knowledge and ill-planned agendas always conspiring to destroy this hard won
coexistence. </span> That is why it is important
for us to continue to monitor as well as work with the local communities and
authorities to ensure that we save this microcosm of where people and elephants
seems to get along, for posterity. The
volunteers are important and vital allies whose help and contributions are critical
to make these efforts successful.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RpEfWN1w7BU/UM15FnX1IWI/AAAAAAAAE-s/NYBbWMRenV8/s1600/MG+Farm+Roof-Tree+Hut+Filming-WNP+Visit+299.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RpEfWN1w7BU/UM15FnX1IWI/AAAAAAAAE-s/NYBbWMRenV8/s400/MG+Farm+Roof-Tree+Hut+Filming-WNP+Visit+299.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Thank You volunteers!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
SLWCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13385383717997197891noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759649900435291798.post-34954763023004027082012-11-11T16:19:00.000-08:002012-11-11T16:22:28.559-08:00Volunteer Memoires continued: Cheranga does a "Sherlock" investigation on F. Jacksoni infestations in wild elephants—it was Alimentary!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-exAm9AqDlLM/UKA4a7CwL1I/AAAAAAAAE3o/2DCdwzbKXAA/s1600/P1050723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-exAm9AqDlLM/UKA4a7CwL1I/AAAAAAAAE3o/2DCdwzbKXAA/s400/P1050723.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Cheranga aka Dr. Poop in the field with colleagues collecting dung samples</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Preface</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Cheranga
Dharmasiri is a Final Year student studying International Wildlife Biology at
the University of Glamorgan in the UK. Cheranga spent 4 weeks in June/July 2012 at
the SLWCS Field Projects site in Wasgamuwa to fulfill his final year field research
dissertation requirement. The SLWCS was very
happy to provide Cheranga with all the field assistance and the main laboratory
equipment he needed such as a powerful microscope to successfully complete his
project. The following write up is
Cheranga’ personal account of his stay with the SLWCS while conducting his
independent research project. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In Hot Pursuit of <i>F. jacksoni<o:p></o:p></i></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">My quest for the
elusive Jacksoni began when I was challenged by my University to find an
investigative research project. I considered many exciting projects in various
exotic quarters of the world offered by reputed organizations, but after many
topics been considered and then discarded, it was settled that I would go to Sri
Lanka to look for a fluke named, <i>Fasciola
jacksoni</i>, with the help of the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ag9LA5vX5X0/UKA4xnfyh1I/AAAAAAAAE3w/o3v4WY9YH2U/s1600/Searching+for+F.Jacksoni.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ag9LA5vX5X0/UKA4xnfyh1I/AAAAAAAAE3w/o3v4WY9YH2U/s400/Searching+for+F.Jacksoni.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Getting ready to chase after <i>F. jacksoni</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">F. jacksoni</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> infests the Asian elephant and is known
to cause morbidity and in some cases mortality. My aim was to assess the
prevalence of this liver fluke in the elephants ranging outside the southern
boundary of the Wasgomuwa National Park. This involved collecting fresh
elephant dung, processing the dung and microscopic analysis to identify the
fluke eggs. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Arrangements
were finalized for me to spend 4 weeks at the SLWCS field research centre at
Wasgamuwa with the kind assistance of Mr. Ravi Corea, founder President of this
fantastic organization.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QIywwmVlaLQ/UKA5RaXgALI/AAAAAAAAE34/boUoZ1EsWr0/s1600/DSC06122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QIywwmVlaLQ/UKA5RaXgALI/AAAAAAAAE34/boUoZ1EsWr0/s400/DSC06122.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Breaking apart a dung pile to get a fresh sample</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8W5mQE4F-_g/UKA5VG6y4dI/AAAAAAAAE4A/nz7yjiMuA4c/s1600/Analyzing+dung+samples.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8W5mQE4F-_g/UKA5VG6y4dI/AAAAAAAAE4A/nz7yjiMuA4c/s400/Analyzing+dung+samples.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>If <i>F. jacksoni</i> is there I'll find them!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">Although, my
main aim was this project, I had ample time to learn more about the SLWCS
activities. We watched informative documentaries on an open air screen during
dinner and also participated in project activities such as mapping transects
used by the elephants. </span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UjyKbn3JTHw/UKA-Oepz1tI/AAAAAAAAE5s/PkSouB62_pk/s1600/DSCN3063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UjyKbn3JTHw/UKA-Oepz1tI/AAAAAAAAE5s/PkSouB62_pk/s400/DSCN3063.JPG" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Observing elephants from the Tree Hut...</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sf0SgEKQEHA/UKA52AoAHzI/AAAAAAAAE4I/jrpaO9Jg1_g/s1600/DSCN3094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sf0SgEKQEHA/UKA52AoAHzI/AAAAAAAAE4I/jrpaO9Jg1_g/s400/DSCN3094.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>...and from the Land Rover</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_7eWmT1Krlg/UKA57GWx7-I/AAAAAAAAE4Y/oIKRccD44ag/s1600/DSC05966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_7eWmT1Krlg/UKA57GWx7-I/AAAAAAAAE4Y/oIKRccD44ag/s400/DSC05966.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A young female feedings peacefully by the Land Rover</b></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VfaGnqQUW2s/UKA56UAvImI/AAAAAAAAE4Q/nk_AxvmXdaM/s1600/DSC05963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VfaGnqQUW2s/UKA56UAvImI/AAAAAAAAE4Q/nk_AxvmXdaM/s400/DSC05963.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Nothing is as cute as a baby elephant!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-996fpH6S9XM/UKA57xwImBI/AAAAAAAAE4g/--5jwxKj0Nw/s1600/DSC05971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-996fpH6S9XM/UKA57xwImBI/AAAAAAAAE4g/--5jwxKj0Nw/s400/DSC05971.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The matriarch of the herd feeding close to the Land Rover means the herd is used to the presence of the field crew</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Spending time
with Chinthaka (the Field Projects and Volunteer Program Manager) and his two
assistants, Aravinda and Sampath enabled me and three other volunteers from the
UK to obtain firsthand experience of the work done by the SLWCS in an effort to
minimise Human-Elephant conflicts. We had a lot of fun and felt safe throughout
our stay.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KGx3jXA2hVA/UKA6-mF9NDI/AAAAAAAAE4s/k0AC_3HjTGU/s1600/P1050737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KGx3jXA2hVA/UKA6-mF9NDI/AAAAAAAAE4s/k0AC_3HjTGU/s400/P1050737.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>In the jungle...going on a transect to observe elephants and collect dung samples</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q6jRxoOTITU/UKA7Cp-zdJI/AAAAAAAAE40/KSFVDrElzpM/s1600/P1050730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q6jRxoOTITU/UKA7Cp-zdJI/AAAAAAAAE40/KSFVDrElzpM/s400/P1050730.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>No pile of fresh dung is left unchecked</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FAYBzEfGqfE/UKA7KWssssI/AAAAAAAAE48/wHyr7chvBUo/s1600/Taking+a+break.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="205" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FAYBzEfGqfE/UKA7KWssssI/AAAAAAAAE48/wHyr7chvBUo/s400/Taking+a+break.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Taking a break in the cool sands of a dry water course nearby to hole dug by elephants and other wildlife searching for water</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cxzrjIKuyZc/UKA8x8pZ9wI/AAAAAAAAE5U/mMdYOKt0svA/s1600/DSC06013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cxzrjIKuyZc/UKA8x8pZ9wI/AAAAAAAAE5U/mMdYOKt0svA/s400/DSC06013.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Lunch! All activities must stop for lunch - even scientific research I assume</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">With the
cooperation of SLWCS field staff and fellow volunteers, I managed to collect a
plentiful supply of fresh elephant dung to process and analyse. I was thrilled
to find the first <i>F. jacksoni</i> egg. The preliminary data indicated that the
prevalence of <i>F. jacksoni </i> in the free ranging elephant population was lower
than in the elephants confined within the boundary fences of Sri Lanka’s
national parks.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I enjoyed my
free time fishing in the lake with Siriya, who always had the bigger catch. It
was not always bad news as it meant more of Siriya‘s special dish of tasty fried
fish.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jy-fKbpTHUk/UKA8Ui4RL_I/AAAAAAAAE5E/P2fJmjf7fl0/s1600/DSC06055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jy-fKbpTHUk/UKA8Ui4RL_I/AAAAAAAAE5E/P2fJmjf7fl0/s400/DSC06055.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Siriya - catching fish</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Gjh73B__bc/UKA8VAPgiII/AAAAAAAAE5M/gAdONyHhNp4/s1600/DSC06087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Gjh73B__bc/UKA8VAPgiII/AAAAAAAAE5M/gAdONyHhNp4/s400/DSC06087.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Posing with Siriya's catch</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It was sad to
say goodbye, but I left knowing I have made good friends and hopefully
contributed in a small way to the valuable work carried out by the SLWCS. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0a2yLbWXlbI/UKA9l0EXIdI/AAAAAAAAE5k/t3gJ5bcyjyQ/s1600/DSCN3060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0a2yLbWXlbI/UKA9l0EXIdI/AAAAAAAAE5k/t3gJ5bcyjyQ/s400/DSCN3060.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A Useless friendship!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I was blessed with an opportunity to revisit
them in August 2012 , this time with my family and we spent three days at the
Field House and enjoyed a great programme of activities.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c4duPPBZTHI/UKA9UsqDm3I/AAAAAAAAE5c/akQBzFmVM-g/s1600/DSCN3126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c4duPPBZTHI/UKA9UsqDm3I/AAAAAAAAE5c/akQBzFmVM-g/s400/DSCN3126.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Philosophical reflections with Useless about uselessness</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Thank you again
for all the support.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Cheranga
Dharmasiri<o:p></o:p></span></div>
SLWCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13385383717997197891noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759649900435291798.post-45012303379688204972012-11-04T09:33:00.000-08:002012-11-06T16:14:24.099-08:00Commemorating 10 Years of the Volunteer Program<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z1D5ZeTRwtg/UJVjPDe7dNI/AAAAAAAAElE/ZrITvYp5Vyk/s1600/Ayubowan.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z1D5ZeTRwtg/UJVjPDe7dNI/AAAAAAAAElE/ZrITvYp5Vyk/s400/Ayubowan.gif" width="274" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><b>*Ayubowan!</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px;">*<i>May you live long</i>!</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">The elephant and the people of Sri Lanka
have had a long relationship that is estimated to be over 3,000 years old!</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">Even today the elephant plays a vital role in
Sri Lanka because it is a living cultural and religious icon and symbol.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">Unfortunately the currently prevalent intense
human-elephant conflict has brought people and elephants to a crossroad where the
future of the elephant looks bleak.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> Today h</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">uman-elephant conflict (HEC) had become one of the biggest environmental and
socio-economic crises in Sri Lanka.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FlfL_SSWgp8/UJVwLPpGunI/AAAAAAAAEls/qwri9vQjnNM/s1600/DSCF7870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FlfL_SSWgp8/UJVwLPpGunI/AAAAAAAAEls/qwri9vQjnNM/s400/DSCF7870.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A 3000 year old relationship. A good mahout with an elephant is a great team effort that is very interesting to watch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">From 1991 to June 2012 alone 3,216
elephants and 1,216 people had died in rural Sri Lanka due to HEC.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The extent of crop and property damages to
farmers by elephants is ~US$10 million per annum.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">HEC continues to increase due to ineffective
landscape-level planning and land use that is creating agriculture based
livelihoods that are incompatible with elephants.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sri Lanka’s primary rural industry is
agriculture, which is a huge contributing factor to HEC. Therefore measures to
mitigate HEC must benefit both people and elephants.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ao4nBvJ7z5I/UJVxH-JB2qI/AAAAAAAAEl0/Amw5S1ipd_c/s1600/Priest&Dead+Elephant+Wasgamuwa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ao4nBvJ7z5I/UJVxH-JB2qI/AAAAAAAAEl0/Amw5S1ipd_c/s400/Priest&Dead+Elephant+Wasgamuwa.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The death of a national cultural icon and religious symbol</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">For the past 16 years the Sri Lanka
Wildlife Conservation Society has been developing innovative and effective
measures to mitigate human-elephant conflicts.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">In recognition of these efforts the Society has received the following
awards:</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">2008: A UNDP Equator Initiative Prize,
which honors community-based projects that represent outstanding efforts to
reduce poverty through the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">2009: Whitely Fund for Nature Associate
Award</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">2010: National Science Foundation award
for "Science and Technology Contribution to Improve Sustainable Social
Development"</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">2011: Selected as “The Charity of the
Year” by the United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">2011:
Annual Financial Award of the America Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in
Sri Lanka</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Currently the society has one of the
world’s foremost and longest operating projects to resolve human-elephants
conflicts, which is the Saving Elephants by Helping People (SEHP) Project now
in its 16</span><sup style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> year. The SEHP
Project as it’s popularly known has helped to minimize conflicts and create
tolerance for elephants in an area that used to suffer from intense human-elephant
conflicts. The SEHP project has become a
successful model that has been emulated in other Asian elephant range countries
with similar issues successfully. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ElMtvyL9VFM/UJVyKFFfV1I/AAAAAAAAEl8/taO2nQhUqgc/s1600/7.+The+Plaque.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ElMtvyL9VFM/UJVyKFFfV1I/AAAAAAAAEl8/taO2nQhUqgc/s400/7.+The+Plaque.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A stone plaque commemorating the Saving Elephants by Helping People Project </b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">An
important reason for the success of the SEHP Project is the volunteers who help
us with our field research, monitoring and data archiving. The volunteer program of the Society is now in
its 10</span><sup style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> year and over that period hundreds of international volunteers
from over 50 countries have participated in it. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">In appreciation of their contributions
as well as to celebrate the 10</span><sup style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> anniversary of the volunteer
program, we are sharing these memoires from former volunteers who had volunteered
at our project and had contributed their valuable time, talents, skills and
resources to our wildlife conservation efforts. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kE7Hs4XzvqQ/UJVzTeFJ5hI/AAAAAAAAEmM/TlNYDPgQo8E/s1600/F1000023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kE7Hs4XzvqQ/UJVzTeFJ5hI/AAAAAAAAEmM/TlNYDPgQo8E/s400/F1000023.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>One of the first volunteer groups with the SLWCS Field Staff </b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society is tremendously grateful to
these volunteers and hope their memoires will inspire others to volunteer for us.
We hope you experience our wildlife and
the warmth and hospitality for which Sri Lanka is legendary during your volunteer
experience with us. Our aim is to ensure that our volunteer program is
the center of your wildlife conservation and cultural experience in Sri
Lanka. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yzOg_J9KenQ/UJVzsOUjSQI/AAAAAAAAEmU/mETK7gGVP10/s1600/Welcome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yzOg_J9KenQ/UJVzsOUjSQI/AAAAAAAAEmU/mETK7gGVP10/s400/Welcome.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Welcome!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">W</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">ork with us<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">E</span></i></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">ncourage locals
to value their environment</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">L</span></i></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">earn about
human-wildlife conflicts and about wildlife conservation</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">C</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">ome join us<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">O</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">ffer your
knowledge and talents<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">M</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">ake new friends<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">E</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">xperience
wildlife and Sri Lankan culture<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Important
Note: If you have volunteered with us and would like to share your experiences
please email them as a word document with your photographs to <a href="mailto:info@slwcs.org">info@slwcs.org</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Volunteer Memoires</i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i><b>October
2012<o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i><b>Volunteer
Claire Beyer<o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i><b>Australia<o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EdI9z-Zub5E/UJV0M5RJiRI/AAAAAAAAEmc/GmUN0tmZDHo/s1600/Claire+Beyer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EdI9z-Zub5E/UJV0M5RJiRI/AAAAAAAAEmc/GmUN0tmZDHo/s400/Claire+Beyer.JPG" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Claire</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">In
October 2012, I spent two and a half weeks volunteering with SLWCS after
hearing about the organisation from a previous participant in Thailand. We were
also volunteers at a project in NE Thailand which dealt with the wellbeing of
captive elephants. Gene had spent three months with SLWCS and was full of great
stories and enthusiasm for the project. I had wanted to visit Sri Lanka since
my teenage years and after returning home from Thailand, Gene's tales stayed
with me. As a keen photographer of elephants I also wanted the opportunity to
photograph them in the wild and see them roaming freely.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
was met in Negombo by the very friendly Aravinda and Sampath and immediately
felt at ease in their company. We set off on the 7 hour journey it would take
to arrive at the project site near Wasgamuwa National Park and we chatted
easily, with me bombarding them with questions! About Sri Lanka, the elephants
I would see, the project. Aravinda was very knowledgeable and answered all my
questions good-naturedly. The journey went quickly, stopping for a delicious
lunch and a bit of sightseeing in Kandy on the way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Arriving
at the project site late afternoon, the sky was a dusty pink and the view from
the house did not disappoint. Overlooking a grassy plain with a thin river
running through it, usually a full lake during the wet season, and distant
mountains we feasted on wonderful curry and rice and turned in for an early
night, tired after our long journey. The house had five simple rooms with which
to house volunteers but as the only volunteer I had a room to myself!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qLtko785Er8/UJV0vklVoUI/AAAAAAAAEmk/YFkVgOv0t5A/s1600/AL-0.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qLtko785Er8/UJV0vklVoUI/AAAAAAAAEmk/YFkVgOv0t5A/s400/AL-0.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A dusky pink sky</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Aravinda
and I set off early the next morning down onto the plain for our first bird
watching session and I was immediately amazed at the varied bird life. We wrote
down each bird we saw, also recording our GPS location and weather conditions
and after just an hour had recorded a staggering 27 different types. Bird
watching fast became one of my favourite activities and looked forward the
daily, early morning twitching.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uD4bN8vHXtg/UJV36qGLi7I/AAAAAAAAEnM/toCVd82Jgvo/s1600/Blue+naped+Monarch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uD4bN8vHXtg/UJV36qGLi7I/AAAAAAAAEnM/toCVd82Jgvo/s400/Blue+naped+Monarch.jpg" width="282" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Blue Naped Monarch</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u2-NpHssSkc/UJV3-RJgY_I/AAAAAAAAEnU/VutoIfRD-kM/s1600/Changeable+Hawk-eagle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="286" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u2-NpHssSkc/UJV3-RJgY_I/AAAAAAAAEnU/VutoIfRD-kM/s400/Changeable+Hawk-eagle.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Changeable Hawk-eagle</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3huvqRGViG8/UJV3-7yvWeI/AAAAAAAAEnc/RUg5JkzYinA/s1600/Common+Kingfisher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="286" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3huvqRGViG8/UJV3-7yvWeI/AAAAAAAAEnc/RUg5JkzYinA/s400/Common+Kingfisher.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Common Kingfisher</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MXu1era3AII/UJV4B747zuI/AAAAAAAAEnk/-Cs-UwTfnRs/s1600/Green+imperial+pigeon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="316" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MXu1era3AII/UJV4B747zuI/AAAAAAAAEnk/-Cs-UwTfnRs/s400/Green+imperial+pigeon.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Green Imperial Pigeon</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">We
also did transects in various locations recording the signs and movements of
elephants. We reordered elephant dung size, its location and age, also
measuring footprints to determine the approximate age and size of its owner. As
well as recording elephant signs we also did a long trek up into the mountains
through beautiful jungle searching for other mammal signs such as those from
leopards and sloth bears. Some of the immense trees we passed were awe
inspiring and the stories of leopards passing closely to meditating monks at
the hut high up the mountain fascinated me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--ZWInxn2ENA/UJaBvnWBqlI/AAAAAAAAEsc/PO5aIPDM__Y/s1600/DSC_0881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--ZWInxn2ENA/UJaBvnWBqlI/AAAAAAAAEsc/PO5aIPDM__Y/s400/DSC_0881.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><b>Cooling off in a stream while crossing it to go collecting data on leopards</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">But
by far the most enjoyable activity was afternoon time in the tree hut, a
surprisingly comfortable structure high up in a tree which creaked and moved
with the branches in the wind. It was the perfect spot to view the elephants as
they made their way from the forest to the lake and made it easy to record
their movements and behaviour. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lixFjP_PrY0/UJV45BCTmyI/AAAAAAAAEns/tc7CIO-rwSY/s1600/Tree+hut+&+Land+Rover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lixFjP_PrY0/UJV45BCTmyI/AAAAAAAAEns/tc7CIO-rwSY/s400/Tree+hut+&+Land+Rover.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The tree hut</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-czD1f7ZQq3E/UJV47R2jRQI/AAAAAAAAEn0/tqN_zV1mZoc/s1600/Climbing+the+tree+hut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-czD1f7ZQq3E/UJV47R2jRQI/AAAAAAAAEn0/tqN_zV1mZoc/s400/Climbing+the+tree+hut.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Climbing to the tree hut</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hHFEZV9mQww/UJV4_39MOMI/AAAAAAAAEn8/ewidi_zzu1I/s1600/View+from+the+tree+hut-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hHFEZV9mQww/UJV4_39MOMI/AAAAAAAAEn8/ewidi_zzu1I/s400/View+from+the+tree+hut-2.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The view</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px;">Monsoon rain became a regular afternoon occurrence and provided incredible lightning storms, also filling the surrounding water catchments with much needed water. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dyuek8B18wg/UJaEOvfiYYI/AAAAAAAAEtA/AT94BlFQrro/s1600/DSC_0249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dyuek8B18wg/UJaEOvfiYYI/AAAAAAAAEtA/AT94BlFQrro/s400/DSC_0249.JPG" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>White egret </b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px;">Because of the wet some of our tree hut time became jeep time but also gave us a couple of very close encounters with the elephant herds. On one rainy occasion we observed a large herd being followed by a number of males, some of the females obviously in estrous. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QIkD4jzvFQA/UJaBkXzblUI/AAAAAAAAEr8/wcyKhBO_wV8/s1600/DSC_0931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QIkD4jzvFQA/UJaBkXzblUI/AAAAAAAAEr8/wcyKhBO_wV8/s400/DSC_0931.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A herd approaching the Land Rover by the Tree Hut</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px;">One large male approached us from behind sending Siriya clambering to the front of the Land Rover! But he turned to return to the females. It was absolutely exhilarating seeing them up close and being able to observe their behaviour, I felt very privileged.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-crshr7DFJ00/UJaBnQEky3I/AAAAAAAAEsE/Y8hohb9sOQA/s1600/DSC_0204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-crshr7DFJ00/UJaBnQEky3I/AAAAAAAAEsE/Y8hohb9sOQA/s400/DSC_0204.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A massive bull emerging from the jungle...</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nqqHOrlW_tQ/UJV6WkddQEI/AAAAAAAAEoc/uR9KRMq-9fQ/s1600/Claire+-+wild+bull+elephant.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nqqHOrlW_tQ/UJV6WkddQEI/AAAAAAAAEoc/uR9KRMq-9fQ/s400/Claire+-+wild+bull+elephant.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>...and keeps approaching the Land Rover!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">We
also did fence monitoring, recording any posts that may have been broken or
wire that had become slack. It was interesting to see the electric fences at
work and even greater to know that they were doing their job by dramatically
reducing the instances of human/elephant conflict.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jy7BqieD7uE/UJV5vcR3uzI/AAAAAAAAEoE/7oogb0QP8no/s1600/Claire+in+the+field+with+Veroni-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jy7BqieD7uE/UJV5vcR3uzI/AAAAAAAAEoE/7oogb0QP8no/s400/Claire+in+the+field+with+Veroni-2.JPG" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Electric fence monitoring with Veroni</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Visiting
the local school was also a great highlight. The kids were so gorgeous, with
friendly, open and curious smiles. Aravinda showed them some nature videos as
well as one about the work that SLWCS does. The headmaster seemed very pleased
the whole exercise and was also keen to have the children exposed to things
outside of their daily lives. He became very interested in my practice of yoga
and so we decided I would teach about 50 of the students a thirty minute yoga
practise. Aravinda and I put together a short video presentation about yoga, its
history, connection with Hindu and Buddhist religion, etc., to show them before
the practice. On the day the kids were great, although the girls remained in
their skirts which meant a quick rethink of poses! But they were very
enthusiastic, and eager to please, and did really well. It was great fun and I
thoroughly enjoyed being able to give something to the school.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z0a-eOc1KIE/UJaBqgkAQdI/AAAAAAAAEsM/0ZytxarT21I/s1600/DSC_0429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z0a-eOc1KIE/UJaBqgkAQdI/AAAAAAAAEsM/0ZytxarT21I/s400/DSC_0429.JPG" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A Calotes garden lizard</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aufnHmCj2qQ/UJaBteO_2gI/AAAAAAAAEsU/ULdwKNuqxmo/s1600/DSC_0937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aufnHmCj2qQ/UJaBteO_2gI/AAAAAAAAEsU/ULdwKNuqxmo/s400/DSC_0937.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A herd of Axis or Spotted Deer with a magnificent stag</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Everyone
on the project was so accommodating and friendly and I felt very well taken
care of. Leela's food was absolutely delicious and I don't think there was a
single dish that I didn't love. Siriya provided ample entertainment! Sampath
and Aravinda were also kind enough to take me on an excursion to Dambulla and
Sigiriya which were both staggeringly beautiful. And our trip into the lovely
Wasgamuwa National Park provided lots of great elephant and bird viewing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OwwD64IsQN8/UJV6FoIzNHI/AAAAAAAAEoU/lHKyAy2VYH8/s1600/Claire+at+the+tree+hut+corridor.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OwwD64IsQN8/UJV6FoIzNHI/AAAAAAAAEoU/lHKyAy2VYH8/s400/Claire+at+the+tree+hut+corridor.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Relaxing with Sampath & Veroni by the Tree Hut Corridor while waiting for elephants to show up</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">All
in all it was an unforgettable experience and I leave feeling that I have
contributed just a little to the great work that SLWCS does. I will definitely
be back.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Crocodile Rescue<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">On
our way to the tree hut one afternoon we began our way through the water which
had collected in the concrete catchment part of the road when suddenly Aravinda
called out for Sampath to halt the car. Peering forward we could see a small
baby crocodile swimming ahead of the Land Rover. Jumping out and into the water
we watched with wide eyes wondering what to do. We couldn't leave it for fear
another vehicle may not be so kind. It swam around behind the jeep and hid
alongside one of the tyres. Sampath grabbed a stick to hold it down so one of
us could quickly grab it behind the head but it was too close to the tyre.
Aravinda retrieved a cloth from the vehicle and as Sampath coaxed it out into
the open with the stick Aravinda placed the cloth over its back, trying to get
a grip behind its’ head. The frightened little thing was snapping furiously,
also emitting high pitched squeaking noises. Sampath took over and managed to
grip behind its head holding it up for us to examine more closely. Aravinda
took over and as Sampath moved the jeep to clear the way for other vehicles we
made our way down to the lake with our little croc. We found a small inlet and
Aravinda gently placed the croc on the ground, removing his hand quickly, and
it hastily made its way into the water. We watched as it tried to hide near the
reeds, keeping itself as still as possible. No doubt wondering what on earth
had just happened. We were jubilant and excited – a Croc Rescue!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I3A4-BJOh2A/UJV6wTrDnWI/AAAAAAAAEok/kmKNPlwHu-U/s1600/Claire+-+baby+croc-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I3A4-BJOh2A/UJV6wTrDnWI/AAAAAAAAEok/kmKNPlwHu-U/s400/Claire+-+baby+croc-1.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The baby crocodile hiding by the tyre</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xAAXX82SdG8/UJV6w81QdfI/AAAAAAAAEos/gWOlkCdHshU/s1600/Claire+-+baby+croc-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xAAXX82SdG8/UJV6w81QdfI/AAAAAAAAEos/gWOlkCdHshU/s400/Claire+-+baby+croc-2.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sampath trying to capture it by pining down with a stick</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DHAcYVO0cUA/UJV6xfNX5VI/AAAAAAAAEo0/Zl40qxyi7qY/s1600/Claire+-+baby+croc-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DHAcYVO0cUA/UJV6xfNX5VI/AAAAAAAAEo0/Zl40qxyi7qY/s400/Claire+-+baby+croc-4.JPG" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sampath The Crocodile Hunter</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s3Lp7EK7HzA/UJV6x8rdhaI/AAAAAAAAEo8/SACofyag67w/s1600/Claire+-+baby+croc+-+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s3Lp7EK7HzA/UJV6x8rdhaI/AAAAAAAAEo8/SACofyag67w/s400/Claire+-+baby+croc+-+5.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The baby crocodile none the worse for its adventure</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 12pt;"><i>October 2012</i></span><br />
<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 12pt;"><i>Chiara Melone & Claudio-Massucco<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 12pt;"><i>Italy</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sHEoewirM04/UJWAtuHhIPI/AAAAAAAAEpo/f8QPjl6hiQA/s1600/Alex+&+Chiara.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sHEoewirM04/UJWAtuHhIPI/AAAAAAAAEpo/f8QPjl6hiQA/s400/Alex+&+Chiara.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Intrepid travelers: Chiara and Claudio</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Dear Ravi,</span></span></div>
<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">First of all I would like to thank you, your
team of people for the welcome, their kindness, politeness and professionalism.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
It has been great to experience Sri Lankan culture and life at the field house: Chinthaka, Aravinda and Sampath have been very nice and explicative at any question husband and I asked and didn't let us get bored but at the same time they they gave us the freedom to take our time to enjoy the quietness of the lake or to observe its beautiful living beings. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-izc1YCQFvTM/UJWB2l3uTbI/AAAAAAAAEqA/t9IIy_Rxk9M/s1600/Chiara+collecting+garbage+around+the+tree+hut.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-izc1YCQFvTM/UJWB2l3uTbI/AAAAAAAAEqA/t9IIy_Rxk9M/s400/Chiara+collecting+garbage+around+the+tree+hut.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Observing nature with Sampath</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xHlONPAH4F0/UJWB3fTtHVI/AAAAAAAAEqI/G7Vo7QZx--c/s1600/Doing+elephant+transect.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xHlONPAH4F0/UJWB3fTtHVI/AAAAAAAAEqI/G7Vo7QZx--c/s400/Doing+elephant+transect.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>On a jungle trek with Aravinda</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s2uhVQTNWuc/UJWB381AcZI/AAAAAAAAEqQ/FitbN7fWQMM/s1600/IMG_4369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s2uhVQTNWuc/UJWB381AcZI/AAAAAAAAEqQ/FitbN7fWQMM/s400/IMG_4369.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Observing birds while waiting for elephants</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PgD3GWe3yfo/UJWB4nyfpHI/AAAAAAAAEqY/Or5mIwU4Ii0/s1600/around+treehut.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PgD3GWe3yfo/UJWB4nyfpHI/AAAAAAAAEqY/Or5mIwU4Ii0/s400/around+treehut.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>There is always something fascinating to photograph</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CEfYHOXwtCk/UJaJEmLnMRI/AAAAAAAAEuU/cPVWHk60Ecc/s1600/IMG_0521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CEfYHOXwtCk/UJaJEmLnMRI/AAAAAAAAEuU/cPVWHk60Ecc/s400/IMG_0521.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Freshly prepared food is served for all meals</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The food was very good, I also miss the tea time, and Leela, the female cook, is a really lovely person. Siriya was very nice and helpful. And as I'm a cat lover, the presence of <b>Useless</b>, the cat was a real bonus.<br />
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cgvDRyPO3kM/UJWBAV_j_YI/AAAAAAAAEpw/aWEHWwNqpQw/s1600/AL-5B.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cgvDRyPO3kM/UJWBAV_j_YI/AAAAAAAAEpw/aWEHWwNqpQw/s400/AL-5B.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>For dessert there is fresh fruits and curd and treacle</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VUSYhToAP2E/UJaIYd-6_GI/AAAAAAAAEuE/CfemI9m4-Ok/s1600/IMG_0525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VUSYhToAP2E/UJaIYd-6_GI/AAAAAAAAEuE/CfemI9m4-Ok/s400/IMG_0525.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Useless</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I'm only a little bit sad that during our week in the project the elephants turned up only a couple of times and both times it was too dark to take pics and for a short time. As I had written in the form, I'm really keen on wildlife photography in which I'm better than in reportage pics but it has been very interesting to take part in everyday activities and to meet or simply smile with local people while doing it.<br />
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QaKGOLWVvaU/UJWCoud-fiI/AAAAAAAAEqg/vyQeRWdw9v8/s1600/IMG_4382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QaKGOLWVvaU/UJWCoud-fiI/AAAAAAAAEqg/vyQeRWdw9v8/s400/IMG_4382.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Recording data</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8b-dEQkMpi4/UJWCo1uC9NI/AAAAAAAAEqo/8cUcujseqdo/s1600/IMG_4384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8b-dEQkMpi4/UJWCo1uC9NI/AAAAAAAAEqo/8cUcujseqdo/s400/IMG_4384.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Volunteers collecting data is a tremendous help to the Society's conservation efforts</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ry1GTcmBMls/UJWCptSkS8I/AAAAAAAAEqw/UlGdj7k5VGI/s1600/IMG_4397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ry1GTcmBMls/UJWCptSkS8I/AAAAAAAAEqw/UlGdj7k5VGI/s400/IMG_4397.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>At the tree hut with Aravinda</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nkYJ5EBTOR0/UJWCqGvPuOI/AAAAAAAAEq4/w2lAkvTQjRg/s1600/IMG_4422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nkYJ5EBTOR0/UJWCqGvPuOI/AAAAAAAAEq4/w2lAkvTQjRg/s400/IMG_4422.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>In the field with Chinthaka, Siriya and Aravinda</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kLwzulav3dc/UJWCrCSrpvI/AAAAAAAAErI/1Fe6ts0q-YI/s1600/Working+with+HT.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kLwzulav3dc/UJWCrCSrpvI/AAAAAAAAErI/1Fe6ts0q-YI/s400/Working+with+HT.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>By the Weheragalagama Tank</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wJAPS-0s8L8/UJWCqpnxvMI/AAAAAAAAEq8/HcOipEXDvZ4/s1600/IMG_4424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wJAPS-0s8L8/UJWCqpnxvMI/AAAAAAAAEq8/HcOipEXDvZ4/s400/IMG_4424.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Itinerant conservationists </b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And even if elephants weren't so nice to show up when we climbed the treehouse or walked in the jungle looking for evidence of the passage or checked the fence or got involved in something which had to do with elephants, I know that in any case we helped a little bit for their welfare and to smooth over the human-elephant conflict. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I will go on following your blog and your work and I'm happy to have found new friends by getting involved in your SEHP Project.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Take care!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Chiara</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b>August
2012</b></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i><b>Nick
Bradsworth<o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i><b>Australia<o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--n2t4W1OkIo/UJaIqm6dxVI/AAAAAAAAEuM/82AsdVVnkEw/s1600/IMG_0461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--n2t4W1OkIo/UJaIqm6dxVI/AAAAAAAAEuM/82AsdVVnkEw/s400/IMG_0461.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Nick the avid birder and photographer</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Hi
Ravi,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
just wanted to send an email to thank you again for taking me on board
volunteering with the SLWCS and to let you know how much of a great time I had
during my stay in Sri Lanka. After I spoke to you on the phone I really got
into a routine staying there and I honestly wish I was still there. I learnt,
saw and experienced so much.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-95cfwgDggxg/UJaJ9dojgTI/AAAAAAAAEuc/vQ_q7g-stms/s1600/Leopard-Transect+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-95cfwgDggxg/UJaJ9dojgTI/AAAAAAAAEuc/vQ_q7g-stms/s400/Leopard-Transect+(1).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Going on a leopard study transect</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">It's
a shame we didn't get to meet in person because from what people have said
about about you, and watching documentaries with you in them you sound like
such an amazing person and you ought to be proud of what you have achieved and
set up with the SLWCS. What I want to achieve in life is similar to what you
have done yourself. Next year I will be returning to University to start a
Bachelor of Science (Wildlife and Conservation Biology) and doing these
different volunteer projects will give me (I believe) a great advantage over
other students and further down the track, in job applications.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q9tm6CMyf60/UJaKdpf0uYI/AAAAAAAAEus/LYomQhyK9ek/s1600/Nick's+bird+photos+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q9tm6CMyf60/UJaKdpf0uYI/AAAAAAAAEus/LYomQhyK9ek/s400/Nick's+bird+photos+(1).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>An Anhinga (snake bird) and a heron</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NHxPccsUCMI/UJaKeSZAyhI/AAAAAAAAEu0/BdudH15HDNs/s1600/Nick's+bird+photos+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NHxPccsUCMI/UJaKeSZAyhI/AAAAAAAAEu0/BdudH15HDNs/s400/Nick's+bird+photos+(2).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Paradise Flycatcher - they come into the field house</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kBTHOwXVeuw/UJaEPviBZCI/AAAAAAAAEtQ/7-wj1GiB17Q/s1600/DSC_0899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kBTHOwXVeuw/UJaEPviBZCI/AAAAAAAAEtQ/7-wj1GiB17Q/s400/DSC_0899.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A grave group of endangered Lesser Adjutant Storks</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qIiP98pLHko/UJaEQibWcdI/AAAAAAAAEtY/1UsUNIytDbY/s1600/DSC_1056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qIiP98pLHko/UJaEQibWcdI/AAAAAAAAEtY/1UsUNIytDbY/s400/DSC_1056.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A tree load of noisy Malabar Pied Hornbills</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rTPRdCLh9Kk/UJaKc-qPsBI/AAAAAAAAEuk/16B8UwxN7lU/s1600/@elephnat-corridor+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rTPRdCLh9Kk/UJaKc-qPsBI/AAAAAAAAEuk/16B8UwxN7lU/s400/@elephnat-corridor+(1).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A sober looking garden lizard</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">During
my stay, (I am not sure if Chinthaka or Aravinda told you), I started a little
side project in updating your data sheets so that they are 1. more uniform and
2. easier for everyone to use. I have attached them for you to look at, please
let me know what you think and if there is anything missing from them. Once you
are happy I will send them out to
everyone to print off and start using for the next volunteers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CNPLFfblvCQ/UJaLh5SdtwI/AAAAAAAAEu8/pgpEM5gIeus/s1600/Namini+Oya+Tank+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CNPLFfblvCQ/UJaLh5SdtwI/AAAAAAAAEu8/pgpEM5gIeus/s400/Namini+Oya+Tank+(1).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A bull dust bathing during sunset has created a hallow - is it a sign of its impending extinction and sanctification?</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ULHEZVw5FhA/UJaLid5SwLI/AAAAAAAAEvE/0K9avJrjTfI/s1600/Namini+Oya+Tank+(6).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ULHEZVw5FhA/UJaLid5SwLI/AAAAAAAAEvE/0K9avJrjTfI/s320/Namini+Oya+Tank+(6).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Two bulls fun jostling</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0vRYrLBpO5Q/UJaLjd7I0tI/AAAAAAAAEvM/iLX2v5fYlYA/s1600/Namini-Oya+(9).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0vRYrLBpO5Q/UJaLjd7I0tI/AAAAAAAAEvM/iLX2v5fYlYA/s400/Namini-Oya+(9).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Two bulls testing each other's strength</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
wish you all the best for the future of the project and if there is anything I
can do to help (from Melbourne) please let me know. I spoke to Chinthaka about
me trying to put in an article in our local weekly paper about your
organization and my experiences and a couple of my pictures, I'll see where I
go with that and I'll let you know.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yrVYaYcLeKA/UJaM3fCUn5I/AAAAAAAAEvU/B5pe2J6NA6Y/s1600/Nick.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yrVYaYcLeKA/UJaM3fCUn5I/AAAAAAAAEvU/B5pe2J6NA6Y/s400/Nick.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The eye of the cameraman</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Regards,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Nick<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i>June/July
2012<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i>Cheranga
Dharmasiri<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i>England<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zaFc4Oi8Ptg/UJaQ70tWpLI/AAAAAAAAEwI/DhQYWfEDqcw/s1600/Charanga+-+dung+sampling.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zaFc4Oi8Ptg/UJaQ70tWpLI/AAAAAAAAEwI/DhQYWfEDqcw/s400/Charanga+-+dung+sampling.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Cheranga fondly called by the field team Dr. Poop collecting elephant dung to analyze parasite infestations...</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PW9Ba7_hV1o/UJaRWH-TYqI/AAAAAAAAEwQ/qmih7hBqJWM/s1600/Charanga+-+Craig+assisting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PW9Ba7_hV1o/UJaRWH-TYqI/AAAAAAAAEwQ/qmih7hBqJWM/s400/Charanga+-+Craig+assisting.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>...while Craig writes down locality information</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Dear
Mr. Corea,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Hope
you are keeping well. I came back last night from Sri Lanka after spending a
wonderful time in Wasgomuwa. Everyone was very helpful and I was able to
collect the needed data on 32 samples. I will forward you the final report once
the data is tabulated. Chinthaka, Aravinda and Siriya looked after us well. I
was sorry to have missed you, but have left a small gift with Chinthaka for you
as a token of appreciation for giving me the chance to do my project.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e4fiieaveOM/UJaSK522OsI/AAAAAAAAEwY/G0APbYNvxn0/s1600/Cheranga+-+heading+to+the+field.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e4fiieaveOM/UJaSK522OsI/AAAAAAAAEwY/G0APbYNvxn0/s400/Cheranga+-+heading+to+the+field.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Leaving to observe elephants and collect dung samples</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yizqAxI-1j8/UJaSPEhc1nI/AAAAAAAAEwg/JtA9VlTHrgI/s1600/cheranga+-+tracking+elephants.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yizqAxI-1j8/UJaSPEhc1nI/AAAAAAAAEwg/JtA9VlTHrgI/s400/cheranga+-+tracking+elephants.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>On the trail of elephant dung</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dl7PKmLGFk8/UJaSbVhrAII/AAAAAAAAEwo/Hfr0EaDM-WU/s1600/Cheranga+-+field+work.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dl7PKmLGFk8/UJaSbVhrAII/AAAAAAAAEwo/Hfr0EaDM-WU/s400/Cheranga+-+field+work.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>There is a lot to elephant dung than meets the eye...apparently!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I
am hoping to come to Sri Lanka again in two weeks with my parents and younger
brother and will be in touch then. We will be there for four weeks and hope I
will be able to meet you then, if you are back in Sri Lanka.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pwGlwyuIwu8/UJaS_plSL4I/AAAAAAAAEww/21Ci3ZYQABE/s1600/Cheranga+-+back+with+the+family-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pwGlwyuIwu8/UJaS_plSL4I/AAAAAAAAEww/21Ci3ZYQABE/s400/Cheranga+-+back+with+the+family-1.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sharing experiences during the visit with family</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ewrhw02P3LI/UJaTAN_Bo6I/AAAAAAAAEw4/XbBDL2I9F-w/s1600/Cheranga+-+family+view+from+the+rock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ewrhw02P3LI/UJaTAN_Bo6I/AAAAAAAAEw4/XbBDL2I9F-w/s400/Cheranga+-+family+view+from+the+rock.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>On the Sunrise Rock by the SLWCS Field House with Chinthaka</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Thanks
again for all the support.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Best
Wishes,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Cheranga<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b><i>December
2011 – January 2012<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b><i>Craig
Fox<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b><i>England</i></b><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZOfMmKzDNYM/UJaU0XCvNYI/AAAAAAAAExA/Fp6q7CisxjI/s1600/Transect-Naminioya-Treehut-with+Craig+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZOfMmKzDNYM/UJaU0XCvNYI/AAAAAAAAExA/Fp6q7CisxjI/s400/Transect-Naminioya-Treehut-with+Craig+013.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Indomitable Craig</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b>A
Note from the Jungle</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
street(s) of Hettipola are a far cry from the bustle of Sri Lanka’s metropolis,
Colombo. The jungle air is
intoxicating. The men discuss whilst the
women glide in their saris, commerce everywhere. Fresh fruit, vegetables and fish add colour
to the timber buildings. Hettipola is
the closest town to the Sri Lankan Wildlife Conservation Society (SLWCS)
research station, in Sri Lanka’s Central Province. Here, the city echo that drowns out silence
is gone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D0V55vxGnqc/UJaXXRXdeDI/AAAAAAAAExg/075Jpwn_F7s/s1600/Hettipola-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D0V55vxGnqc/UJaXXRXdeDI/AAAAAAAAExg/075Jpwn_F7s/s400/Hettipola-3.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The colorful street vendors of Hettipola Town</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PV-yfgnKUZ4/UJaWrScxylI/AAAAAAAAExI/ahlIvFPCZCw/s1600/Hettipola-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PV-yfgnKUZ4/UJaWrScxylI/AAAAAAAAExI/ahlIvFPCZCw/s400/Hettipola-1.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A vegetable vendor measuring an order of bitter gourd</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fgGqhN3fdOg/UJaWsXM-n3I/AAAAAAAAExQ/P6CIhyFeaII/s1600/Hettipola-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fgGqhN3fdOg/UJaWsXM-n3I/AAAAAAAAExQ/P6CIhyFeaII/s400/Hettipola-2.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A Spice Vendor with various chili and curry powders</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It
takes an hour to drive to base camp from town.
It doesn’t feel like an hour. The
road is small but functional. Two canals
flank the concrete and separate the cars, bicycles and tuc-tucs from rice
fields and the jungle. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
trip from Colombo to base camp can be quite arduous. But, all that frustration seems to vanish
when I’m being introduced to the camp staff.
The camp is open-air, functional and the custodians are very
welcoming. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
quickly discover that I have arrived at an exciting time. New projects are being developed. This research will help to evaluate the
social and economic impact of human-elephant conflict within the study
area. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Tracking
elephant movement can help the SLWCS researchers identify and predict
patterns. This information is vital to
achieve minimum levels of conflict. The
SLWCS is in the process of developing new trails (transects) that researchers
and volunteers can regularly use to monitor elephant activity. I’m very fortunate to have been witness to
the foundational phase of this research.
Like the first time I saw a wild elephant, this was extremely exciting.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2rpe189XK3Q/UJaX0HoctXI/AAAAAAAAExo/8ELb7YxYbbA/s1600/Transect-Naminioya-Treehut-with+Craig+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2rpe189XK3Q/UJaX0HoctXI/AAAAAAAAExo/8ELb7YxYbbA/s400/Transect-Naminioya-Treehut-with+Craig+011.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Chinthaka, J-Banda and Craig Assessing a new trail transect</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XOT_8ocR2fg/UJaX0SaPo6I/AAAAAAAAExw/Brza7_QYvdo/s1600/Transect-Naminioya-Treehut-with+Craig+023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XOT_8ocR2fg/UJaX0SaPo6I/AAAAAAAAExw/Brza7_QYvdo/s400/Transect-Naminioya-Treehut-with+Craig+023.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Field Scout, J-Banda on a fallen tree branch scouting for elephants</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Walking
in the jungle with very experienced researchers and scientists is
mesmerizing. We got to see some
fascinating wildlife, including sambhur, water buffalo, elephant and a montage
of birdlife. We walked, collecting
information as we identified elephant dung, ground and aerial spoor. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wmHiE3vWGWg/UJaZa72B4WI/AAAAAAAAEyY/btZIUS0ivpk/s1600/Transect-Naminioya-Treehut-with+Craig+035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wmHiE3vWGWg/UJaZa72B4WI/AAAAAAAAEyY/btZIUS0ivpk/s400/Transect-Naminioya-Treehut-with+Craig+035.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>One of the new study transects</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">A
large elephant bull had arrived in the area.
Tracking an elephant can be quite difficult. They can move a lot faster than people,
especially people who are relentlessly searching for tracks. Nonetheless, this didn’t stop us. This Bull had walked along a new transects
less than two hours before we arrived in the area. Everyone was very confident that the new
transect was going to yield some good data.
The presence of this new bull was daunting but very encouraging. For days after we first found fresh tracks,
we always seemed to be just behind this elephant. It was becoming clear that this bull had
never been in this area before. His
movement patterns had very little deliberateness about them. As we developed new transects we would
regularly note the presence of this giant.
I think he was lost and most certainly confused. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kH1SYRn4iHc/UJaYdDkNilI/AAAAAAAAEx4/gYaQHdumq08/s1600/Namini+Oya+Tank+(5).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kH1SYRn4iHc/UJaYdDkNilI/AAAAAAAAEx4/gYaQHdumq08/s400/Namini+Oya+Tank+(5).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Pinky one of the largest dominant bulls in the study area</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">During
most evenings we would retire to a tree house that the SLWCS and local
villagers had built, to observe elephants moving in the buffer zone of Wasgamuwa
National Park. Being up high is a great
way to observe terrestrial mammals. By
being very quiet and patient you can almost blend to the surroundings, allowing
wildlife to behave very naturally. We
observed elephants moving to water on three occasions. Both were top class sightings. We were able to get some good picture of each
elephant’s head, ears and flank. All
this information will be used to identify individuals in the future and create
a database that can be used as a reference for future sightings. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mIVo7J4hOZA/UJaY42t3tyI/AAAAAAAAEyE/XiTvIAFvyko/s1600/Transect-Naminioya-Treehut-with+Craig+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mIVo7J4hOZA/UJaY42t3tyI/AAAAAAAAEyE/XiTvIAFvyko/s400/Transect-Naminioya-Treehut-with+Craig+015.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Searching high...</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_3hQ23TSSlo/UJaY4kCPFRI/AAAAAAAAEyA/0iY2FxHH8aE/s1600/Transect-Naminioya-Treehut-with+Craig+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_3hQ23TSSlo/UJaY4kCPFRI/AAAAAAAAEyA/0iY2FxHH8aE/s400/Transect-Naminioya-Treehut-with+Craig+008.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>...searching low...</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X-Io4bTwV5c/UJaY5nxOr9I/AAAAAAAAEyM/a12G2MdSnrY/s1600/Transect-Naminioya-Treehut-with+Craig+028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X-Io4bTwV5c/UJaY5nxOr9I/AAAAAAAAEyM/a12G2MdSnrY/s400/Transect-Naminioya-Treehut-with+Craig+028.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>...Craig always finds what he is looking for!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I
met a lot of the local villagers and farmers on my trip. The SLWCS works very closely with the local
people. There is a shared respect, which
is marvelous to see. All the people I
met were very warm and welcoming.
Something I haven’t always experienced in other parts of the world. I felt a part of the start of a very exciting
phase for the Sri Lankan Wildlife Conservation Society</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Craig<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i><b>July
31, 2011<o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i><b>Becky
Knueven <o:p></o:p></b></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i><b>U.S.A.</b></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t15GtI0oX9c/UJaaIM4FA3I/AAAAAAAAEyg/rw6FjQ8hGdU/s1600/Becky+&+Stef+at+Knuckles.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t15GtI0oX9c/UJaaIM4FA3I/AAAAAAAAEyg/rw6FjQ8hGdU/s400/Becky+&+Stef+at+Knuckles.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Becky and fellow volunteer Stefania in the Knuckles Mountains</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I
decided to come to Sri Lanka for an opportunity to see elephants in the wild,
which is not something many can say they have been able to do. Preparing myself
for the trip was easy, as this was not my first time living in an equatorial
region and I was expecting the heat, humidity and insects. For someone
unfamiliar with the climate and day-to-day life, it would be difficult to
adjust. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kalomqIbJVs/UJaarWuN4MI/AAAAAAAAEyo/0DcaHclORHo/s1600/Becky+field+work.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kalomqIbJVs/UJaarWuN4MI/AAAAAAAAEyo/0DcaHclORHo/s400/Becky+field+work.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Getting familiar with elephant sign</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">As
far as life on the project goes, I enjoyed doing different activities on a
daily basis. It was awesome to see the scope of the project and how it covers a
wide range of needs, whether it be collecting data on elephant movement and
human/elephant interaction in tree hut to aiding villagers and providing orange
plants to protect their homes. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ccL57cVWE2k/UJadc6VNGDI/AAAAAAAAEzc/ZEGwqvH0vMA/s1600/DSCF4706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ccL57cVWE2k/UJadc6VNGDI/AAAAAAAAEzc/ZEGwqvH0vMA/s400/DSCF4706.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Monitoring the growth and condition of an orange plant provided by the SLWCS</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QRTZR9JVL1s/UJaeaSibLKI/AAAAAAAAEz4/bPr_FwTqcH8/s1600/Farmer+&+Fruiting+Orange+Tree.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QRTZR9JVL1s/UJaeaSibLKI/AAAAAAAAEz4/bPr_FwTqcH8/s400/Farmer+&+Fruiting+Orange+Tree.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A village woman with one of the fruit bearing orange trees</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xvFlqF1Fu3g/UJadhQGApKI/AAAAAAAAEzw/VGAK6aUmT3s/s1600/DSCF4222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xvFlqF1Fu3g/UJadhQGApKI/AAAAAAAAEzw/VGAK6aUmT3s/s400/DSCF4222.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Stefania observing elephants from the Tree Hut</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">From the perspective of someone who studied
geography in an undergraduate program, the project covers many facets of the
discipline. It was interesting to watch the human/elephant interactions and
observing the conflict first-hand. The knowledge gained from our daily
activities and tree hut observations gave me a new outlook on the issues
affecting Sri Lanka today. I had no idea about the variety of ways in which the
program helps the people. My eyes were opened to multiple methods of deterrence,
such as orange trees and electric fences.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cL45QZ6UJSw/UJabE65DPiI/AAAAAAAAEyw/OBQQp1BMFmM/s1600/Becky+Elephant.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cL45QZ6UJSw/UJabE65DPiI/AAAAAAAAEyw/OBQQp1BMFmM/s400/Becky+Elephant.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>An elephant approaching the field vehicle</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Chinthaka
is a fantastic guide and supervisor and is more than willing to give the
volunteers tours of sites and to give us advice on what places to check out.
His knowledge, along with that of Veroni and Jay, gave me a greater
appreciation for what the project’s goals are and how they are working hard to
attain those goals. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XrkJw2tBdj8/UJafd0VZsRI/AAAAAAAAE0Q/uKR-ZV9Z94Y/s1600/Useless.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XrkJw2tBdj8/UJafd0VZsRI/AAAAAAAAE0Q/uKR-ZV9Z94Y/s400/Useless.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Useless trying to look purposeful</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">One of the recommended outings was to visit the Millennium
Elephant Foundation for a weekend. Stefania and I were able to work with
Sumana, the foundation’s oldest elephant. The experience was eye opening for
both of us. Stefania will write about her recommendations for enrichment
activities, so I won’t comment on that, but I do want to note that the
experience made me feel even more strongly that the project’s goal of helping
people and elephants live in (relative) harmony is imperative if the sanctity
of elephants living in the wild is to be maintained. I would go so far as to
say the volunteers should all be required to see elephants in captivity. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-APR2ohA0RGY/UJae0sbaWRI/AAAAAAAAE0I/7ZP9JPC0MSA/s1600/Becky+at+MEF.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-APR2ohA0RGY/UJae0sbaWRI/AAAAAAAAE0I/7ZP9JPC0MSA/s400/Becky+at+MEF.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>One of the captive elephants at the Millennium Elephant Foundation</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G9g6Mw4Tb3E/UJaezmfqXaI/AAAAAAAAE0A/f-QGaJHOgdA/s1600/Beck+-+MEF+elephant+rides.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G9g6Mw4Tb3E/UJaezmfqXaI/AAAAAAAAE0A/f-QGaJHOgdA/s400/Beck+-+MEF+elephant+rides.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Tourists going on an elephant ride at the Millennium Elephant Foundation</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IMB-n-zXKqo/UJaf3zxh8II/AAAAAAAAE0Y/HBldOIPxh-M/s1600/Becky+elephants+at+WG.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IMB-n-zXKqo/UJaf3zxh8II/AAAAAAAAE0Y/HBldOIPxh-M/s400/Becky+elephants+at+WG.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A herd of wild elephants by the Weheragalagama Tank</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The amount
of information we learned during those two days was invaluable. We came back to
Wasgamuwa with a new attitude and a new passion for the project.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Becky</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b><i>February/March
2011<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b><i>Michael
Elkins<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b><i>England</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xW2aknmDWqQ/UJagMBr5EdI/AAAAAAAAE0g/WVUlz48FOHo/s1600/IMG_1617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xW2aknmDWqQ/UJagMBr5EdI/AAAAAAAAE0g/WVUlz48FOHo/s400/IMG_1617.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Mike preparing lessons for the following day's English classes</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The
month that I spent in Pussellayaya, Wasgamuwa was incredible. The opportunity
to do so many varied tasks both in the school and in the area made the month
hugely rewarding. There were a couple of things that could have helped me
settle in a little quicker. Prior to my first days teaching it would have been
nice to have visited the school and seen the kids just so I had an idea of what
to expect, I was led to believe that this was meant to happen but due to a
number of reasons it couldn’t. A translator would have been great at time to
get my lessons across to the kids quicker but once again i fully understand why
this couldn’t happen and it made me think on my feet a little more and find
ways to make the kids understand what i was saying. Having </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qLAEMG5_8jM/UJagltDSFuI/AAAAAAAAE0o/gZO8a6AZBJY/s1600/IMG_1650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qLAEMG5_8jM/UJagltDSFuI/AAAAAAAAE0o/gZO8a6AZBJY/s400/IMG_1650.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Helping a student</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UCuCYnwpSv0/UJagmBRzOyI/AAAAAAAAE0w/JGndDZ14dz4/s1600/IMG_1654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UCuCYnwpSv0/UJagmBRzOyI/AAAAAAAAE0w/JGndDZ14dz4/s400/IMG_1654.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Emma and Mike conducting an English class at the village public school</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I8OcgZkT-eM/UJagm8EMM_I/AAAAAAAAE04/VWwNSjX_yp8/s1600/IMG_1673.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I8OcgZkT-eM/UJagm8EMM_I/AAAAAAAAE04/VWwNSjX_yp8/s400/IMG_1673.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A caring teacher</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Chinthaka in the
house was a constant help, nothing was ever too much trouble and he really
helped me understand the culture of the area and the country as a whole. He was
also extremely flexible and allowed me to experience things that were not
included in my volunteer programme, tracking the elephants, spending the
afternoon in the tree house observing and taking the other volunteers and I out
at the weekend. All of these things enhanced my experience massively. And the
memories of these activities will stay with me forever. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yh_6pnvwGmw/UJahLzk4NtI/AAAAAAAAE1A/GquMW-lNsY4/s1600/IMG_1695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yh_6pnvwGmw/UJahLzk4NtI/AAAAAAAAE1A/GquMW-lNsY4/s400/IMG_1695.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Giving a helping hand to the Project Orange Elephant</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bic9QwAl7HA/UJahMolR7OI/AAAAAAAAE1I/50a1rpODkuw/s1600/IMG_1908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bic9QwAl7HA/UJahMolR7OI/AAAAAAAAE1I/50a1rpODkuw/s400/IMG_1908.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Repairing one of the Society's bicycles</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z9Rp4vihUiI/UJahNbV7t1I/AAAAAAAAE1Q/1klx6DxlSec/s1600/IMG_2573.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z9Rp4vihUiI/UJahNbV7t1I/AAAAAAAAE1Q/1klx6DxlSec/s400/IMG_2573.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>At the Farm </b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aNqBl2JXIUE/UJahOJXpKiI/AAAAAAAAE1Y/hMkzQjg1xrA/s1600/IMG_2586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aNqBl2JXIUE/UJahOJXpKiI/AAAAAAAAE1Y/hMkzQjg1xrA/s400/IMG_2586.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Taking care of the flock</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I24oU41uex8/UJahO6S1EUI/AAAAAAAAE1g/PfXV1HOaWj4/s1600/IMG_2607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I24oU41uex8/UJahO6S1EUI/AAAAAAAAE1g/PfXV1HOaWj4/s400/IMG_2607.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Relaxing with the waterfowl</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I also have to say that
the all the guys working at the house were superb, Syria was always getting
involved with us, keeping us entertained and generally looking after us in
whatever way he could. Our carom games were always pretty close although I’m
not sure he was trying too hard. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K7R0YbLqssM/UJaiUuR12VI/AAAAAAAAE1o/8ZbG813Il3o/s1600/IMG_1645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K7R0YbLqssM/UJaiUuR12VI/AAAAAAAAE1o/8ZbG813Il3o/s400/IMG_1645.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Playing carom with Siriya</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The food was brilliant and exactly what I
needed after teaching!! As a result of this programme I am now in the process
of doing my teachers training and once qualified would love the opportunity to
come back and teach again.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>An appreciative student flock</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">There
was an article on human elephant conflict on the BBC website and the work the
SLWCS were doing in the villages. Great to see that the hard work is getting
the exposure it deserves. Thanks for the
opportunity to take part in the programme. I will hopefully be back for more in
the not too distant future.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mike<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WtEZG9PlcIM/UJapaky9uNI/AAAAAAAAE2s/eeDiMmFWysc/s1600/Hope+to+see+you+soon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WtEZG9PlcIM/UJapaky9uNI/AAAAAAAAE2s/eeDiMmFWysc/s400/Hope+to+see+you+soon.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hope to see you soon!</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Photo credits in alphabetical order:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Aravinda Rathnayake</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Becky Knueven</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Chiara Melone</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Claire Beyer</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Craig Fox</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Chinthaka Weerasinghe</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Nicholas Bradsworth</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Ravi Corea</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Stefania Laddaga Silvestri</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></div>
</div>
SLWCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13385383717997197891noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759649900435291798.post-48676190263262198842012-08-30T05:51:00.001-07:002012-09-06T17:33:07.893-07:00Thalakola Nights: how matters of men and elephants are resolved<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e0GIuFKoqeY/UD5_q-kdXtI/AAAAAAAAEeo/csqOZWBDpQE/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e0GIuFKoqeY/UD5_q-kdXtI/AAAAAAAAEeo/csqOZWBDpQE/s400/14.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two elephants feeding in the vicinity of rice fields</td></tr>
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Prologue: It was in Wasgamuwa, Sri Lanka for the first time an electric fence was erected around a village. The idea behind erecting an electric fence around a village and not a national park was to keep elephants “out” and not “in.” This electric fence was erected 16 years ago in the village of Pussellayaya in Wasgamuwa by the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society (SLWCS). Fortunately, for most villages as well as for the elephants this concept was quickly adapted by the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) in their efforts to mitigate human elephant conflicts in Wasgamuwa. The DWC had previously attempted to fence elephants twice into the Wasgamuwa National Park with no success.<br />
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Today, there exists a network of electric fences in Wasgamuwa erected by the SLWCS and subsequently by the DWC that protect villages. There are though still several villages that are outside this network of electric fences. In addition, there are seasonal fields that are only cultivated from January to April during the <i>Maha </i>cultivating season that coincides with the Northeast Monsoon rains. These fields are also located outside the network of electric fences for the obvious reason that they are abandoned and lie fallow for most part of the year once the crops are harvested in April/May. During the dry season these fields provide an important food source for elephants and other wildlife. The intrepid farmers that still made an effort to grow rice in these fields used age-old methods to protect their fields, crops and lives from elephants.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A herd feeding along the boundary of cultivated fields</td></tr>
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February 17, 2012 – The time is around 4.30 pm and we were on our way to Thalakola to film farmers who used traditional methods to protect their crops from elephants. In the Land Rover with us was the film team from France 3 Television Network. The French team was lead by journalist, Betrand who was an astute guy with an outgoing personality and a great sense of humor. On top of that he also had a never ending supply of good French wine! I wondered how he managed to pack all that wine safely into a traveling suitcase and brought them all the way from France. André was the cameraman, while he looked small he was very energetic and strong. He lugged that massive high definition video camera and tripod of his all over the countryside and never stopped to catch his breath. And then there was Jean Michel the Soundman who looked to me like a retired rock musician. All together they were three very nice Frenchmen.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossing the Minipe Irrigation Canal</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guiding the Land Rover over the narrow bridge</td></tr>
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We crossed the Minipé irrigation canal over a bridge that was not much wider than the Land Rover and bounced along a cart track that was deeply rutted and again no wider than the car. We headed towards the jungle. The road was a circuitous route that skirted the seasonal wetlands where the paddy fields’ were. Shortly we came to a water course that flowed across the track. It was not that wide, but due to the muddy color of the water it was difficult to gauge how deep it was or see what was underneath and could damage or mire the vehicle. </div>
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A cardinal rule when driving off road is, never put a vehicle into water however narrow, wide or shallow it looked without first checking the depth and whatever other dangers that might be lurking beneath. These dangers could be mud, sand banks, rocks, logs, branches, various debris and of course large holes. The only way to check for all of these underwater hazards was to get off the vehicle and get into the water and walk or wade while keeping a wary eye out for crocodiles, snakes, water monitors and buffalo leeches! <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Not that they will show up in this exact
order or they will give advance warning of their intentions—but you are most
likely to bump into them in the water when you least expect too. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Driving a vehicle into water without checking it out first is like bungee jumping off a cliff, without first checking the rope was secured safely at both ends and it was much shorter than the height of the drop! Otherwise it would end up been a very, very painful experience. I’m yet to see an owner, who looked happy when their vehicle suddenly submerged like a hippopotamus in Lake Victoria, just because they didn’t bother to check the water before crossing.</div>
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This reminds me of an incident that happened about 14 years ago when a former colleague—whom we called CC (please don’t ask why) took his parents brand new Mitsubishi double cab truck for a jaunt in the Mahaweli River! I meant literarily. He drove the cab into the river and drove along the shallows doing about 15 to 20 kilometers an hour probably thinking it was the Mahaweli Expressway! With the wipers on and a bow wave riding in front the truck sped away leaving a frothy wake trailing behind. The smile on CC's face at the sheer joy of riding the water could not be described. Probably only porpoises or dolphins had grins that came anywhere close to resembling the smile on CC's face that day. Everything was splendid and great fun until the truck dove into a hole on the riverbed. It was like watching a seal disappear into a hole in the ice when pursued by a polar bear! The expression on my esteemed colleague’s expression was priceless! I have seen the same expression on an extremely hungry baby grey langur that enthusiastically bit into a red chili pepper thinking it was some sweet fruit! The vehicle of course was completely ruined and had to undergo an expensive engine overhaul to put it right. Unfortunately the same cannot be said of my colleague, since brain overhauls are not yet a medically approved procedure to improve the intellectually impaired! CC went on his merry way and over the course of his career with the SLWCS managed to get most of our vehicles into situations, where if the manufacturers had found out, they would have sued us for malicious misuse and abuse of their vehicles.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chinthaka checking the water</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It does not matter how shallow or narrow it looks it has to be checked</td></tr>
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Chinthaka got off the Land Rover and walked across the water to check out how safe it was for the vehicle to cross. In the meantime, Sampath maneuvered the Land Rover to find the best approach that would give him a straight line across the water. It was a tricky place—the track angled down and had a sharply curving bend just before it entered the water. I climbed on to an embankment by the water and waited to lend a hand in case Sampath got into any trouble. Putting the Land Rover on 2nd gear Sampath forded the water maintaining a steady even speed. As the vehicle reached the opposite bank suddenly the backend fish tailed as it struck a patch of soft mud and lost traction! It was important to have weight in the back and I was glad that we had the three crew members of France 3 Television with us. <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Their combined weight helped the rear wheels to find
traction and the vehicle crossed without further mishaps.</span> One more reason to appreciate French cuisine and wine! As I stood on the embankment and watched the Land Rover go across the water, memories came flooding of a similar situation where we had to do multiple water crossings. This was in 2006 when we were conducting post tsunami ecological assessment in the Block II of the Yala National Park.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sampath getting ready to cross the water</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Land Rover arriving at the opposite bank </td></tr>
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Sampath managed to cross the water without further problems. Chinthaka and I got back into the vehicle and we continued on to Thalakola. The track ended by a beat office of the Department of Wildlife Conservation. Parking the vehicle by the beat office we crept through a barbed-wire fence and headed out to where the farmers guard huts were. Our plan was to spend some time with several farmers whom we knew, so that the film crew could get footage of their efforts to protect crops from elephants. These farmers used traditional methods such as shouting, lighting fire crackers and large open fires to protect their crops. While none of them of course admitted to it, I was quite sure that some of them had shot guns with homemade cartridges to use as a last resort.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The paddy fields we walked through seemed endless</td></tr>
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We walked through a vast expanse of paddy fields to the guard huts of the farmers. Wijey, a farmer from Weheragalagama and J. Banda also from the same village, who also worked as a Field Scout for the SLWCS was guiding us. We waded and sloshed through small irrigation canals and teetered and slipped on ridges that bordered the paddy fields and arrived at the guard hut of farmer Seneviratne. He and his wife, Kiri Menika welcomed us with warm friendly smiles and soon had us all comfortably lying around the hut sipping hot tea sweetened with a piece of juggery (a hard sweet candy made from coconut or kitul palm toddy). Several other farmers joined us and soon the conversation was all about the challenges of cultivating in unprotected fields and the risks they faced from crop raiding elephants. They took us to see a field where three elephants had fed the night before. Massive footprints and huge piles of dung and flattened rice plants was testimony to the incredible damage elephants can do to cultivations. The area the elephants had destroyed by trampling around was thrice the size of the area where they had fed on.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inspecting a field that had been raided</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ot9Ol14GYeo/UD6Pgn7bgmI/AAAAAAAAEi8/_GJFXITlq-s/s1600/9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ot9Ol14GYeo/UD6Pgn7bgmI/AAAAAAAAEi8/_GJFXITlq-s/s400/9.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The jungle along the boundary of fields makes it impossible to see when elephants approach</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tjAn_JrMo0U/UD6Pjc_IdaI/AAAAAAAAEjE/zgYplJuYI4Q/s1600/14A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tjAn_JrMo0U/UD6Pjc_IdaI/AAAAAAAAEjE/zgYplJuYI4Q/s400/14A.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bull elephant approaching a field in the night is practically impossible to see. One of the ways to detect elephants is by listening</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elephants do more damage by trampling rather than feeding</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This field has sustained tremendous damage</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k7AhOk7FHTU/UD6IkvvDfoI/AAAAAAAAEgs/wD7wzBKH_Nw/s1600/8B.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k7AhOk7FHTU/UD6IkvvDfoI/AAAAAAAAEgs/wD7wzBKH_Nw/s400/8B.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An elephantine footprint...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1WcL7NqsRk4/UD6IlIzbwRI/AAAAAAAAEg0/Tt_uH33wwmk/s1600/8C.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1WcL7NqsRk4/UD6IlIzbwRI/AAAAAAAAEg0/Tt_uH33wwmk/s400/8C.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and dung boli are visiting cards left behind by elephants</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: SI-LK; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">It was amazing how flimsy the huts of these
farmers were. The frames of the huts were made of sticks and wooden poles
and the roofs were either covered with a plastic sheet or thatched with straw. It was even hard to believe that entire families, some
with small children spent more than 3 months at a time in these fragile
structures to protect their fields especially from elephants! I saw
several children sleeping on ground mats inside the hut on the floor as well as
outside underneath its eaves.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arriving at one of the guard huts and meeting the farmers and their families</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I asked Seneviratne, “Aren’t you concerned about the safety of your women and children?”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
“It is a very difficult situation sir we cannot leave them alone by themselves in the village homes so we have to keep them with us in the fields. For additional safety we have the tree huts. The moment we know elephants are present we send the women and children up to the tree huts. If we leave them at home then we keep worrying about them and cannot concentrate on our work.” Seneviratne explained.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8yEo0XEwWWI/UD6M6_mfCUI/AAAAAAAAEiE/rC4UU1-jv8o/s1600/18.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8yEo0XEwWWI/UD6M6_mfCUI/AAAAAAAAEiE/rC4UU1-jv8o/s400/18.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Farmers and their families practically lived for nearly 4 months in these flimsy huts</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ibGZynV0XNI/UD6M7f4XnMI/AAAAAAAAEiM/aju38ylkNsQ/s1600/18A.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ibGZynV0XNI/UD6M7f4XnMI/AAAAAAAAEiM/aju38ylkNsQ/s400/18A.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Women and children all had to pitch in to protect the crops ortherwise they will all go hungry</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I could well understand their predicament. To leave the women and children behind at home in the village did not guarantee their safety. This is because elephants ventured into villages and broke homes to get at stored grain, salt and just for the heck of it. I have met families who had either lost members or had members who had got seriously injured when elephants broke their homes. Elephants used their massive heads to push walls in. The brick walls fall on people sleeping inside killing or injuring them seriously.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jin6co3yOIw/UD6LVo8hrmI/AAAAAAAAEhc/bq1TL9N-cww/s1600/13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jin6co3yOIw/UD6LVo8hrmI/AAAAAAAAEhc/bq1TL9N-cww/s400/13.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The three small children were seriously injured when this house was broken</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mNIUus3OaAE/UD6LWuZUK6I/AAAAAAAAEhk/tDNHs0TLrv8/s1600/13A.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mNIUus3OaAE/UD6LWuZUK6I/AAAAAAAAEhk/tDNHs0TLrv8/s400/13A.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A member of the family was killed during this attack</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
“How about their schooling” I inquired.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“They go to school from here, and some of the older kids have dropped off from school and work on the fields full time with their parents.” Seneviratne replied.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It was a somber realization to see the challenges these people faced to barely eke out a living under these inhospitable conditions. I could not help but wonder if city people had to deal with similar challenges to make a living probably most of them would become raving lunatics. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We were gathered in a group so I posed this question to the farmers “If I was to ask what you needed the most, what it would be?” </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
They all replied, “Give us an electric fence for these fields.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
“Would it actually be a feasible solution? I asked. “You cultivate these fields only during the <i>Maha</i> season and that is also if there is sufficient rain from the Northeast Monsoon. So how can the cost of erecting an electric fence be justified? Also who will maintain and take care of it during the months the land lies fallow? A fence would also unnecessarily deprive elephants from accessing a vital food source during the dry season. Maybe we need to look at an alternative and simple solution?”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“What do you suggest?” Wijey asked.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The film crew had been quietly filming our discussion and now Betrand wanted me to explain to the camera what the farmers and I were discussing. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
After explaining to the camera I turned back to the farmers and asked them, “how about a seasonal electric fence rather than a permanent electric fence? This way you erect the fence only if and when you cultivate these fields and then dismantle it once you are done.” </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The farmers thought about it and asked, “How will it be powered?”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“Can‘t you get the power from the Weheragalagama electric fence? It can’t be that far away from these fields? </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
J Banda felt that it could be done and he said, “We could bring a single hot line from the Weheragalagama fence and hook it to power this fence.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“Get all the farmers together and discuss how this can be done.” I suggested. “Once you have a plan together we can also give you some help by providing the wire for the fence. Think about it. Since it will be a seasonal fence you need to string only one hot wire around the fields.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The farmers liked the idea and they talked amongst themselves to hold a group discussion to come up with a plan to construct a seasonal fence.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VvY4I-SNI8M/UD9Q9zYB8dI/AAAAAAAAEkc/D8CxzjaQNG0/s1600/8A.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VvY4I-SNI8M/UD9Q9zYB8dI/AAAAAAAAEkc/D8CxzjaQNG0/s400/8A.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">While the film crew filmed the farmers and I had a discussion</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The sun was going down and the sky lighted
up with various hues of mauve, pink and cerulean splashed with salmon pink and
orange—presenting a giddy kaleidoscope of living color. To observe the sky changing colors was like watching
a masterpiece coming to life under an artist’s hand. Across the sky huge flocks of white egrets,
herons, pelicans, spoon bills, woolly-neck storks, cormorants, painted storks, and
snake birds flew languidly to their roosts. To see them fly silhouetted against the changing
colors of the waning sky was like seeing art in motion. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">One of these roosting places is located at
the base of the Sunrise Rock which is nearby to our Pussellayaya field house. Every evening around 5 pm the birds begin
arrive to roost. As the massive flocks of
egrets in their brilliant white plumage settled on the trees the entire
roosting area begins to look as if it’s been turned into a winter wonderland.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5kTnBzz7rdI/UD6Kg480UkI/AAAAAAAAEhM/-ZP68n_s0dY/s1600/10A.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5kTnBzz7rdI/UD6Kg480UkI/AAAAAAAAEhM/-ZP68n_s0dY/s400/10A.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The setting sun shines bright before it finally sets</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d95t7pgYLEk/UD6KnMNnzeI/AAAAAAAAEhU/w_VKPjECD1Y/s1600/10B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d95t7pgYLEk/UD6KnMNnzeI/AAAAAAAAEhU/w_VKPjECD1Y/s400/10B.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A living masterpiece of vibrant color!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">With the sky darkening the stars emerged
one by one and within a short time the entire universe lay splattered across
the night sky. The twinkling of the stars
in the heavens was reflected on the fields by the twinkling of a million
fireflies—at least it seemed that way to me. As night fell our ears tuned into the nocturnal
sounds of the Dry Zone jungle. How the
chorus of night sounds gets started always reminded me of how an assemblage of
jazz musicians started a jam session.
First it is the crickets that started it with a chirp here, a chirp there and
got the session going by setting up a groove of incessant trilling. Soon the frogs jump in, with the bull frogs
providing the grunting bass line while the other frogs provides a continuous
orchestral background. And then the
nocturnal birds such as frogmouths. nightjars and owls join in and within a
short time the entire ensemble of nocturnal creatures is in full swing! If an elephant happened to puncture the night
with its’ high pitch trumpeting, it is easy to give into one's imagination and make believe that
the spirit of the great Louis Armstrong had made a guest appearance. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-viBxc13n2VA/UD6L7lPuaDI/AAAAAAAAEhs/HAkLDh1kfm8/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-viBxc13n2VA/UD6L7lPuaDI/AAAAAAAAEhs/HAkLDh1kfm8/s400/11.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Art in Motion: A flock of black headed ibis </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K0wdUt2Yfw4/UD6L76WZviI/AAAAAAAAEh0/ItEjpy6Qhjo/s1600/12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K0wdUt2Yfw4/UD6L76WZviI/AAAAAAAAEh0/ItEjpy6Qhjo/s400/12.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading home - a flock of egrets flying to roost</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The film crew informed that they had got all the footage they needed and were ready to move on. From Seneviratne’s hut we go to Wijey’s hut to film the farmers singing <i>Pel Kavi</i> (folksongs). The folksongs that the farmers sing when they guard their fields are very old and have soulful lyrics and haunting melodies. Singing <i>Pel Kavi</i> was how farmers kept awake and communicated with one another. By integrating events as they happened into the lyrics the farmers also kept each other informed of what was happening.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8g_NFsySb_M/UD6Mb_LVv9I/AAAAAAAAEh8/XPxVPamTWKY/s1600/8AB.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8g_NFsySb_M/UD6Mb_LVv9I/AAAAAAAAEh8/XPxVPamTWKY/s400/8AB.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading out to film the singing of <i>Pel Kavi</i> (folk songs)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Another interesting thing to listen to was these long drawn out mournful hoots the farmers made. In the quietness of the night these hoots had a mystic quality as they echoed across the vast open fields. That was until suddenly the night was shattered by the yodeling victory cry of Tarzan of the Apes! It was Chinthaka one of our Project Managers. He had been given the nickname Tarzan by the volunteers of course the female ones. Apparently Chinthaka in an attempt to live up to his nickname had felt it was an appropriate way to answer or to challenge the hoots of the farmers. When Chinthaka’s hysterical and quavering yell shattered the night the farmers in their huts became completely silent and stayed that way for a long time. I could just imagine what must be going through their minds! All alone in their huts with their beliefs in supernatural and maleficent spirits they must have wondered what kind of devil had made that howl! After a long silence one or two farmers called out to find out what had made that sound and to make sure no one had got devoured by an unknown devil.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bb0YDmFZyrM/UD6NeQpXCYI/AAAAAAAAEiU/1mR2dp9fgSA/s1600/IMG_7909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bb0YDmFZyrM/UD6NeQpXCYI/AAAAAAAAEiU/1mR2dp9fgSA/s400/IMG_7909.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chinthaka covering up in embarrassment after screaming like Tarzan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As we wrapped up filming farmers singing folksongs, a shout came from the direction of Seneviratne’s hut that the elephants had arrived and they were in a scrub forests by the western boundary of the fields. The time was about 9 pm. We immediately rushed through the fields to where the elephants were. Tripping over rice bushes, sinking into knee deep mud and wading through water we arrived back at Senevirathne’s hut. By the time we got there the elephants had begun to move towards the Thalakola Tank (reservoir). We paused to catch our breath and to make a plan to film the elephants. While we discussed we could hear the elephants rumbling and breaking branches pierced occasionally by a trumpet call. In the dead of night standing on the same ground with a group of wild elephants less than 30 feet away invoked primeval emotions that are hard to describe.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VvHiGG2jk6w/UD6OLohOmUI/AAAAAAAAEic/BvYyRHd85UE/s1600/15.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VvHiGG2jk6w/UD6OLohOmUI/AAAAAAAAEic/BvYyRHd85UE/s400/15.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making a plan to have no plan to film elephants in the night</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">As the old saying goes,” the best plan is to
have no plan at all,” we got ready to head towards Thalakola Tank. Actually we did make a
plan which was pretty simple, it was “we’ll adapt to the situation.” First we
waited, until Kiri Menika and the children got safely up into the tree hut just
in case if another bunch of elephants showed up while we were gone.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Then we took off after the elephants.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">This trek in the night turned out to be a
real off road adventure sans the off road vehicle!</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> To begin with i</span>t took some valiant effort on our part to keep up with the villagers who seemed to be naturally endowed with night vision, radar, GPS navigation, 4 wheel drive and all terrain tires. Apparently, not been blessed with these abilities was not our only handicap, we also had no idea where the hell we were going and on top of that we were barefoot! This was not the most ideal manner to go traipsing in the wilderness in the night!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cgSOGgDyzYE/UD6OgZGJlJI/AAAAAAAAEik/1ZzUvH1RuVc/s1600/20.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cgSOGgDyzYE/UD6OgZGJlJI/AAAAAAAAEik/1ZzUvH1RuVc/s400/20.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Not the most ideal way to go chasing elephants in the night</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
For the farmers who was used to a lifetime of been barefoot it was no problem at all, but for our pampered feet it was a walking nightmare. In the dark we could barely see where we were putting our feet down. One moment we whizzed by undergrowth that whipped at our feet and the next we were either trying to extricate ourselves from mud that clung as tenaciously as a buffalo leech or navigated water that elephants had crossed and pockmarked the muddy bottoms with deep holes with their pillar like legs. It was not fun to have a leg suddenly go into one of these holes. The result was to lose balance and fall face down in the water which ensured that you end up taking a few gulps of the fetid water. Now I know what the primordial ooze taste like! It does not taste anything like vintage French vine. Having had to drink the muck involuntarily several times, I did my best to block my mind as to what must be in that water! I was quite convinced that no self respecting water buffalo or a <i>Singularis porcus</i> (wild pig) would step into that ooze we had waded through.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We soon found out that these hardships were in fact heaven, compared to running barefoot over patches of thorny mimosa that looked enticingly like patches of grass in the dark. It was sheer agony as the tiny thorns penetrated our soles softened by water and mud. It was somewhat amusing and astonishing to observe how the people in the group reacted to the mimosa. The villagers felt no discomfort at all. Obviously years of walking barefoot has inured their feet so much so that I’m quite positive that they could have walked with ease on hot lava and fire!<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">For the farmers to chase elephants over
various terrains in the night in poor visibility was part of their occupation. For us this nocturnal jaunt was supposed to be
a fun filled adventure and a learning experience. For sure I learned a lot about mimosa which I will never forget. I also got to know the pain threshold that my
poor bare soles’ were capable off. It was too low for me to qualify as a barefoot elephant chaser. As far as the fun filled adventure was concerned
somehow other the “fun” part had got lost somewhere in the dark. The
farmers ran over the patches of mimosa—this is where the analogy to all terrain
tires applied—as if they were running over grass. Meanwhile Chinthaka, Sampath, the French film
crew and I, when we ran over the mimosa, we pronked and pranced like a troop of
great apes afflicted with a bad case of the shakes and shivers. </span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">So we shaked and we shivered and tried to run as fast as possible using the balls and heels of
our feet so as to provide the least surface area to the ubiquitous thorns. If anyone was observing us they would have thought
we were dancing some obscure and abstract ballet in mime! We had flashlights but could not use them
because elephants are wary of flashlights and we did not want to scare them
off. Not that it would have helped us either since we were not following a distinct track. Cursing the mimosa and suffering silently
with an infrequent muffled yelp of pain we headed towards Thalakola Wewa in the
dark. My respect for these farmers—in
fact for all farmers who had to go through this suffering to protect their
livelihood in this manner just increased in leaps and bounds. To imagine that they did this practically
every night for months in the course of trying to make a living made my soles curl and was mind
boggling to comprehend. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As we got closer we heard the elephants feeding and communicating somewhere on the banks of the tank. We climbed on to the bund quietly and from the top took a bearing on their sounds to locate where they were. André set up his tripod and camera and signaled to us that he was ready to film. Together we all shined our flashlights in the direction where the elephants were. What happened was amazing. As the flashlight beams hit the elephants they erupted in panic. They bunched together and without making any vocalizations other than for the loud sounds of water splashing they ran off into the jungle. Standing on the bund we heard the receding sounds of their panicked retreat. It was remarkable to see them disappear like that! It was as if they never existed and what we had seen were ghostly apparitions. From the bund we scanned the area with our flashlights. Other than for the usual sounds of the night—the elephants had completely vanished even the ripples in the water had dissipated leaving no sign of their presence.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B45J9r-6wbc/UD6PEL3t3oI/AAAAAAAAEis/d95bLVT2wJk/s1600/14C.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B45J9r-6wbc/UD6PEL3t3oI/AAAAAAAAEis/d95bLVT2wJk/s400/14C.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A herd drinking at dusk</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2D5DOmqGR-U/UD6PJHVYqeI/AAAAAAAAEi0/ZLMk5QxlAx4/s1600/14B.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2D5DOmqGR-U/UD6PJHVYqeI/AAAAAAAAEi0/ZLMk5QxlAx4/s400/14B.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A group of bulls moving away from a waterhole</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It was a rather dejected group that wearily trudged back to Seneviratne’s guard hut. After all the agony that we—meaning Chinthaka, Sampath, the film crew and I—had gone through plus the efforts of the farmers, it was disappointing that we did not get to film the elephants. Kiri Menika had very thoughtfully prepared tea which helped tremendously to boost up our morale and energy. Seated on a tree stump nearby with the help of a flashlight I removed the mimosa thorns that were imbedded in the soles of my feet. As I worked out the thorns my gaze fell on the camera equipment piled up next to the hut. It struck me what a paradoxical scene it made. All that high tech gear staked up against a flimsy hut that could be flattened in seconds by an angry elephant. It was a clear contrast of the diversity of lifestyles that existed in the world today. On one hand we had these amazing technological advancements on which entire nations depended, while on the other hand there were communities like these farmers who were so oblivious to them or had none of it. They lived their lives in a satisfied manner—irrespective of our opinions—fully adapted to their environment and most importantly unfettered to many of the so called technological innovations that millions including me cannot contemplate living without. It was impossible sometimes not to envy them. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There is nothing like a cup of Ceylon tea to revive flagging spirits</td></tr>
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We took farewell from the farmers and left promising to come back again one day to spend an entire night with them. Wijey stayed behind to protect his family and field. On the return journey we crossed the water with no problem and dropped off J Banda at his home and headed back to our field house. On the way we discussed plans for the next day. Who knows what other adventures awaited us tomorrow—in our quest to capture moving images of gray shadows and silent footprints.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Until next time</td></tr>
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SLWCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13385383717997197891noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759649900435291798.post-3502178634054400212012-07-06T09:26:00.001-07:002012-07-16T14:36:35.903-07:00Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the second electric fence erected under the Saving Elephants by Helping People Project of the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh give me a place where elephants roam...where people and elephant share land in peace...</td></tr>
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It is Sunday, May 27, 2012 and the time is around 3.30 pm. We are all gathered at Weheragalagama village to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the second electric fence that was erected around a village by the Saving Elephants by Helping People (SEHP) Project of the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society (SLWCS). <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A section of the crowd that attended the celebrations</td></tr>
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The electric fence was provided by the SLWCS in 2002 through a grant given by the Asian Elephant Conservation Fund of the United States Fish & Wildlife Service. The Chief Guest at the event is the United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives, the Honorable Patricia A. Butenis. Irrespective of what the occasion was—makes one wonder how did the U.S. Ambassador managed to get herself into a remote and backwoods area like Wasgamuwa in the first place! <br />
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Passionate animal lover, environmentalist and a huge proponent of everything pachyderm, the Honorable Patricia A. Butenis first visited Wasgamuwa in July 2010. During her visit, Ambassador Butenis was able to see and experience firsthand the work that the SLWCS has done successfully to mitigate human-elephant conflicts in the Wasgamuwa area through its international award winning SEHP Project. The Ambassador was also able to meet and speak to the villagers who had benefitted from the SEHP Project. It was during this first visit that the Weheragalagama villagers invited the Ambassador to be the Chief Guest at the 10th celebration of their electric fence. As an outcome of her visit and probably motivated by what she had observed and experienced, the Ambassador selected the SLWCS to receive the U.S. Ambassador’s Charity of the Year Award in 2011. This award was supplemented by a monetary award from the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Sri Lanka. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The U.S. Ambassador been greeted by villagers during her first visit in July 2010</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Talking with the Weheragalagama villagers. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e6rwtlK1sqk/T_T5M1kPMUI/AAAAAAAAEY4/nBiRwaNuAPw/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(86).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e6rwtlK1sqk/T_T5M1kPMUI/AAAAAAAAEY4/nBiRwaNuAPw/s400/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(86).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Observing elephants from the Tree Hut</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watching elephants from the Defender</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BKtgEtKlGGI/T_T6qqPD2ZI/AAAAAAAAEZQ/qECyLA12W2g/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(16).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BKtgEtKlGGI/T_T6qqPD2ZI/AAAAAAAAEZQ/qECyLA12W2g/s400/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(16).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bull elephant probably showing how pleased he is to see the U.S. Ambassador at Wasgamuwa</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r6KYyI6YyKo/T_T6FC8Z8xI/AAAAAAAAEZI/R1Z1I2-dkFg/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador's+Visit+to+Wasgamuwa-July+23-25th+2010+071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r6KYyI6YyKo/T_T6FC8Z8xI/AAAAAAAAEZI/R1Z1I2-dkFg/s400/U.S.+Ambassador's+Visit+to+Wasgamuwa-July+23-25th+2010+071.jpg" width="393" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanging out with Dodam the giant squirrel after a sunrise hike</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2cmCzGNcoZY/T_UVsMJcF2I/AAAAAAAAEdI/i2uK2uvY6uk/s1600/Ambo+Ball+-+May+2011+(18).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2cmCzGNcoZY/T_UVsMJcF2I/AAAAAAAAEdI/i2uK2uvY6uk/s400/Ambo+Ball+-+May+2011+(18).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Receiving the Charity of the Year Award at the AmCham Ball 2011</td></tr>
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It is not an easy journey to get to Wasgamuwa. Even traveling in a good SUV (4WD vehicle) it still takes close to 7 hours to get there! The journey takes one across the incredible diversity of terrain, climate and habitats that Sri Lanka is so richly endowed with—of course not forgetting the equally diverse conditions of the roads that need to be traversed! These conditions range from roads that feel like magic carpet rides to what must be roller coaster rides in hell! Twice the intrepid U.S. Ambassador unflinchingly braved these conditions to visit our projects and give us her support. This was Ambassador Butenis’ second trip to Wasgamuwa, which alone is testimony to the incredible commitment she has made to support local efforts to save and protect Sri Lanka’s endangered wildlife.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IfD0An6bzgc/T_T7YHcJrYI/AAAAAAAAEZY/9fyaYt0yGZQ/s1600/IMG_2866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IfD0An6bzgc/T_T7YHcJrYI/AAAAAAAAEZY/9fyaYt0yGZQ/s400/IMG_2866.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Selecting a place to hold the celebrations</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U1KES9t_2U8/T_T7y0mWmqI/AAAAAAAAEZg/gX_jcXe9E5g/s1600/IMG_3499.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U1KES9t_2U8/T_T7y0mWmqI/AAAAAAAAEZg/gX_jcXe9E5g/s400/IMG_3499.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Villagers preparing for the celebrations</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A villager getting ready to decorate the road to welcome the U.S. Ambassador</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The first stop was by the control room
of the electric fence where village elders welcomed Ambassador Butenis and she was
invited to unveil a stone plaque commemorating the 10<sup>th</sup> Anniversary
of the electric fence, and the 16<sup>th</sup> Anniversary of the Saving Elephants
by Helping People Project. The flags of the
two countries waved over the event. The Ambassador
and other dignitaries present were escorted to the plaque by a traditional
drummer and dancers.
After unveiling the plaque the Ambassador was taken by procession to where the official ceremony was to take
place. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The U.S. Ambassador arriving at the control room to unveil the commemorative plaque</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MPSVRCTg8iE/T_UAZ1DlObI/AAAAAAAAEZ8/wNVWyghfvig/s1600/2.+Opening+the+Plaque.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MPSVRCTg8iE/T_UAZ1DlObI/AAAAAAAAEZ8/wNVWyghfvig/s400/2.+Opening+the+Plaque.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unveiling the commemorative plaque</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VjW0tx4CPP4/T_UAdCS2JjI/AAAAAAAAEaE/xpthcZ0ZOiw/s1600/5.+Reading+the+Plaque.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VjW0tx4CPP4/T_UAdCS2JjI/AAAAAAAAEaE/xpthcZ0ZOiw/s400/5.+Reading+the+Plaque.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reading the commemorative plaque</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AQEkmnHY6Ls/T_UAgT61v4I/AAAAAAAAEaM/EXWXPtqJpm8/s1600/7.+The+Plaque.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AQEkmnHY6Ls/T_UAgT61v4I/AAAAAAAAEaM/EXWXPtqJpm8/s400/7.+The+Plaque.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carved in stone in Sinhala and in English recording for posterity the goodwill of people and nations. </td></tr>
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The ceremony was held atop the bund of the Weheragalagama Tank underneath a grove of Maila (<i>Bauhinia racemosa</i>) trees giving the dignitaries a breathtaking view of the tank, the jungle and the hills of the Himbiliyakade forest range. Overhead the national flags of Sri Lanka and the United States of America fluttered in the breeze wafting from the tank. The celebrations commenced with the lighting of the traditional oil lamp after which the venerable Haguranketha Seelananda, Chief Priest of the Weheragalagama Temple conducted the religious service. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sDmPHpMk1HI/T_UB_ccx29I/AAAAAAAAEaU/mPSlkAUcoEA/s1600/6.+Lighting+the+Oil+Lamp.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sDmPHpMk1HI/T_UB_ccx29I/AAAAAAAAEaU/mPSlkAUcoEA/s400/6.+Lighting+the+Oil+Lamp.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lighting the traditional oil lamp</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Venerable Haguranketha Seelananda conducting the religious service</td></tr>
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On behalf of the U.S. Ambassador, a Sinhala translation of an official letter sent by Dr. Meenakshi Nagendran, Program Officer of the Asian Elephant Conservation Fund of the United States Fish & Wildlife Service was read out by SLWCS Project Manager, Chinthaka Weerasinghe. Copies of the translated letter were distributed among the attendees. Following are some excerpts from the letter sent by Dr. Nagendran of the Asian Elephant Conservation Fund of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service:<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">“<i>The
Asian Elephant Conservation Fund (AsECF) of the United States Fish and Wildlife
Service has supported Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society (SLWCS) since
2002 on their pioneering efforts regarding conservation of wild Asian elephants
in Sri Lanka. SLWCS developed the idea
of protecting villagers and their property, by fencing in agricultural lands
and villages, while allowing wild elephants to continue to roam the landscape. The
fence at Weheragalagama was a life saver in many ways; it enabled affected
villagers to save money, and in some cases even send their children to
university because they were able to harvest their crops and earn a living
instead of spending all their money on crop and home protection from marauding
elephants. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Today
SLWCS’ Saving Elephants by Helping People (SEHP) program has served as a model
to national and international efforts to address human-elephant conflict
(HEC). By allowing wild elephants to
roam the landscape, the SLWCS is trying to meet the ecological needs of Asian
elephants and helping protect people, their property and their lives. Putting elephants behind fences in protected
areas and cutting off their seasonal movements has been shown to have very
detrimental effects on elephants, including leading to their starvation and
mortality. The work of SLWCS and others
is very important in mitigating HEC and allowing to the extent possible of
unrestricted movement of elephants. The SLWCS’ SEHP electric fences allow
elephants to feed in the vicinity of villages but effectively stop them from
entering the villages or their fields.</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A villager reading the translated U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service letter</td></tr>
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Athula-Kumara is 29 years old and is the incumbent president of the Weheragalagama Village Electric Fence Operations and Maintenance Society. He is addressing the crowd. Athula-Kumara with moist eyes and a catch in his voice recounts to the gathered audience what life was like before the 10 kilometer electric fence was erected around their village in 2002. He recalls vividly as a small child how terrifying it was to live in a village that was frequently subjected to raids by elephants. </div>
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Athula-Kumara was only six years old when his family moved to Weheragalagama under a government enforced land settlement program. He remembers how elephants used to practically come every day to the village. According to Athula-Kumara it was not only their livelihoods that the elephants deprived them off. He says as little children they were even deprived of been cuddled and pampered by their father since his entire time were spent protecting their home and field from elephant raids. He tells how during those days his father had to go out every day to protect crops. During those terrifying days their house alone had been broken six times by elephants and their entire worldly possessions destroyed as a result. Every time an elephant broke their home it set his family back pushing them further into poverty. He recalled the toll on his parents since they had to toil all over again to rebuild their home and furnish it with bare essentials and necessities. With no lumber yards or hardware stores nearby and most importantly no money—practically every piece of material to build a house had to be brought from the jungle or begged or borrowed from elsewhere.<br />
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Every evening before his father left to protect the field he would first make sure, his mother, him and his siblings were all safely up on the tree hut that was in their home compound. Even though all farmers had a house on the ground—basically a simple wattle and daub mud hut with a thatched roof, to protect themselves in the night from marauding elephants, every house had a tree hut in their compound. The men, before they left in the evening to protect their fields, first made sure their women and children were safely tucked away up in the safety of the tree huts in their homes. Today, Athula-Kumara points out these activities have become obsolete and even completely forgotten by some villagers because of the protection offered by the electric fence that has been provided by the SLWCS. He compares the hardships they underwent due to incessant elephant raids in the past with the worry free lifestyle they spent now because of the electric fence. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Every farmers home plot had two huts one on the ground and on a tee nearby</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In their fields they had a hut on the ground to rest during the day and a tree hut for protection from elephants </td></tr>
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Athula-Kumara draws attention to how especially their social and economic situation has changed. Over 95% of the houses in the village today are built with brick and cement. Most farmers owned tuk tuks, motorcycles and land master two-wheeled tractors with some farmers becoming rich enough to afford 4 wheel tractors and even trucks. Our houses have furniture, television and HiFi sets. He says this is all because now we can harvest everything that we cultivate. Today after the main rice crop has been harvested farmers cultivate cash crops in the time between the two main rice cultivating seasons. Farmers grow cash crops such as water melon, gherkin, soy, mung bean, peanuts, sesame and corn bringing in additional income. Earlier farmers were deprived from making a living to barely survive due to repeated elephant raids. Today the challenges they faced mostly dealt with whether they had sufficient water to cultivate, market access and to get a fair market price for their produce.<br />
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Continuing on, Athula-Kumara reminds, that today when we come home after working in the fields we take our children to the tank (irrigation reservoir) to show them elephants. This is because today elephants do not come to the village so we have to go out of the village to show elephants to our children less they forget the wild animals that live in our neighborhood. He also laments the fact that new comers to the village and the younger generation were not aware of the past. Therefore they did not appreciate the electric fence for the benefits it has brought to the entire village. Athula-Kumara calls upon everyone present to look upon the fence as a boon that provides benefits to the entire village, therefore everybody in the village is responsible to contribute to its long term maintenance and operation. Concluding his talk, Athula Kumara appeals to the villagers not to forget the fact that the benefits from the electric fence they will continue to enjoy today, tomorrow and in the years to come. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A wattle and daub mud hut been replaced by a more affluent brick and cement house</td></tr>
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Since its inception in 1997 the SEHP Project has provided in addition to the two villages in Wasgamuwa, solar powered electric fences to the Somawathiya Rajamahavihara and four villages along the southern boundary of the Lahugala-Kitulana National Park. These electric fences were provided at the request of the local stakeholders and the Department of Wildlife Conservation of Sri Lanka. The electric fence we constructed in Lahugala is 23 kilometers long and was funded by the Asian Elephant Conservation Fund of the United States Fish & Wildlife Service, Canadian International Development Agency and the Alexander Abraham Foundation. The electric fence for the Somawathiya Rajamahavihara was funded by the Alexander Abraham Foundation.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Villagers erecting the Weheragalagama electric fence under the supervision of Sunpower Tech staff</td></tr>
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When we first went to Somawathiya in 2004 it was an incredible place. Only a handful of diehard devotees would venture into that remote and foreboding region at the time! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What an incredible place! The Chaitiya bathed in the glow of a full moon</td></tr>
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Somawathiya was one of the last northern frontier areas at the time since it was located just south of the boundary claimed by the Tamil Tigers. Several times the temple itself was attacked. The last attack happened just before one of our visits to the temple! Tamil Tigers had shot at the chaitiya and at the priests while they were bathing in the river. When we arrived we were shown the bullet holes on the chaitiya. Located in the flood plains of the mighty Mahaweli Ganga—Sri Lanka’s longest river—the temple was a magnet for wild elephants. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The flood plains of Mahaweli attract hundreds of elephants during the dry season</td></tr>
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Somawathiya also periodically goes under water during very heavy Northeast Monsoon rains. Some years the floods get so bad the priests have to be airlifted by helicopter! One year during such a major flooding we attempted to reach the temple by navigating the Periya Aru - a tributary of the Mahaweli Ganga in a motorized Zodiac inflatable dinghy that we launched from Sungawila. Our attempt to reach the temple was completely thwarted by a huge swarm of angry bees that attacked us repeatedly aroused by the deep hum of the 4-Stroke 40HP outboard Suzuki engine. I guess this is another story for another time.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Navigating the flooded road to the temple</td></tr>
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One day we were at a meeting with the chief incumbent of the Somawathiya temple, Venerable Sri Sumangala—who was this short dapper cherub looking man with a mischievous smile. Sri Sumangala was explaining to us the problems the temple was facing from wild elephants. According to him elephants would come practically every day and nothing was safe from their probing proboscis. They ate the <i>puja</i> (offerings) and then toppled the offering tables, broke statues and tried get into buildings, and as a form of amusement chased around the few devotees who were brave enough to come to the temple. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption">A wild elephant strolling in front of the historic Chaitiya with a devotee running to safety</td></tr>
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On that day a bus load of devotees had also come and they were going about attending to their religious activities. A wild elephant just sauntered into the temple like a domestic cow and started to chase the devotees. Fortunately, the devotees—old and young—managed to escape unscathed by coming into the building where we were in and by getting into the bus with some even clambering onto its roof!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A wild elephant casually saunters to where a group of devotees are </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption">Oh what fun! Chasing pilgrims</td></tr>
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The elephant then came and poked its head right through the doorway into the room we were having the meeting. When this happened we were seated around a short table going over a map discussing the layout for an electric fence for the temple. The discussion came to an immediate halt - since it seems we have got a “trunk call” of immense proportions! Anyone looking into the room would have observed an astonished and silent group consisting of the Chief Priest, myself, three SLWCS staff persons and one elephant head! Well actually the elephant was not astonished, it was sniffing about the room waving its sinuous trunk as if smelling a rat—“oh so you guys are planning to fence us out from the temple eh!” To say we completely lost the thread of our discussion would be an understatement<span style="background-color: white;">.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What is going on here? Planning electric fences ah?</td></tr>
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We soon learned though the biggest culprit was not the elephant—it was our dapper host the Chief Priest with the mischievous smile! After we had collected our wits together and recovered somewhat our composure, Sri Sumangala called out to his retinue of junior priests. In a short while they brought water melons, bread, pumpkins, and papaya in baskets, which the Chief Priest fed to this particular elephant he had named, Raja. Apparently Raja was the Chief Priest’s pet wild elephant. In fact later we found out that the Chief Priest had a separate budget to purchase food just for Raja. I must admit that on few occasions not wanting to hurt the feelings of the Chief Priest I too had contributed to the Raja Fund.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Venerable Sri Sumangala feeding Raja</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Venerable Sri Sumangala, Raja and the historic Somwathiya Chaitiya in the background</td></tr>
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During the dry season over 300 elephants would descend on the grass fields at Somawathiya, but with the onset of the rainy season in October with the exception of a few bulls they would all leave. We continued to meet Raja at the temple where he was a regular. Though several bull elephants came habitually to the temple only Raja were fed by the Chief Priest. Over the years I got to know Raja pretty well. The five or seven bulls that lounged around the temple knew they were into a good thing—there was always food at the temple irrespective of the season. I knew a giant squirrel called Ollie that had the same penchant to a religious place of worship at Wasgamuwa for the same reasons.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even after the electric fence was constructed Raja was a regular visitor</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raja and I got to know each other pretty well</td></tr>
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Around 2007, Raja disappeared for a prolonged time and then when he returned we noticed that he was nursing tenderly with the tip of his trunk a T56 bullet wound that was behind his right ear. The Chief Priest told us that he had notified the Department of Wildlife Conservation about it. Unfortunately up until Raja disappeared again in late 2007—this time probably for ever since he has not returned by the end of 2010—no vet from the Wildlife Department had come to look at Raja according to the temple personnel. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last time I saw Raja before he disappeared for ever.</td></tr>
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In 2006, the SLWCS provided the temple with a 1.5 kilometer electric fence that was constructed in a manner that still allowed elephants to walk through the temple without coming into contact with the devotees, temple staff and buildings. Today devotees to Somawathiya can venerate the Lord Buddha amidst wild elephants in safety and without fearing for their lives. Earlier the few devotees to the temple kept an eye out for elephants and moved to safety as soon as they saw an elephant approaching the temple premises. The danger of course increased sharply during dusk and night time since it is very difficult to spot elephants in the dark. This became extremely dangerous especially when devotees were organizing and planning events on the days leading to Poya and other important Buddhist events. Especially because most of these activities including the main Poya day religious activities are conducted during the night.</div>
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Up until the end of the war only a few devotees used to visit the temple. But with the ending of the war now hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to the temple. What is remarkable about Somawathiya is that even with such a large influx of visitors to the temple—up until now there has been no incident with elephants.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption">Linda Reifschneider, founder president of Elephant Support Group observing a wild elephant from the Chaitiya</td></tr>
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In 1997, the SLWCS came up with the innovative concept to completely encircle a village with a solar powered electric fence and build the capacity of the villagers to maintain the electric fence over the long term. At that time other than for fencing elephants in national parks (which is still practiced by the Department of Wildlife Conservation) there was no effective solution to resolve HEC. Over the years the following international organizations have provided funding support to the SLWCS to construct solar powered electric fences. The Wildlife Trust, Asian Elephant Conservation Fund of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the International Elephant Foundation, Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund, Canadian International Development Agency, and the Alexander Abraham Foundation. Technology and materials for all the electric fences were supplied by Sunpower Systems Private Limited.<br />
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Once the SLWCS developed the concept to erect an electric fence completely around a village the Society contacted Sunpower Systems Private Ltd., to get their technical support to construct the electric fence. Sunpower Systems are the agents for New Zealand based Gallagher Inc., who produced the best electric fence equipment. When Sunpower was made aware of what the SLWCS was attempting to do, they in consultation with Gallagher Inc—gifted all the control room equipment to a value of ~US$7,000 to the project. At the time the CEO of Sunpower said, “rather than being just a supplier and a contractor, we want to be a partner in such an innovative and pioneering project!” That was 16 years ago! That first fence has been continuously operating for the past 16 years affording protection to the Pussellayaya Village in Wasgamuwa. Today concepts developed and successfully applied by the SEHP Project are being emulated by the Department of Wildlife Conservation, Mahaweli Authority, various other conservationists, elephant researchers, and organizations based in Sri Lanka and in other South and Southeast Asian elephant range countries. Since 2008 the SEHP Project has won four national and international awards. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">UNDP Equator Initiative Equator Prize 2008</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v-vg_mwmBjo/T_UWFPlmEXI/AAAAAAAAEdY/qaLrIZLJObc/s1600/NSF+Award+Images-Nov+16-2010-RC+B-day+Images+079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v-vg_mwmBjo/T_UWFPlmEXI/AAAAAAAAEdY/qaLrIZLJObc/s400/NSF+Award+Images-Nov+16-2010-RC+B-day+Images+079.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">National Science Foundation Award 2010</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AmCham Sri Lanka Award</td></tr>
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After the official ceremony was over, the Weheragalagama villagers invited Ambassador Butenis to a reception that had been organized under the spreading branches of a Maila tree. Underneath its cooling shade on a trestle table made of local wood the villagers had laid a spread of local traditional foods and herbal tea made from Eramusu (<i>Hemidesmus indicus</i>). At the reception, after partaking in some light refreshments, Ambassador Butenis got to meet the locals and pose for photos with them. Very generously she had brought some gifts to give to children which were distributed at the reception.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A villager serving Kiribath</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lN21I_LzvCE/T_UXBq2JRvI/AAAAAAAAEdw/P8yvMPg2NcI/s1600/9.+Meeting+the+locals.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lN21I_LzvCE/T_UXBq2JRvI/AAAAAAAAEdw/P8yvMPg2NcI/s400/9.+Meeting+the+locals.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meeting the locals</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KCP2Znb_Km4/T_UXFNfCTUI/AAAAAAAAEd4/kSpuwStXi1s/s1600/10.++Dance+troupe.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KCP2Znb_Km4/T_UXFNfCTUI/AAAAAAAAEd4/kSpuwStXi1s/s400/10.++Dance+troupe.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The village cultural troupe with the Ambassador</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b3tpw33BRsY/T_UXZ22HaoI/AAAAAAAAEeA/zBeQvsmA6u0/s1600/11.+With+the+SLWCS+staff.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b3tpw33BRsY/T_UXZ22HaoI/AAAAAAAAEeA/zBeQvsmA6u0/s400/11.+With+the+SLWCS+staff.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SLWCS Staff with the U.S. Ambassador</td></tr>
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Soon after Ambassador Butenis left since she had to be back in Colombo in time for Memorial Day, which is a major holiday in the USA. Just fifteen minutes after Ambassador Butenis left, a herd of 30 elephants arrived at the Weheragalagama tank!
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zFyxNduy_hQ/T_cQ_kCZKxI/AAAAAAAAEec/PlWlqrnMFjc/s1600/IMG_9225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zFyxNduy_hQ/T_cQ_kCZKxI/AAAAAAAAEec/PlWlqrnMFjc/s400/IMG_9225.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A herd of 30 elephants came down to the tank at the end of the celebrations</td></tr>
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The visit of the U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka as the Chief Guest of one of our projects marks another outstanding mile posts that highlights, the efforts of the Society to develop effective and sustainable solutions to mitigate human-elephant conflicts in Sri Lanka. The Society sincerely appreciates the support Ambassador Butenis has given to us during her tenure as the United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka. We wish the Ambassador all the very best and hope in the years to come she will continue be a friend and supporter of the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AytWtIudDpE/T_UaejDBsSI/AAAAAAAAEeM/yYw6_gRWVHI/s1600/Picture2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="230" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AytWtIudDpE/T_UaejDBsSI/AAAAAAAAEeM/yYw6_gRWVHI/s400/Picture2.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thank you and please come again!</td></tr>
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</div>SLWCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13385383717997197891noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759649900435291798.post-35500722083826320032012-05-09T03:21:00.000-07:002012-05-09T10:47:43.330-07:00Animal Encounters and Rescues: The Tale of Three Lobsters…Not Spiced with Hot Butter and Garlic!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kdi8ButvcVQ/T6oO6Bv2vFI/AAAAAAAAESs/9Pu4EuoPHl4/s1600/7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kdi8ButvcVQ/T6oO6Bv2vFI/AAAAAAAAESs/9Pu4EuoPHl4/s400/7.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The three lobsters awaiting their fate</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">Standing on the rocks that have been
placed along the coastline to stop sea erosion one could see far into the
southern sea.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">It is November 17, 2011
and I’m standing on one of these rocks looking out at the Indian Ocean.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">Silhouetted against the horizon and scattered
over a Persian carpet textured sea are a number of outrigger catamarans.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">At this early hour the color of the sea is gunmetal
blue.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">It is 6.30 am and I’m in a place called
Ginthota located on the outskirts of Galle town with a French film crew from
France 5 television channel.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">We are
waiting for the fishermen to return from the sea to film them and their
catch.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">An hour later, all the catamarans
as if they are heeding a hidden command all head back at the same time to the
headland.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">From a hardly discernible
speck in the distance—where one could barely see them move—suddenly each
catamaran becomes a speeding wave rider cresting over breaking waves racing to
the beach.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hQY2ivRz0JU/T6oPPcBKJJI/AAAAAAAAES0/5CPHJGTXTuY/s1600/1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hQY2ivRz0JU/T6oPPcBKJJI/AAAAAAAAES0/5CPHJGTXTuY/s400/1.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An outrigger catamaran out at sea</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9o9fOcP5yg0/T6oPTAQkP1I/AAAAAAAAES8/Uph51KcfyQM/s1600/2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9o9fOcP5yg0/T6oPTAQkP1I/AAAAAAAAES8/Uph51KcfyQM/s400/2.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for the fishing boats to return</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PEkyVK0ujyM/T6oPWA6DJSI/AAAAAAAAETE/Nqjvpsq4ua0/s1600/3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PEkyVK0ujyM/T6oPWA6DJSI/AAAAAAAAETE/Nqjvpsq4ua0/s400/3.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An outrigger speeding back to the headland</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">As the boats land they are hauled all
the way up the beach out of reach of the waves and immediately the fishermen
and their families begin the process of sorting the day’s catch.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">While the film crew occupied themselves
filming this traditional way of life that was probably thousands of years old—I
was observing how the fishermen were sorting their catch—fish of commercial
value ended back in the boat and everything else that had no value was thrown on the ground. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">As the fishermen continued
sorting I began to wonder what would consist the bigger pile—the commercially
valuable fish or the by catch?</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">In a
short time it looked as if a wave has left a shoal of fish stranded on the
beach.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MARisF7Q2KI/T6oQNlIVmCI/AAAAAAAAETM/X98nLMUeGe0/s1600/4A.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MARisF7Q2KI/T6oQNlIVmCI/AAAAAAAAETM/X98nLMUeGe0/s400/4A.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sorting the catch</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oQ6yDpNZdKs/T6oQSjSPHRI/AAAAAAAAETU/cEVOHWj3EpA/s1600/4B.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oQ6yDpNZdKs/T6oQSjSPHRI/AAAAAAAAETU/cEVOHWj3EpA/s400/4B.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">None commercial value fish were thrown on the beach</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I could not connect this waste
with a traditional lifestyle—how could such waste of life support a lifestyle
that was so old? There is something about the glaring eye and gasping mouth of
a dying fish suffocating on land that is impossible to forget or to walk away
from.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">On many occasions, I have put
aside whatever “other important” things I had to do at the time, to gather fish
that were still alive and had been discarded by fishermen as by catch to throw
them back to the sea. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mDNJ7QNLEN8/T6oQ4bHYoUI/AAAAAAAAETc/vnahGHnVKA0/s1600/4C.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mDNJ7QNLEN8/T6oQ4bHYoUI/AAAAAAAAETc/vnahGHnVKA0/s400/4C.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A repast for crows and other carrion eaters</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JB-HM1ws4zU/T6oQ9nKROoI/AAAAAAAAETk/5vToA4XgTN4/s1600/4D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JB-HM1ws4zU/T6oQ9nKROoI/AAAAAAAAETk/5vToA4XgTN4/s400/4D.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wasteful Death</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zZuKO8MoBrk/T6oRBn6pjaI/AAAAAAAAETs/-aFSsABl_5I/s1600/4E.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zZuKO8MoBrk/T6oRBn6pjaI/AAAAAAAAETs/-aFSsABl_5I/s400/4E.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The glass eyed stare of a fish that has suffocated </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iVhMWMu9j80/T6oRFDLtnLI/AAAAAAAAET0/i9zYUnyR5p8/s1600/4F.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iVhMWMu9j80/T6oRFDLtnLI/AAAAAAAAET0/i9zYUnyR5p8/s400/4F.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"By catch" reflects the wastefulness of the fishing industry</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BvVKzAEGUQc/T6oRHnhhVsI/AAAAAAAAET8/gVH9llaoYBc/s1600/4G.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BvVKzAEGUQc/T6oRHnhhVsI/AAAAAAAAET8/gVH9llaoYBc/s400/4G.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A crow flying off with a discarded crab</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">When you consider
that this happens throughout the coast of Sri Lanka where hundreds of thousands
of peoples livelihood is subsistence fishing, the magnitude and scale of the by
catch issue becomes mind boggling. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">At
Kalpitiya I have seen entire stretches of the beach littered with by catch.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">There were so many fish spread along the
beach that even the carrion eaters had given up!</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/---zZYU_QqDo/T6oSdE7q3ZI/AAAAAAAAEUE/0sFrlFli540/s1600/4K.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/---zZYU_QqDo/T6oSdE7q3ZI/AAAAAAAAEUE/0sFrlFli540/s400/4K.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A boat at Kalpitiya filled to the gunwales with Sea Jack caught using the illegal "leila" netting system</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vRPV72KVVug/T6oSd2o5ekI/AAAAAAAAEUI/h5EiyjcYMe4/s1600/4L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="273" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vRPV72KVVug/T6oSd2o5ekI/AAAAAAAAEUI/h5EiyjcYMe4/s400/4L.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thousands of small fish being discarded as by catch at a fish landing beach at Kalpitiya</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VZ4DNPGro_c/T6oU41aIt4I/AAAAAAAAEUU/zoRyPscP-3w/s1600/4H.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VZ4DNPGro_c/T6oU41aIt4I/AAAAAAAAEUU/zoRyPscP-3w/s400/4H.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So many fish littered the beach at Kalpitiya the carrion eaters could not cope with it</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MUbWsxeMGUU/T6oU-QeylRI/AAAAAAAAEUc/GbRPomWgg4s/s1600/4I.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MUbWsxeMGUU/T6oU-QeylRI/AAAAAAAAEUc/GbRPomWgg4s/s400/4I.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An environmental problem of epic proportions</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NDppj1D6UII/T6oVDw3jdKI/AAAAAAAAEUk/So8PXwtnJOQ/s1600/4J.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NDppj1D6UII/T6oVDw3jdKI/AAAAAAAAEUk/So8PXwtnJOQ/s400/4J.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The look of death!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">As the film crew moved on to other boats,
I walked up to the one that they had been filming.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I greeted the fishermen and walked around
their boat looking at all the various fish that had been caught. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HGyrKxgiLTE/T6ozhmGiULI/AAAAAAAAEWk/j-IFNHKkJf0/s1600/4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HGyrKxgiLTE/T6ozhmGiULI/AAAAAAAAEWk/j-IFNHKkJf0/s400/4.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Observing an age old traditional lifestyle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">A baby shark
that was still alive, a few deadly looking barracudas (</span><em style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sphyraena </em><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">sp.) known
locally as </span><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jeelawa</i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">, glittering silver-colored fish of various kinds flashing
iridescent hues on tin foil textured skins, globs of mauve colored squid and
then in a hole dug in the sand I saw the catch of the day—lobsters! </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gzdg7XHwyFo/T6oV6rYhEfI/AAAAAAAAEUs/6GfM-H6fS-4/s1600/5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gzdg7XHwyFo/T6oV6rYhEfI/AAAAAAAAEUs/6GfM-H6fS-4/s400/5.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Catch of the Day!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Since lobsters are robust and can live off
water for a considerable amount of time they are kept alive by putting them in
a pit dug in the sand. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">This ensures that
they are alive and fresh when the buyers come to purchase them. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">There were six of them two were gravid females
with their underbellies packed with thousands of probably even a million bright orange-colored eggs—the
future generation!</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">One would assume, putting
these two gravid female lobsters back into the sea as soon as they were caught
would be the most common sense thing to do, since they ensure the
sustainability of the livelihoods of these fishermen.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">While they do adhere to a government imposed
ban on catching lobsters during the general breeding season—gravid females
caught off the breeding season are not protected and can be sold.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The more sensible regulation would be to ban
the catching or selling of gravid female lobsters at anytime.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Three of the lobsters was so small they could
have passed for large prawns!</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dWFZAH7tOuA/T6oWVaLhTrI/AAAAAAAAEU0/Spt8hPyo_Xc/s1600/7B.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dWFZAH7tOuA/T6oWVaLhTrI/AAAAAAAAEU0/Spt8hPyo_Xc/s400/7B.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Destroying the future: gravid female lobsters can be caught off the breeding season</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Over the years I have found myself in
this situation many times—basically appealing or bargaining to release or
acquire some unfortunate animal or animals that had been caught to be eaten or
kept as pets.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sometimes I feel like a
hostage negotiator—with the exception that the parties I deal with most times—like
these fishermen—our also hostages in a sense.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">They are marginalized people tied to a lifestyle where they barely eke
out a living.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Like hostages they too have
very few life choices in regard to their fate.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">In a rapidly changing world they see their traditional ways of living been
pushed out by the so called march of “progress.” </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I appealed to the fishermen to release the
baby shark and the three small lobsters back to the sea.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">To my relief they agreed to do this. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">A young fisherman carried the shark by its
tail and released it to the sea.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I and another older fisherman did the
same with the three small lobsters. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8AmjimcEYwo/T6oX5N5BQnI/AAAAAAAAEVM/arpsm3ajTx0/s1600/6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8AmjimcEYwo/T6oX5N5BQnI/AAAAAAAAEVM/arpsm3ajTx0/s400/6.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The young fisherman with the baby shark prior to releasing it</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pLAxphHPXLc/T6oX8f5LIXI/AAAAAAAAEVU/nnV9ji3gFNI/s1600/6A.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pLAxphHPXLc/T6oX8f5LIXI/AAAAAAAAEVU/nnV9ji3gFNI/s400/6A.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Releasing the baby shark </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BwHEeT0H69o/T6oYACCBbpI/AAAAAAAAEVc/UY3BxnAa4aA/s1600/6B.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BwHEeT0H69o/T6oYACCBbpI/AAAAAAAAEVc/UY3BxnAa4aA/s400/6B.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the three very small lobsters that were put back</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rvq8HTOVvtk/T6oYDlqWuEI/AAAAAAAAEVk/uCG6FRQg1kU/s1600/6C.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rvq8HTOVvtk/T6oYDlqWuEI/AAAAAAAAEVk/uCG6FRQg1kU/s400/6C.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking one of the small lobsters back to the sea</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JAYHrBxfcoE/T6oYG3VW7II/AAAAAAAAEVs/PbFms27EK60/s1600/6D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JAYHrBxfcoE/T6oYG3VW7II/AAAAAAAAEVs/PbFms27EK60/s400/6D.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A chance to live another day</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Now
began the more serious negotiations—bargaining for the three large
lobsters. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">For about 30 minutes I haggled
with the fishermen the purchase price of the three lobsters. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The reason it took so long to make a deal is
because generally a fishing expedition constitutes a coalition of fishermen;
the boat owner plus another 3 or 4 fishermen.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The boat owner provides the boat, outboard engine and fuel and the others
provide the fishing equipment and labor.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The value of the catch is divided according to a pre-arranged percentage
scale with the boat owner getting a major portion of the income.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">So I have to appeal to, or bargain with the
entire coalition, or if he is present, then with the boat owner since he gets
the lion’s share of the catch. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Finally,
we strike a bargain! I pay Rs 5,000 for the three lobsters, which is comparable
to their current market value.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DWOEZoveaNk/T6oXQd4ksHI/AAAAAAAAEU8/zwUk6w1UheQ/s1600/7C.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DWOEZoveaNk/T6oXQd4ksHI/AAAAAAAAEU8/zwUk6w1UheQ/s400/7C.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Negotiating the price of life</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2dTUcbiX56c/T6oXUH_NUII/AAAAAAAAEVE/QoLY4X-jlEs/s1600/7D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2dTUcbiX56c/T6oXUH_NUII/AAAAAAAAEVE/QoLY4X-jlEs/s400/7D.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">The gravid females had more market value<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Sa5giLlZMCY/T6o4V2nc4TI/AAAAAAAAEW0/Y1UKxm0tpm0/s1600/7E.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Sa5giLlZMCY/T6o4V2nc4TI/AAAAAAAAEW0/Y1UKxm0tpm0/s400/7E.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sold to the Moron with the sunglasses over there who sees them as cute characters from "Little Mermaid!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">Now the question was where to release
them?</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">Putting them back into the sea by
that beach would be a wasted effort.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">I suddenly remembered Somadasa, a dive master
who had a dive shop at Hikkaduwa.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">I got
to know Somadasa or Somé as he was popularly known—when we were conducting post
tsunami ecological assessments of all the protected areas located along the southern coast
in 2005 and 2006.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">Somé is a respected local
environmental activist.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">He was the first
person in Hikkaduwa to organize the clearing of tsunami debris from the coral
reef soon after the devastating tsunami of 2004. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">He was also one of the first people in Sri
Lanka who had successfully replanted coral. This was in response to 80% of the Hikkaduwa coral reef dying due to bleaching.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">It seems the coral reefs at Hikkaduwa were the ideal place to release the
three lobsters, since it was a marine sanctuary where fishing was
prohibited.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c1rEIq3B2WI/T6ocZkGmdxI/AAAAAAAAEV4/SZyepx0bhKM/s1600/Picture2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c1rEIq3B2WI/T6ocZkGmdxI/AAAAAAAAEV4/SZyepx0bhKM/s400/Picture2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The successful coral replanting project of </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: justify;">Somé's</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Suddenly thinking of Somé brought
recollections of how we saved a green sea turtle nest from poachers in 2006,
when we were conducting the post tsunami ecological assessments in
Hikkaduwa.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">It happened quite by
accident.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sanjayan and Genevieve, two
friends from the Nature Conservancy based in the USA who were assisting us with
the ecological assessments were jogging with me on the beach at 5.30 am when we
came across the nest.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">We saw the patted
down sand and the two sets of turtle tracks leading to and from the nest.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Apparently the turtle had just laid the eggs
and gone back to the sea.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">We called Somé
immediately and told him about it.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">He
asked us to wait by the nest until he came and not to leave it alone even for
one second.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">We understood why because
already there were several egg poachers and feral dogs hovering around to raid
the nest.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">With Somé’s help we dug the
eggs out and transferred them to a sea turtle hatchery nearby. Hikkaduwa used to me a major turtle nesting beach but today due to the extensive development along the beach very few turtles come ashore to nest. When we unearthed the nest to transfer the eggs to the hatchery it drew quite a crowd of onlookers since it is a rare occurrence now to see a nesting turtle or its nest. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The sea turtles’ that nests
along the Kalpitiya coastline are going to face a similar situation, when all
the major tourism development efforts planned for the area gets underway.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SBhaRJ4i5Oc/T6o2CQWk6lI/AAAAAAAAEWs/-D7u5VpKt9I/s1600/8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SBhaRJ4i5Oc/T6o2CQWk6lI/AAAAAAAAEWs/-D7u5VpKt9I/s400/8.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jogging early in the morning at Hikkaduwa turned out to be a sea turtle saving effort</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pAnZeS9nuow/T6oc6dz-LeI/AAAAAAAAEWA/DfGMC_MbfTc/s1600/8A.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pAnZeS9nuow/T6oc6dz-LeI/AAAAAAAAEWA/DfGMC_MbfTc/s400/8A.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Digging up the green turtle nest before predators and poachers go to it</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7GNC_k0-xXU/T6oc9cD6TfI/AAAAAAAAEWI/Kc24niNFrB0/s1600/8B.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7GNC_k0-xXU/T6oc9cD6TfI/AAAAAAAAEWI/Kc24niNFrB0/s400/8B.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feral dogs are one of the biggest threats to sea turtle eggs and hatchlings</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--m7gmQSLvo4/T6oc_kdXA9I/AAAAAAAAEWQ/1IL8Cc8Ip9o/s1600/8C.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--m7gmQSLvo4/T6oc_kdXA9I/AAAAAAAAEWQ/1IL8Cc8Ip9o/s400/8C.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The eggs waiting transfer to an official turtle hatchery established nearby</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gps0gpku1n8/T6odG-TxkDI/AAAAAAAAEWY/glrJJ5-_5JU/s1600/8D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gps0gpku1n8/T6odG-TxkDI/AAAAAAAAEWY/glrJJ5-_5JU/s400/8D.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The eggs attracted a fair number of onlookers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">In regard to the three lobsters, I phoned
Somé immediately and apprised him of the situation.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">He asked me to bring the three lobsters as
soon as possible to the Coral Gardens Hotel where he operated his dive
shop.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Fortunately, the distance from
Galle to Hikkaduwa was less than 20 minutes.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I asked one of the fishermen to pack the three lobsters into a cardboard box.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">He diligently did so by first putting a thick
layer of sand and then packing the three lobsters on top of it.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">As soon as they were packed and ready to go Sampath
and I raced off to Hikkaduwa in the Defender.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zX7BBGp9ppk/T6o5UNVEeOI/AAAAAAAAEW8/q19HCr3aeZI/s1600/7F.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zX7BBGp9ppk/T6o5UNVEeOI/AAAAAAAAEW8/q19HCr3aeZI/s400/7F.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting ready to pack the three lobsters</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d8ZGWe-aHHk/T6o5Zb3vM7I/AAAAAAAAEXE/FZDH9MjpupA/s1600/7G.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d8ZGWe-aHHk/T6o5Zb3vM7I/AAAAAAAAEXE/FZDH9MjpupA/s400/7G.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Packed and ready to go</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">When I arrived at the hotel, Somé had arranged a young diver to take the
three lobsters to the reef to release them.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">It was good to meet up with Somé since the last time we saw each other
was way back in 2006.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">While we watched from the beach, the
young diver waded to the reef to release the lobsters carrying the box on his
head. When he returned after releasing
them, he said, the male lobster had shot of like a rocket as soon as he let it
go underwater, where as the two females had moved much slowly probably due to
their gravid situation. It was a happy
reunion for Somé and me, with the additional satisfaction of having saved the
lives of some unfortunate animals that faced certain death. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ADCaL8Hz5eo/T6o69HDpzaI/AAAAAAAAEXM/ZRWUAMx9UOY/s1600/7H.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ADCaL8Hz5eo/T6o69HDpzaI/AAAAAAAAEXM/ZRWUAMx9UOY/s400/7H.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Somé checking out the lobsters</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8zPfn2tKRww/T6o7AsMF1nI/AAAAAAAAEXU/fJi4hTDaqN4/s1600/7I.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8zPfn2tKRww/T6o7AsMF1nI/AAAAAAAAEXU/fJi4hTDaqN4/s400/7I.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Discussing with a local fisherman a potential release point</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LBwJ6TfNHmU/T6o7DiBuRII/AAAAAAAAEXc/LKyGWS5q2Vs/s1600/7J.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LBwJ6TfNHmU/T6o7DiBuRII/AAAAAAAAEXc/LKyGWS5q2Vs/s400/7J.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading out to the release point</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DivJheb_X5k/T6o7HCtkbWI/AAAAAAAAEXk/YZMnnaWQ984/s1600/7K.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DivJheb_X5k/T6o7HCtkbWI/AAAAAAAAEXk/YZMnnaWQ984/s400/7K.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The young diver wading to the reef to release the lobsters</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cwMf2MmhyE8/T6o7Jz6kdyI/AAAAAAAAEXs/tG6NfCenCdI/s1600/7L.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cwMf2MmhyE8/T6o7Jz6kdyI/AAAAAAAAEXs/tG6NfCenCdI/s400/7L.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Discussing current marine conservation issues</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LW0Q4AHCiTY/T6o7Myi2C5I/AAAAAAAAEX0/zxvP6YrFhTU/s1600/7M.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LW0Q4AHCiTY/T6o7Myi2C5I/AAAAAAAAEX0/zxvP6YrFhTU/s400/7M.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The diver releasing the lobsters by the reef</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Over tea it was good to catch up with what
has been going on since we last saw each other, as well as to reminisce over
past events. As mentioned earlier Somé
was one of the first people in Sri Lanka who had successfully replanted
coral. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">At the time we met in 2005, he was
facing obstructions from the Department of Wildlife Conservation and from a
well known professor of marine biology at the Colombo University to continue
his coral replanting efforts. I tried to
help him by meeting the professor, whom I knew to clear matters and get his
support. To my disappointment the professor,
purely because of personal reasons and ego was adamant not to allow Somé to
continue with his coral replanting project.
It was an enlightening experience as well as a clear example of some of the
real challenges that conservationists face, which the public rarely gets to
know—which is, trying to do conservation while appeasing the ego of petty
bureaucrats, self appointed experts and environmental gurus. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">This brings to mind another similar
experience I underwent recently. Myself
and a fellow conservationist—coincidentally also named Ravi (I assure that this
is not a tale of two Ravi’s), submitted a proposal to the Department of
Wildlife Conservation to map all the elephant corridors. The objective was to create a map that
clearly showed all the elephant corridors that were used by elephants to range
between protected areas. While these
corridors are crucial for the ranging of elephants they have no official
designation or protection. Therefore
they are vulnerable to encroachment from squatters, slash and burn agriculture,
settlements and other development programs. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Habitat loss is
a serious threat to wildlife especially to l</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">arge and highly mobile animals like
elephants that require substantial areas to live. When they lose habitat elephants tend to
range for food elsewhere, which results in conflicts with humans. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ensuring
the survival of a ‘flagship’ species like the Sri Lankan elephant requires the
protection of the entire landscape, which automatically benefits other wildlife
that relies on the same landscape for their survival. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The objective of the Elephant Corridor
Mapping (ECM) project (as we named it) was to address the </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">issue of the lack of and access to elephant
distribution and ranging information which hampers the efforts to safeguard
areas essential for elephants. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Been a small island, space constraints preclude affording the
25,000 – 35,000 km<sup>2</sup> required to sustain the estimated 5000 - 7000
elephants. The only alternative is to adopt innovative land use policies and
strategies that allow people and elephants to share the existing land. To achieve this level of co-existence it is
critical to identify the areas that are essential for elephants especially
outside the protected area network and make this information available to
development agencies, government officials and to the general public. An effective way to provide this information
would be to create a map identifying all the areas where elephants are
distributed and the corridors they use for their annual ranging. At the same time these corridors could be
identified on the ground using specific markers. Protecting the corridors will help to reduce
human elephant conflicts tremendously. The
map can be made available to the general public via Google maps API. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x6IGD9-5nrM/T6o-Bk3LauI/AAAAAAAAEYA/ykxlOquYPuw/s1600/hec_elephant_2008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x6IGD9-5nrM/T6o-Bk3LauI/AAAAAAAAEYA/ykxlOquYPuw/s400/hec_elephant_2008.jpg" width="282" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elephant Corridor Map would be similar to this map showing elephant death data due to HEC</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">We
met with the current Director of Operations, who was then the acting Director General
of the Department of Wildlife Conservation to discuss the details of the
project and to get the Department’s consent.
Funds for the entire project we would raise with the Department only
having to give its’ consent and support. When we gave the details of the project to the
acting Director General, he was all excited about it. He especially remarked how the ECM would be extremely
helpful to the Department in their efforts to erect electric fences to mitigate
HEC and to provide protection to elephant corridors. However to our surprise he asked us to submit
the project proposal to the Research Committee of the Department. This dysfunctional and completely useless research
committee consists of experts appointed from various academic and scientific institutions
whose primary function was to say no to research. So not surprisingly, the research committee led
by a self proclaiming environmental guru told the Wildlife Department not to support
the ECM project. The tragedy here is not
the self proclaiming environment guru’s illiterate, egoistical and vindictive behavior. But the fact that, the officials of the
Department of Wildlife Conservation are so unqualified for the posts they hold,
that they cannot take an educated unilateral or independent decision when it comes to
supporting a project that they themselves can obviously see as been beneficial
to their own efforts. To hide their professional
shortcomings the officials of the department hide behind the so called “research
committee” which is equally illiterate.
This situation has created a negative feedback cycle that is hard to break now. As a result, over the years, this trend has turned
the Department of Wildlife Conservation into one of the most ineffectual scientific
institutions in the country unfortunately to the detriment of our beleaguered wildlife.
If the animals could speak Latin, I’m
sure they would say, </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">"<b><i>Ave, DWC, morituri
te salutant!</i></b>" (We who are about to die salute you). And if the DWC
knew Latin (more unlikely than the animals knowing Latin) they would probably
reply, <b>"<i>Avete vos</i>" </b>(Fare you well).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qwusUl3m1-M/T6o-VwY_SeI/AAAAAAAAEYI/1KdfPs7bSK0/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qwusUl3m1-M/T6o-VwY_SeI/AAAAAAAAEYI/1KdfPs7bSK0/s400/9.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: justify;">"</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: justify;"><i>Ave, DWC, morituri te salutant!</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: justify;">" (We who are about to die salute you)</span></span></b>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>SLWCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13385383717997197891noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759649900435291798.post-46478887804883411482012-03-31T22:04:00.002-07:002012-04-01T02:41:09.612-07:00Elephant Encounters of the Good kind: Waking Sleeping Beauty!<div class="MsoNoSpacing"><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">YouTube Update: Please watch the video of "<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">In the Deep with Elephants, Crazy Di & Ryo Clarke" at</span> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bF8b_5e9sY" target="_blank"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #3b5998;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bF8b_5e9sY</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iEAVKriVkHg/T3XqrhNPNdI/AAAAAAAAEMk/4aL9wcOqTYE/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iEAVKriVkHg/T3XqrhNPNdI/AAAAAAAAEMk/4aL9wcOqTYE/s400/2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The massive bull in a belligerent mood</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Continuing saga of Elephant Encounters of the Good, the Bad and the Ugly Kind!</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">February 15, 2012. It is night, and seated in the living room of our Field House, the film crew from France 3 Television, Chinthaka and I are discussing the plans for tomorrow. The night sounds of the dry zone jungles are providing a soothing symphony in the background. The entire day we had been visiting various elephant troubled areas in the Dambulla and Kalawewa areas. We’ve had our vehicle stuck in the mud with the compliments of SriLankan Airlines air taxi service, visited a refuse dump and observed elephants scavenging garbage, seen an elephant killed by a train, visited homes and fields in the Aluth Balalu Wewa area that had been attacked by elephants, and walked over 2 kilometers to watch elephants coming to the littoral plains of the historic Kalawewa tank in the evening to feed. It has been a long day of first suffering the consequences of a mired vehicle, and then driving, walking, discussing, observing and filming various issues pertaining to human-elephant conflicts. We got dinner on the way since it was rather late in the night by the time we got back to the field house. And now after refreshing ourselves—over a night cap we are discussing our plans for tomorrow. We are debating which transect to take that would give us the best chance of encountering elephants. Since the visit of my good friend Robert (please see the blogs of Sunday, January 29<sup>th</sup> and Tuesday, February 14<sup>th</sup>) and the fact that we could not show him one elephant during his first visit—we had to expand our entire research effort. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vD5L4Mf42FI/T3fT5VnoAUI/AAAAAAAAESM/hd8iPKI7yCw/s1600/IMG_1941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vD5L4Mf42FI/T3fT5VnoAUI/AAAAAAAAESM/hd8iPKI7yCw/s400/IMG_1941.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where have all the elephants gone?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3noGBs7tSW4/T3fT65f7InI/AAAAAAAAESU/EnGUx4UDzh4/s1600/IMG_1944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3noGBs7tSW4/T3fT65f7InI/AAAAAAAAESU/EnGUx4UDzh4/s400/IMG_1944.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hello! Can you please ask the elephants to come - tell them Robert's here.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-19bwUGAVdAU/T3fT88S1XKI/AAAAAAAAESc/h-MC1O3ye3A/s1600/IMG_1947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-19bwUGAVdAU/T3fT88S1XKI/AAAAAAAAESc/h-MC1O3ye3A/s400/IMG_1947.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They should be here any minute now!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EUL_9Zai1pk/T3fT-WnduxI/AAAAAAAAESk/qH9vIcjQs2Y/s1600/IMG_1949.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EUL_9Zai1pk/T3fT-WnduxI/AAAAAAAAESk/qH9vIcjQs2Y/s400/IMG_1949.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm sorry Robert - it is a "no show" today!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Now as a result we have a series of trail transects that we conduct regularly to gather data on elephants. So based on the data we have, we are comparing the information to select the best trail transect to take the film crew and volunteers tomorrow, that would provide us with the best chance of seeing elephants. Finally we decided to go on one of the new transects that began by our Tree Hut—we call it, the Sleeping Beauty Transect.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1hFTbRQMzj4/T3ZwQ_K4FCI/AAAAAAAAERU/UuC4c_dxl3s/s1600/IMG_7547.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1hFTbRQMzj4/T3ZwQ_K4FCI/AAAAAAAAERU/UuC4c_dxl3s/s400/IMG_7547.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elephants have started to move through the Tree Hut Corridor again</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">February 16, 2012. Dawn in Wasgamuwa cannot be surpassed—the sunrises are just absolutely stunning! I have seen on many occasions the dawn sky painted with colors that I’m sure artists have never imagined or knew to exist! </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lkRR8lGTBHI/T3XrZNnbQGI/AAAAAAAAEMs/Z7u8TNrJg4s/s1600/1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lkRR8lGTBHI/T3XrZNnbQGI/AAAAAAAAEMs/Z7u8TNrJg4s/s400/1.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dawn at our Pussellayaya Field House</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5VarPRBGo4w/T3XraMtpKlI/AAAAAAAAEM0/qgq6dJDrWOk/s1600/1A.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5VarPRBGo4w/T3XraMtpKlI/AAAAAAAAEM0/qgq6dJDrWOk/s400/1A.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unimaginable colors!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px;">Long before the rising sun spreads its’ splendor over the sleeping landscape, or even sees its’ own reflection in the lake down below, or begun to unravel the Sleeping Giant and Clenched Fist contours of the Knuckles Mountain Range faintly silhouetted against a lightening sky, our barnyard chorus goes live.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><br />
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</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Miyl_hm8968/T3arT7aEbJI/AAAAAAAAERk/f1gkZ1XzTZo/s1600/IMG_8433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Miyl_hm8968/T3arT7aEbJI/AAAAAAAAERk/f1gkZ1XzTZo/s400/IMG_8433.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The barnyard flock</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1ga1uZ3y8fo/T3arW9rnFbI/AAAAAAAAERs/xoQzJCB2KG4/s1600/Siriya+Dancing+the+Devil-June+20-2010+179.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1ga1uZ3y8fo/T3arW9rnFbI/AAAAAAAAERs/xoQzJCB2KG4/s400/Siriya+Dancing+the+Devil-June+20-2010+179.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Geese walking to the lake </td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I’m up with the crowing of the Brahma, Cochin, Asil, Top Hat, and back yard roosters.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Interspersed with the crowing of the roosters I can hear the unmistakable braying like honking of our gaggle of Chinese geese.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">They completely ruin the dawn musical chorus of the crowing roosters.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Geese should not be allowed to honk at dawn.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">There should be a law against it!</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">When the crowing starts there is no need to check my watch—they start at 4.10 am on the dot.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Seated at my work desk at 6 am I muse over the various facets of my life while a living panorama of colors comes to life right in front me. Siriya, the Major Domo of our field house brings me my customary morning cup of hot Ceylon tea, breaking my musing and bringing me to the present to dwell on more recent matters. While drinking my tea my mind wanders again, and soon I’m reliving the memories of Dodam the giant squirrel, who used to drop from the rafters onto my shoulders and then to the table to share my morning cup of tea. If not for him I would have never known that giant squirrels loved to drink tea, eat betel leaves and coconuts! Dodam during his wanderings in the village was killed by a dog when he had come down to eat something on the ground. I miss Dodam very much. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f6wTtuIEM5c/T3fNvsoGW5I/AAAAAAAAER0/Vh8pF9CAwZA/s1600/Ceirios+Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f6wTtuIEM5c/T3fNvsoGW5I/AAAAAAAAER0/Vh8pF9CAwZA/s400/Ceirios+Image.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dodam - August 2010</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pkht-2RjUYs/T3fOH1KzR1I/AAAAAAAAER8/kPuN0dqNkeE/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador's+Visit+to+Wasgamuwa-July+23-25th+2010+071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pkht-2RjUYs/T3fOH1KzR1I/AAAAAAAAER8/kPuN0dqNkeE/s400/U.S.+Ambassador's+Visit+to+Wasgamuwa-July+23-25th+2010+071.jpg" width="335" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dodam with U.S. Ambassador, Hon Patricia Butenis, July 2010</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w9DRj4t8-9I/T3Xtw3KmETI/AAAAAAAAEM8/Qm1LTWnzM_w/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w9DRj4t8-9I/T3Xtw3KmETI/AAAAAAAAEM8/Qm1LTWnzM_w/s400/3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dodam and Ravi</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w0MvU_vHBKo/T3Xt0QMQrGI/AAAAAAAAENE/JJhzL4EnoUA/s1600/3A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w0MvU_vHBKo/T3Xt0QMQrGI/AAAAAAAAENE/JJhzL4EnoUA/s400/3A.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying my cup of tea!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pkw70ObR2ME/T3Xt5IvsGtI/AAAAAAAAENM/tC1m24dhzNA/s1600/3B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pkw70ObR2ME/T3Xt5IvsGtI/AAAAAAAAENM/tC1m24dhzNA/s400/3B.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dodam would come by every morning to have tea with me</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HS0Kh-etcho/T3Xt9ZkLusI/AAAAAAAAENU/qFG21tLb93E/s1600/3C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HS0Kh-etcho/T3Xt9ZkLusI/AAAAAAAAENU/qFG21tLb93E/s400/3C.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying a customarily chew of betel leaves</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eWx790rf3CE/T3XuBj-JieI/AAAAAAAAENc/-n65SsOxSXQ/s1600/3D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eWx790rf3CE/T3XuBj-JieI/AAAAAAAAENc/-n65SsOxSXQ/s400/3D.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Addicted to coconuts</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I convinced a chief priest of a temple in Ruwanwella who was rearing Dodam to give him to me to let him have his freedom. The trip to bring him to Wasgamuwa was an epic journey of over 250 kilometers in the middle of the night. We drove from Ruwanwella to Wasgamuwa on flooded roads in torrential rain accompanied by thunder and lightning. We had to navigate around fallen light posts and trees and finally made it to Wasgamuwa at 5.00 am in the morning. In the meantime after polishing off a whole heap of fruits inside the pet carrier we had brought to transport him, Dodam slept soundly through the entire journey with his feet up! (</span><a href="http://slwcsupdates.blogspot.com/2010/05/born-to-be-free-story-of-dodam-giant.html" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">http://slwcsupdates.blogspot.com/2010/05/born-to-be-free-story-of-dodam-giant.html</a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">).</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">From Dodam my mind wonders to another giant squirrel that I had rescued, and similarly to Dodam would join me to share my early morning cup of tea. I have not seen Ollie in over a year, since he became an adult and started to wander about on his own, but I do keep hearing about his escapades and whereabouts from various villagers. The most recent I heard was that he had taken abode in a shrine room in the village dedicated to a local God known as Dedi Mundi Deviyo. This is obviously because of all the food offerings that devotees make to the resident deity everyday in supplication for various blessings. I don’t know how many villagers receive blessings, or have their prayers answered by the local deity for the offerings they make—but, apparently Ollie seems to be receiving blessings and having his prayers answered every day! He is one smart giant squirrel—who is absolutely profiteering from religion! The last time I saw Ollie was when the cops came to arrest him (just kidding). The police came to provide security to an Air Force helicopter we had rented to do an aerial shoot over the Mahaweli River. Ollie dropped by the same day and that was the last time I saw him. <o:p></o:p></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Di2vyOTBQUs/T3Xug7-fbPI/AAAAAAAAENk/Y_ahJ_UPesU/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Di2vyOTBQUs/T3Xug7-fbPI/AAAAAAAAENk/Y_ahJ_UPesU/s400/4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The day Ollie arrived at the field house as an orphaned baby</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ID6DITdgejg/T3fOkC2IdlI/AAAAAAAAESE/RmWe1vVUZpM/s1600/Elephant+on+truck-Reeza+&+Dambullu+Boy-Ollie+being+Trained+258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ID6DITdgejg/T3fOkC2IdlI/AAAAAAAAESE/RmWe1vVUZpM/s400/Elephant+on+truck-Reeza+&+Dambullu+Boy-Ollie+being+Trained+258.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Training Ollie to be a free giant squirrel</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b6AL9VQZdwg/T3Xuk2tVCEI/AAAAAAAAENs/--g_EJYrDFU/s1600/4A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b6AL9VQZdwg/T3Xuk2tVCEI/AAAAAAAAENs/--g_EJYrDFU/s400/4A.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ollie just like Dodam used too, would drop by my work table in the morning</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E8uwcBs7ucM/T3XuphVEj1I/AAAAAAAAEN8/kt0XEQgX5Fc/s1600/4C.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E8uwcBs7ucM/T3XuphVEj1I/AAAAAAAAEN8/kt0XEQgX5Fc/s400/4C.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ollie running from the law!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-txTkkLU2EoQ/T3XutGIB9wI/AAAAAAAAEOE/R-hssv31sE0/s1600/4D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-txTkkLU2EoQ/T3XutGIB9wI/AAAAAAAAEOE/R-hssv31sE0/s400/4D.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The village shrine dedicated to a local deity that Ollie moved into to feed on the offerings</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AwRyKICHPw0/T3Xuu3npLVI/AAAAAAAAEOM/qrVHjemr0ZA/s1600/4E.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AwRyKICHPw0/T3Xuu3npLVI/AAAAAAAAEOM/qrVHjemr0ZA/s400/4E.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last time I saw Ollie - February 18, 2012</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">By 7 am everyone is up and soon after breakfast around 9 am we get into two of our 4WD drive field vehicles and head out to the Tree Hut. It seems like it’s going to be a great day, the sky is filled with fluffy cumulus clouds, bunched up like cotton balls floating lazily against a light blue sky. We gather the group where the trail transect begins and hold a discussion to brief the film crew and volunteers what to expect, the necessity to be silent and pay absolute attention to our signals when walking in the jungle. Last time the field team had done this transect they had encountered an entire herd of elephants. The team had walked right into the midst of a herd taking its mid-day siesta. Hence the name of the transect, Sleeping Beauty. Fortunately due to the thick understory the team had been able to beat a hasty retreat while keeping themselves out of view of the elephants. We emphasized again the need to be very quiet and to communicate only by sign, or if utterly necessary to talk in whispers.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ha8RN7Mihe8/T3Zm00VvDOI/AAAAAAAAEOU/0wQYkJmvGXQ/s1600/IMG_7266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ha8RN7Mihe8/T3Zm00VvDOI/AAAAAAAAEOU/0wQYkJmvGXQ/s400/IMG_7266.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the starting point of the trail transect</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uAocD4nPLTQ/T3Zm6uxMo1I/AAAAAAAAEOk/_u7-_1c6Hi4/s1600/IMG_7278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uAocD4nPLTQ/T3Zm6uxMo1I/AAAAAAAAEOk/_u7-_1c6Hi4/s400/IMG_7278.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The intrepid Field Team: Mahanama, Gene, Veroni, JB, Gemma, Katha, Emma, Chinthaka, Bertrand, Andre & Jean Michel</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DcCSSIgD31U/T3Zm3z7JhBI/AAAAAAAAEOc/rg-T8PoP1gU/s1600/IMG_7275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DcCSSIgD31U/T3Zm3z7JhBI/AAAAAAAAEOc/rg-T8PoP1gU/s400/IMG_7275.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chinthaka briefing the team on some essential field behavior and protocols</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Bertrand, the TV journalist with the film crew outlines to me what he would like to film during the trail transect and wants to know whether it would be possible to do so. I ask Chinthaka to help us out since he has done this transect before whereas I have not. The surprising fact was that during all the earlier attempts the field team has never being able to complete the entire transect from beginning to end—a total distance of about 3 kilometers. During all prior attempts they had encountered elephants and had to turn back! Chinthaka, Betrand and I discuss quickly to come up with a safe plan for the film crew to obtain the footage they need without putting any ones’ life at risk.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cS1hoKO99ck/T3Zpg-JV9QI/AAAAAAAAEOs/-8SMrIbbwZc/s1600/IMG_7274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cS1hoKO99ck/T3Zpg-JV9QI/AAAAAAAAEOs/-8SMrIbbwZc/s400/IMG_7274.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chinthaka making sure everyone understands the importance of being alert all the time</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Senior Field Scout, Jay Banda (JB) short for Jayathileka Banda is from the neighboring Weheragalagama village and has been working for the SLWCS for 10 years. On any transect we go JB goes ahead in front as the lead scout. Having walked in these forests since he was a toddler, JB is our best advance warning system if there are elephants ahead of us in the jungle. Having made sure the team was thoroughly grounded in some basic field behavior and procedures we head into the jungle with JB in the lead followed by the film team, our other senior Field Scout Veroni, then Chinthaka, and the four volunteers. Mahanama the Tripod Man and I bring up the rear. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iloJXv4Sugg/T3Zp0eWehpI/AAAAAAAAEO0/mprLnSXZvWM/s1600/IMG_7284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iloJXv4Sugg/T3Zp0eWehpI/AAAAAAAAEO0/mprLnSXZvWM/s400/IMG_7284.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JB our advance elephant alert system</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The first 300 meters were through tall and robust Mana grassland, jotted here and there with a young tree or spindly sapling on a mission to create a secondary succession forest. The Mana grass can get as tall as an elephant very effectively hiding elephants until one is almost on top of them, or in this case the other way round! Not an ideal situation to be in, and to be avoided at all costs. So it is very important to be vigilante and pay attention to either side, front, and back of the trail as we hiked through the grasslands and in the forest too where visibility is no better.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5C4wtyj-2hQ/T3ZqDj1LfoI/AAAAAAAAEO8/RS6bQQUoD24/s1600/IMG_7301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5C4wtyj-2hQ/T3ZqDj1LfoI/AAAAAAAAEO8/RS6bQQUoD24/s400/IMG_7301.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading out through the lush Mana grasslands</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HPep7VzgYKM/T3ZqG9DZq_I/AAAAAAAAEPE/mRz2m3HmoSg/s1600/IMG_7305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HPep7VzgYKM/T3ZqG9DZq_I/AAAAAAAAEPE/mRz2m3HmoSg/s400/IMG_7305.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ten foot tall Mana grasses can easily hide elephants</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GEqPrp1xhNY/T3aj0zJEQeI/AAAAAAAAERc/CSCOffA7GmI/s1600/IMG_7553.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GEqPrp1xhNY/T3aj0zJEQeI/AAAAAAAAERc/CSCOffA7GmI/s400/IMG_7553.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elephants in tall Mana grass can be hard to see from the ground</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">We come to the end of the grasslands and enter the forests where we are soon engulfed in a green tinged twilight world. The paths created by elephants were the best routes to take in this kind of terrain. Treading as quietly as possible and keeping communications to a minimum we keep heading into the deep recess of the forest where visibility was not more than 5 feet. Even a small bend in the path made the person in front disappear because the understory was so thickly grown. A unique feature of these forests is that there are certain areas where the entire forest is devoid of undergrowth. The trees are evenly spaced and their top branches meet overhead completely covering the entire area with a ceiling made up of the upper canopy. These are the favorite resting and hangout places of elephants. Fresh piles of dung and footprints of elephants are everywhere. We come across the fresh prints of a mother and a very small calf. It seems like elephants have moved through this area barely minutes before us! </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hfb1BzqRTKU/T3ZqhSNberI/AAAAAAAAEPM/64hDHGk-4Vk/s1600/IMG_7281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hfb1BzqRTKU/T3ZqhSNberI/AAAAAAAAEPM/64hDHGk-4Vk/s400/IMG_7281.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chinthaka explaining to the film crew the activities that are done during a transect</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JB scouting ahead for elephants</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IkTJXPiGCJU/T3Zq7LOzHRI/AAAAAAAAEPU/kVINTa14VcI/s1600/IMG_7288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IkTJXPiGCJU/T3Zq7LOzHRI/AAAAAAAAEPU/kVINTa14VcI/s1600/IMG_7288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2y0Gin7DlO8/T3ZrIs9XUwI/AAAAAAAAEPc/ikSAfGU0sy8/s1600/IMG_7285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2y0Gin7DlO8/T3ZrIs9XUwI/AAAAAAAAEPc/ikSAfGU0sy8/s400/IMG_7285.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The thick under-story cut visibility to a few feet </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LYU2RiSLe1c/T3ZrY6MFaRI/AAAAAAAAEPk/9dMNUTAovI8/s1600/IMG_7289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LYU2RiSLe1c/T3ZrY6MFaRI/AAAAAAAAEPk/9dMNUTAovI8/s400/IMG_7289.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chinthaka explaining to the volunteers how to collect data on signs left behind by elephants while the crew films</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The “hrrmph” was barely audible in the silent forest which was broken only by the cooing of the spotted doves and the incessant noise of the cicadas. We had stopped by one of the natural clearings in the forest to check a fresh pile of dung when we heard it. Immediately we all crouched low on the ground and JB moved quietly forward to pinpoint where exactly the elephant was. From where I was, I could smell the pungent musky odor of elephants. I moved pass the group and joined JB to help locate where the elephant or elephants were. Removing our footwear we moved silently on bare feet eyes straining to see into the deep shadows made by the trees where the elephants were. The rest of the team waited poised either to retreat or come forward based on our signals—that is only if we get enough time to warn them! </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lmdPC0eQmjI/T3ZrqlIfBnI/AAAAAAAAEPs/7v2dGn5ecI4/s1600/IMG_7292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lmdPC0eQmjI/T3ZrqlIfBnI/AAAAAAAAEPs/7v2dGn5ecI4/s400/IMG_7292.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for a signal from JB either to advance or go back</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">JB, I and Veroni stepped one foot at a time searching for the whereabouts of the elephants. We were homing in on infrequent huffs, puffs and snorts that we could hear directly in front of us now. From the left came a deep loud rumble that stopped us in our tracks immediately. We looked at each other and peered into the forest—eyes straining—for such a deep solitary rumble could only come from a bull. If this was the herd we have been observing for the last few days then with them was this massive bull elephant that was over 10 feet. It was in musth—a condition peculiar to elephants where bull elephants begin to discharge from their temporal glands and dribble urine mixed with the male sex hormone testosterone. During this period they seem to be always in a crabby mood—basically pissed off at everybody! Some bulls tend to get into a heightened sexual or aggressive state and are prone to fight with other males. They apparently take any intrusion on their space by any animal or human as a challenge to their dominancy or as a personal insult. Just few days ago we observed this particular bull roar loudly and charge at another elephant that was close by to the herd. The other male just turned around and bolted into the jungle. We would have been able to see a violent pachyderm interaction if the other bull was also the same size and in musth. We had observed this male several times recently and it was always with this herd. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-reB_yEI5btc/T3ZsQSxzlTI/AAAAAAAAEP0/UXMcD4--ZTU/s1600/IMG_7457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-reB_yEI5btc/T3ZsQSxzlTI/AAAAAAAAEP0/UXMcD4--ZTU/s400/IMG_7457.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The massive bull in musth that was always with the herd</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The very deep rumble could be from this bull and the last thing we wanted was to meet him—especially knowing the kind of mood he was in! Holding our breath we waited to hear whether he would rumble again. If he rumbled again that could mean he was aware of our presence, and since there was no way of knowing what he’ll do in his cantankerous mood—beating a hasty retreat was the wisest thing to do! We waited about five minutes and did not hear the bull rumble again, so we began to move forward. JB was about 3 meters in front of me and Veroni about the same distance behind me. I saw JB crouch low and then squat on ground and then he beckoned us to come to him. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e2Xoym_imgU/T3Zse6Zl_2I/AAAAAAAAEP8/rh4HdbIG0nQ/s1600/IMG_7291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e2Xoym_imgU/T3Zse6Zl_2I/AAAAAAAAEP8/rh4HdbIG0nQ/s400/IMG_7291.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JB signaling that he has found where the elephants are and beckoning me and Veroni to join him</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Crouching next to him we stared into the deep shadowy areas of the forest waiting for our eyes to get adjusted to the dim light. As my eyes got accustomed to the light I suddenly noticed it. An elephant was standing facing in our direction. What gave it away were its flapping ears, otherwise I would never have guessed that there was an elephant standing among those trees. It is incredible for their size how elephants, can be so quiet, stand still like statues, and move so silently—like ghost ships gliding amongst the trees. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">As our eyes got adjusted to the light and the shadows in the forests we began to see parts of other elephants through the trees. They were all standing or lying down in a very shady and thick glade. When the sun gets high in the sky and the day becomes hot, elephants retire into thick forests like the one we were in and only come out again in the evening as the sun goes down. It is not an easy thing to observe them like this since these forests are not easy to traverse. Without a knowledgeable person who knows about the terrain and elephants to guide—such a venture into a forest like this could end in disaster. As we were observing, a large male laid down on its side to sleep. This was indeed a very rare sight that only very few people get to observe. Wild elephants are aware that when they are lying on the ground on their side they are vulnerable. So they will do this only if they are completely relaxed and in a place where they don’t feel threatened. Since the herd seems to be oblivious to our presence and relaxed enough to lie on the ground Veroni went back to guide the film crew and the rest of the team to where we were. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-utuzVe8pejo/T3ZtFr80_2I/AAAAAAAAEQE/MUyPIoht8tA/s1600/IMG_7290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-utuzVe8pejo/T3ZtFr80_2I/AAAAAAAAEQE/MUyPIoht8tA/s400/IMG_7290.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Veroni bringing the rest of the team to where the elephants were</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">André the cameraman, JB and I were less than 10 meters from the closest sleeping elephant. With us was also Jean Michel the sound guy and Bertrand. We stood there quietly and started to film and take photographs. The three volunteers stood a little distance behind us observing and taking photographs. It was probably the sound of our cameras clicking that woke up the sleeping bull nearest to us. It was amazing to see how swiftly, gracefully and silently this huge animal stood up! There was nothing cumbersome about its movements considering its size. It turned around and stood looking straight at us. Always safety is a priority in a situation like this. After the volunteers had a chance to see the standing elephant, I gestured to Chinthaka to take the volunteers and part of the film crew (André stayed behind to film) and head back to the rendezvous point, which was our tree hut. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W04B0mJOAoU/T3Ztj4lMMGI/AAAAAAAAEQM/PkP7jV-cHy4/s1600/IMG_7293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W04B0mJOAoU/T3Ztj4lMMGI/AAAAAAAAEQM/PkP7jV-cHy4/s400/IMG_7293.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sleeping elephant sensing us stood up with a fluid and graceful movement</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OftGzjOs_a4/T3Ztlv3XGaI/AAAAAAAAEQU/x1EnIIkOLC0/s1600/IMG_7295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OftGzjOs_a4/T3Ztlv3XGaI/AAAAAAAAEQU/x1EnIIkOLC0/s400/IMG_7295.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andre filming while the elephant looks on</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G74ahWn4aTM/T3ZtnowTDVI/AAAAAAAAEQc/dxacq--JXUA/s1600/IMG_7296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G74ahWn4aTM/T3ZtnowTDVI/AAAAAAAAEQc/dxacq--JXUA/s400/IMG_7296.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The elephant just stood their calmly looking in our direction</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The elephant and we stared at each other—it was a momentous moment. It made no move or sound just stood there looking in our direction. We stood still and André kept filming. At that moment even we became oblivious to everything else around us—especially that there was the rest of the herd including a massive bull close by. We were locked in time with this one elephant. We were all standing on the same ground at the same time looking at each other just separated by a few meters of nothing in between!</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SXJFTab0p6c/T3Zt3v8RZXI/AAAAAAAAEQk/U1GlhpYWb1E/s1600/IMG_7297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SXJFTab0p6c/T3Zt3v8RZXI/AAAAAAAAEQk/U1GlhpYWb1E/s400/IMG_7297.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Less than 10 meters separates us and the elephant</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">In a situation like this I always feel that I’m privileged—meaning that I feel like I’m one of the chosen few to experience a situation like this with a wild animal especially an elephant! This is especially so at a time in human history where our weapons are called “smart” probably to imply that people are stupid! Maybe we are stupid, considering the rate at which we are destroying the very earth that provides us with a home and all this incredible diversity. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DSrejjaiJpQ/T3ZuACKB6JI/AAAAAAAAEQs/iVThPWrIysA/s1600/IMG_7298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DSrejjaiJpQ/T3ZuACKB6JI/AAAAAAAAEQs/iVThPWrIysA/s400/IMG_7298.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We just stared at each other</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">As much as I want to hold on forever to this incredibly precious moment—I’m aware that we got to be conscious and disciplined to move away from it—causing the least amount of disturbance to the elephants. I beckoned JB and André to move back with me as quietly as possible. With the wind in our favor and due to the low light conditions of the forest the elephant could not make out who we were. Probably that is why it just stood there uncertain. Stepping backwards as silently as possible we moved back until we could not see the elephant and then we turned around and made a beeline back to the rendezvous place to meet up with the rest of the team.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bb4b3K4SC5U/T3Zua6pBFsI/AAAAAAAAEQ0/6xdkebQEe4k/s1600/IMG_7309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bb4b3K4SC5U/T3Zua6pBFsI/AAAAAAAAEQ0/6xdkebQEe4k/s400/IMG_7309.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading back to meet up with the vehicles</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">We caught up with the others by our Tree House and from there walked up to the road and went to the prearranged point to meet the vehicles. We were a really excited group of people. I guess given the regular life style that our volunteers live back home—to experience what we did today would be something they would hardly imagine would happen in their lives and will never forget. This is a situation that most people would either read about or see in television.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QsHxwxeXiuQ/T3Zul5V3HgI/AAAAAAAAEQ8/jMfacrpQlBE/s1600/IMG_7326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QsHxwxeXiuQ/T3Zul5V3HgI/AAAAAAAAEQ8/jMfacrpQlBE/s400/IMG_7326.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A successful morning of encountering elephants</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Chinthaka called ahead to the vehicles that were parked about 300 meters away. This we do to avoid disturbing or scaring elephants if they happened to come out of the forest. When the vehicles arrived the team members relived their experience to Sampath and Darshana since they had to stay behind with the vehicles. The three girls had brought with them this unusual contraption they had got at Pinnawala—it could be used either as a sun hat or a hand fan. It is indeed a very unique idea and design—a multipurpose apparatus for thermoregulation! </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O0wo48CouFI/T3ZuuDWFmII/AAAAAAAAERE/bQIKecZ1OZk/s1600/IMG_7345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O0wo48CouFI/T3ZuuDWFmII/AAAAAAAAERE/bQIKecZ1OZk/s400/IMG_7345.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JB and Sampath wearing one of the combined sun hat/hand fan contraptions brought by the volunteers</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">It was past noon when we headed back to the field house. The film crew and the volunteers were a very happy lot. After we got back to the field house we refreshed ourselves, had lunch and spent some time planning the activities for the afternoon. We decided to go back to the tree hut and spend the entire evening there. We know now from the field data and observations we have been making recently that elephants are moving through that area again. Hopefully they will do the same today—we will know for sure once we get there!</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Js4GK9S7qa4/T3ZvG5XR6WI/AAAAAAAAERM/EiIV6dH2-f4/s1600/IMG_7422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Js4GK9S7qa4/T3ZvG5XR6WI/AAAAAAAAERM/EiIV6dH2-f4/s400/IMG_7422.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elephants by the Tree Hut</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">To be continued… </span></div>SLWCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13385383717997197891noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759649900435291798.post-66453641492436710902012-03-23T09:33:00.003-07:002012-03-24T18:27:21.497-07:00Fence jumping and house breaking elephants!<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Continuing saga of Elephant Encounters of the Good, the Bad and the Ugly Kind!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M_2J6Z7LBBg/T2yFZiFPgHI/AAAAAAAAEIM/z4S_2Eqn4TY/s1600/5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M_2J6Z7LBBg/T2yFZiFPgHI/AAAAAAAAEIM/z4S_2Eqn4TY/s320/5.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An elephant break in</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">February 15, 2012. To get to Kalagama, a village located by the historic Kalawewa tank from Gal Wanguwa, where the elephant that was killed by a train was, it took us about 45 minutes. First, we had to meet up with Ali Ananda (Elephant Ananda) a local contact of Kanchana’s who knew the area well. Ali Ananda was going to take us to the home that had been broken four times by elephants within the last three months. Apparently, Ali Ananda seems to be a legendary character in the area. According to what Kanachana tells us, and endorsed by Ali Ananda, he is sort of an Elephant Whisperer! He can get wild elephants to come to him—they even allow him to pet them! And this is all in an area where human elephant conflict is pretty intense and the elephants are prone to kill. Unfortunately we did not get to see him do any of these amazing interactions with wild elephants that day—but we do hope to make another trip soon to see him do all of these things with wild elephants.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PMKFn559OD4/T2yF2-JckJI/AAAAAAAAEIU/LIn5oHdvd5s/s1600/1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PMKFn559OD4/T2yF2-JckJI/AAAAAAAAEIU/LIn5oHdvd5s/s320/1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading out to Kalagama</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vE-0D0OZY88/T2yI9BL84GI/AAAAAAAAEIc/o3Youq08Ku0/s1600/2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vE-0D0OZY88/T2yI9BL84GI/AAAAAAAAEIc/o3Youq08Ku0/s320/2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elephant whisperer, Ali Ananda (on the right)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HowNBO5ayLU/T2yJFwwemCI/AAAAAAAAEIk/f1utNWxsyIk/s1600/1A.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HowNBO5ayLU/T2yJFwwemCI/AAAAAAAAEIk/f1utNWxsyIk/s320/1A.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the way to Kalagama</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ali Ananda led the way on his motorcycle and we followed him. We drove on winding unpaved dirt roads through some beautiful countryside. On either side of us, the rice fields spread far into the distance—like a checkered blanket of various hues of greens and yellows with infrequent and irregular seams—which were the irrigation canals cutting through the fields to provide life giving water. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2p7FNXcWbLM/T2yJIi-jp1I/AAAAAAAAEIs/EHpon2tf3L0/s1600/3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2p7FNXcWbLM/T2yJIi-jp1I/AAAAAAAAEIs/EHpon2tf3L0/s320/3.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We drove through beautiful countryside </td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">We arrived in the neighborhood of New Balalu Weva and were introduced to the son of the household whose home was attacked by elephants four times. The son, Rifkhan was a slightly built very pleasant young man who also surprisingly could speak fairly fluent English, which makes Bertrand, the TV journalist with the French 3 film crew very happy. He tells me that we should get Rifkhan to explain as much as possible in his own words what is going on in this areas in regard to human-elephant conflicts. I readily agree, since it is very rare to find a local stakeholder fluent in English in such an area. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AflbuDQlWAY/T2yJf8SqjBI/AAAAAAAAEI0/OZ2oM7UuRlg/s1600/4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AflbuDQlWAY/T2yJf8SqjBI/AAAAAAAAEI0/OZ2oM7UuRlg/s320/4.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Filming at New Balalu Wewa</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-37XoUG9zZek/T2yJiHNgD8I/AAAAAAAAEI8/i4fYMoJCSlc/s320/9.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meeting with Rifkhan - a repaired prior break can be seen on the wall </td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Guiding us around his home, Rifkan described to us in English how the elephant had attacked their house two days ago. He took us inside to the part of the house that was attacked and showed where his father had been sleeping and where the rice bags were stored. The elephant had come in the night and had been lurking underneath a coconut tree by the house. The time has been around 9 pm when they became aware that there was an elephant in there garden. Having experienced previous attacks on their home, Rifkhan and his father had got their flashlights and gone outside to chase the elephant away. At their effort the elephant had moved back from under the coconut tree as if it was going away and then suddenly charged at them. As the elephant charged, Rifkhan and his father had run back to the safety of the house. As they ran inside the elephant had hit the wall on the side it was. The brick and cement wall had imploded at the impact and a brick had struck Rifkhan’s father on the forehead injuring him seriously. After breaking the wall the elephant had put its’ head into the room through the massive hole it had made. Rifkhan had immediately grabbed his injured and semiconscious father and tried to drag him away from the reach of the elephant. As he struggled to move his father to a safe place the elephant had stretched out its trunk into the room. With great difficulty Rifkhan had managed to move his father, in the meant time the elephant had reached out and grabbed a bag of rice and walked off with it. By then due to the yelling and screaming of the entire household, villagers from nearby houses had woken up and in the ensuing pandemonium the elephant had disappeared! We walked around the house and he pointed out the places that were damaged by previous attacks. Twice elephants had broken parts of the house by the kitchen. The recent most previous attack had been to the exact opposite side of the house, which was broken by the elephant two nights ago.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ElFbs_qoDkY/T2yJxOYA-VI/AAAAAAAAEJE/lxXEO5e4Dwg/s1600/6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ElFbs_qoDkY/T2yJxOYA-VI/AAAAAAAAEJE/lxXEO5e4Dwg/s320/6.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The house that Elephant broke!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3KlcO-zKVIs/T2yJ0ZYbEDI/AAAAAAAAEJM/XlEaDQvyLb0/s1600/7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3KlcO-zKVIs/T2yJ0ZYbEDI/AAAAAAAAEJM/XlEaDQvyLb0/s320/7.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rifkhan explaining how the incident happened</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nJTBGNKCRFQ/T2yJ2MnX2cI/AAAAAAAAEJU/_nslHYh4MoE/s320/8.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The elephant had put its' head through the hole and taken a bag of rice!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nJTBGNKCRFQ/T2yJ2MnX2cI/AAAAAAAAEJU/_nslHYh4MoE/s1600/8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">As we discussed about these incidents, Bertrand inquired from Rifkhan what measures the government or any other institution had put in place to address human-elephant conflicts in that area. According to Rifkhan, the Department of Wildlife Conservation has erected a 35 kilometer electric fence from Aluth Balaluwewa to Galkiriyagama. The maintenance of the fence in terms of clearing the undergrowth is done by farmer organizations. When asked who had ownership of the fence, he stated that the Wildlife Department owned it but the villagers had to clean the fence line from overgrowing weeds, grasses and overhanging branches. That was all they were responsible in regard to the maintenance of the fence. Since the fence is owned by the Department—they attended to all the major repairs of the fence. For example if the control room equipment, such as the energizer, solar panels, switches and current storage batteries needed repair or replacement or the fence lines were broken they were attended to by the Department. Rifkhan claims the electric fence is not effective due to these maintenance issues. He states, when the fence needs a major repair they have to wait for the Wildlife Department to attend to it. Sometime this takes time and in fact far longer than the time actually needed to do the repair. By the time the repair is completed, elephants have already come to the villages and done sufficient damage to their fields and homes. An example was the latest attack on his home by an elephant. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">From Balalu Wewa we drove to the village of Hettiyamulla. The village fields are located along the boundary of the forest reservation of the historic Kalawewa. Here too the Department of Wildlife Conservation had erected a 15 kilometer electric fence, extending along the reservation boundary from Dennewa to Mirihampitigama. There we met a woman, Seelawathie whose rice fields were by the electric fence, and the night before an elephant had pushed a post down and damaged a section of her fields. This fence was also managed and operated exactly similar to the fence we had observed at Balalu Wewa. A common grievance of the villagers here too was about the time taken to do a major repair on the fence by the Wildlife Department. In addition—this particular fence has been designed, in such a manner that during the rainy season several sections of the fence got inundated making it ineffective and impossible to repair. The villagers of Hettiyamulla want this section of the fence moved to high ground where it won’t go underwater. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UPX-TZK3Ljs/T2yYIAGz59I/AAAAAAAAEJc/ONY7iHmywM4/s1600/10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UPX-TZK3Ljs/T2yYIAGz59I/AAAAAAAAEJc/ONY7iHmywM4/s320/10.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An elephant had crossed this fence the night before at this spot</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Damage done to a field by the elephant - trampled crops</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fUzBXnXx9EM/T2yYRBBs3hI/AAAAAAAAEJs/WhHIrFQxJrA/s1600/10B.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fUzBXnXx9EM/T2yYRBBs3hI/AAAAAAAAEJs/WhHIrFQxJrA/s320/10B.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The elephant had fed on this field</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GQ5deehpLSc/T2yYTRw-U-I/AAAAAAAAEJ0/iS0e127uBMQ/s1600/11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GQ5deehpLSc/T2yYTRw-U-I/AAAAAAAAEJ0/iS0e127uBMQ/s320/11.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fields and the forest are adjacent to each other<br />
<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sfP28gk2elc/T2yafUgZbEI/AAAAAAAAEKE/awIZtohVi8o/s1600/13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sfP28gk2elc/T2yafUgZbEI/AAAAAAAAEKE/awIZtohVi8o/s320/13.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Journalist Kanchana going where others fear to tread</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Afterwards we went to the littoral plains of the Kalawewa Tank to see elephants coming out to feed along the edge of the forest reservation. Since the rains had ended just a few weeks ago the area was still pretty much water logged. Rolling up our trousers we had to walk along shallow waterways keeping a wary eye out for big water leaches known locally as buffalo leeches. The water was lukewarm and our feet sank into soft mud making squelching noises as we walked. After walking about a kilometer we came to a vast open marshy plain covered with short aquatic plants and grasses. As we walked on to it, we could see in the far periphery a large herd of elephants moving along the forest edge. They kept appearing and disappearing and always stayed just within the forest edge. Light was falling fast and we realized that we will not have time to get any closer to them, and even if we did there would not be enough light for us to make it back to the vehicles. As we were filming the herd, a lone bull wandered out of the forest from our left. It stood in the open for a long time looking towards us and slowly walked across a small open space and disappeared into the forest. This was one of the main reasons why we had to get back to the vehicles before it got completely dark. Elephants were moving in the area and it would not be pleasant to meet up with a solitary bull in the dark. As soon as it became too dark to film we headed back to the vehicles. By this time it was too dark to see the leeches so we just waded in and kept going hoping that leeches will not get attached to us. The last 500 meters we walked by using our flashlights since it has got very dark. It was relieving to spot the parked vehicles and hear the voices of the volunteers and the drivers. The volunteers had to stay behind, since it was not too safe for them to accompany us at that time, and also because of the open situation of the location. We said farewell to Rifkhan and Ali Ananda and headed back to Dambulla. It was close to 8.30 pm by the time we got to Dambulla where we stopped to get fuel and have dinner. It was well past midnight by the time we reached our field house in Wasgmauwa.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sn57lp35v4c/T2ybXLlLSvI/AAAAAAAAEKM/nTab9P7QNKA/s1600/14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sn57lp35v4c/T2ybXLlLSvI/AAAAAAAAEKM/nTab9P7QNKA/s320/14.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wading along water courses to observe elephants at Kalawewa</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F5_TGTxqmqE/T2ybaIi1TgI/AAAAAAAAEKU/RgAT9gSI8Ic/s1600/15.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F5_TGTxqmqE/T2ybaIi1TgI/AAAAAAAAEKU/RgAT9gSI8Ic/s320/15.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A herd of elephants in the far periphery of the littoral plains</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oXONYxxETTM/T2ybdQEM8sI/AAAAAAAAEKc/ZLJAQX7J2Go/s1600/15A.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oXONYxxETTM/T2ybdQEM8sI/AAAAAAAAEKc/ZLJAQX7J2Go/s320/15A.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rifkhan walking towards the elephants</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bZIJQlC0RfE/T2ybgWkLcgI/AAAAAAAAEKk/PHCLRVuLYnY/s1600/15B.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bZIJQlC0RfE/T2ybgWkLcgI/AAAAAAAAEKk/PHCLRVuLYnY/s320/15B.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Talking to Rifkhan about the conflict issues at Kalawewa</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZFNYlxcdp6M/T2ybjPCIAzI/AAAAAAAAEKs/liyeFPdwY7U/s1600/15C.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZFNYlxcdp6M/T2ybjPCIAzI/AAAAAAAAEKs/liyeFPdwY7U/s320/15C.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The herd kept close to the edge of forest</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bqnQx8u_D3o/T2ybmTM4dRI/AAAAAAAAEK0/IAOdzaobwbM/s1600/16.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bqnQx8u_D3o/T2ybmTM4dRI/AAAAAAAAEK0/IAOdzaobwbM/s320/16.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bertrand directing</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4BIUe-VwLy8/T2ybp6T3q9I/AAAAAAAAEK8/BmOVRMWnZqo/s1600/16A.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4BIUe-VwLy8/T2ybp6T3q9I/AAAAAAAAEK8/BmOVRMWnZqo/s320/16A.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A lone bull showed up</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9aI0F7eyAzU/T2ybs5zO4-I/AAAAAAAAELE/eaw5pCElT48/s1600/16B.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9aI0F7eyAzU/T2ybs5zO4-I/AAAAAAAAELE/eaw5pCElT48/s320/16B.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bull moved across a short open area and disappeared into the forest</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">It is March 6</span><sup style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> and I’m seated in the veranda of our field house in Wasgamuwa when I receive a call on my mobile from Ali Ananda. He is the local guide who took us around the Kalalwewa area during our visit two weeks ago. He informs me over the phone that three farmers in the Hettiyamulla Village, which we visited, had over 5 acres of their rice fields destroyed by elephants last night. The three farmers, Raja, Gamini and Chandré had been guarding their fields in the night when it has happened. Ali Ananda also informs me that the week before an elephant had killed a man, R.M. Premasiribanda, a 44 year old father of 4 children ages ranging from one and half to eleven years old. He had been a laborer working at the Gallewa Veterinary office. According to Ali Ananda within the past few months elephants have killed 6 people in this area alone.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I4ksJfyM1oE/T2ye7E76CMI/AAAAAAAAELM/fhcOUY2ycW8/s1600/17.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I4ksJfyM1oE/T2ye7E76CMI/AAAAAAAAELM/fhcOUY2ycW8/s320/17.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A farmer killed by an elephant while guarding his fields</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">What is unfortunate about these incidences is that they could have been prevented with some common sense changes to the way the electric fences in this area is managed and operated, and by conducting basic research to gather information on the distribution and ranging of the elephants in the area—especially the bulls who are the main culprits that raid villages habitually. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="western" style="text-align: justify;">The Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society developed and pioneered the concept to put electric fences along village boundaries rather than along national parks or protected area boundaries. This innovative program was launched in 1997 under the Society’s landmark and internationally acclaimed and award winning, SAVING ELEPHANTS BY HELPING PEOPLE (SEHP) PROJECT. After 16 years the SEHP strategy is one of the most successful community-based participatory efforts to resolve HEC in Sri Lanka. Today the SEHP project and its concepts have directly benefited villagers in 3 Administrative Provinces of Sri Lanka. In acknowledgment and appreciation of these efforts, in 2008, the SLWCS received a UNDP Equator Initiative Prize, which honors community-based projects that represent outstanding efforts to reduce poverty through the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="western" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mACwsfCG8u8/T2yfVXZ82pI/AAAAAAAAELU/qr9qjt9YTJ8/s1600/18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mACwsfCG8u8/T2yfVXZ82pI/AAAAAAAAELU/qr9qjt9YTJ8/s320/18.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Receiving the UNDP Equator Prize in Barcelona, Spain in 2008</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eTDLSRZjP5Q/T2ygWSvHjmI/AAAAAAAAELc/wy8T1OaJ5pk/s1600/18A.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eTDLSRZjP5Q/T2ygWSvHjmI/AAAAAAAAELc/wy8T1OaJ5pk/s320/18A.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">National Science Foundation award in 2010</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aFsDXku1mZU/T2ygdiDWhkI/AAAAAAAAELk/maX-52NnvKI/s1600/18B.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aFsDXku1mZU/T2ygdiDWhkI/AAAAAAAAELk/maX-52NnvKI/s320/18B.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In 2011 selected as the Charity of the Year by the U.S. Ambassador</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MVPztuJyfv0/T2yglow87HI/AAAAAAAAELs/YPlIMi0GqM8/s1600/18C.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="224" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MVPztuJyfv0/T2yglow87HI/AAAAAAAAELs/YPlIMi0GqM8/s320/18C.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Receiving a monetary award from the American Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Society designed and developed this concept based on reasonable assumptions made at the time. Most of it was common sense supported by field observations and data gathered from basic research. Today scientific research and long term monitoring conducted by the SLWCS and other researchers have proven all of them right.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">In 1997 the SLWCS made the following observations when conducting research on human-elephant conflicts to gather information to develop sustainable solutions for its mitigation. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">National Parks and all protected area boundaries are administrative boundaries and not ecological boundaries of animals in the park. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Elephants are highly mobile animals that range over a wide area and nearly 70% of the elephants range outside the protected areas. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Containing elephants into national parks with electric fences is not a successful way to manage them, and it also could be detrimental to their survival.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">4.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Village boundaries are the definite socio-economic and administrative boundaries of villages so they have real significance to the villagers. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">5.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">It is more effective to erect electric fences along village boundaries to keep elephants “out” rather than fence them “in” in national parks. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">6.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Such an approach while protecting the villagers and their fields will also allow elephants to range freely without causing conflicts. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">7.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Local people need to be actively involved in any efforts to mitigate HEC as equally responsible partners, therefore measures that are designed and developed, should be done in consultation with them.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">8.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Local stakeholders should take complete ownership and the responsibility of maintaining the mitigation measures that are implemented if they are to be sustainable and effective over the long term. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">9.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Public-private partnership is crucial to address HEC mitigation successfully. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qdqD5k2n6FI/T2yiDWFD0jI/AAAAAAAAEL8/maDu84gdLb0/s1600/19.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qdqD5k2n6FI/T2yiDWFD0jI/AAAAAAAAEL8/maDu84gdLb0/s320/19.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Villagers maintaining a fence erected by the SLWCS in Wasgamuwa</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZzEMa_lpwHI/T2yiPXlICpI/AAAAAAAAEME/4MFqaueBFoM/s1600/20.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZzEMa_lpwHI/T2yiPXlICpI/AAAAAAAAEME/4MFqaueBFoM/s320/20.JPG" width="216" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Villagers constructing an electric fence </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GxjF2ORCuDg/T2yibtuMBDI/AAAAAAAAEMM/j6tsiIYP9yI/s1600/21.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GxjF2ORCuDg/T2yibtuMBDI/AAAAAAAAEMM/j6tsiIYP9yI/s320/21.JPG" width="216" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Villagers sense of ownership of the fence is critical for its long term success</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dUCvfs1e5uk/T2yigtRywbI/AAAAAAAAEMU/C1Q-VhLfrJM/s1600/22.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dUCvfs1e5uk/T2yigtRywbI/AAAAAAAAEMU/C1Q-VhLfrJM/s320/22.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Villagers participation is the key factor for the success of an electric fence</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Achievements of the Saving Elephants by Helping People (SEHP) Project:</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">One of the biggest achievements of the Society has been to create tolerance for elephants in people that suffered from intense human-elephant conflicts (HEC). Through its innovative SEHP project the Society has managed to mitigate HEC and save a vital elephant corridor allowing elephants to move between the Wasgamuwa National Park and several irrigation tanks and forest reserves which are crucial for their survival especially during the dry season. By minimizing HEC we have helped local farmers to overcome crop loses to elephants and increase their incomes which has helped them to come out of poverty and social marginalization. Today over 99% of the village homes are made of brick and cement where as earlier they were mostly mud huts. Ensuring the safety of the corridor has also benefitted other wildlife tremendously. From a tree hut observation post today visitors get to view herds of elephants and people sharing the same landscape without conflict. Large herds and massive bulls feed placidly in the vicinity of these villages while people on foot and vehicles move through the area. It would be impossible to observe this phenomenon elsewhere in Sri Lanka with HEC. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WhoWgIgmr20/T2yhZbbpZOI/AAAAAAAAEL0/dr8hNU-zjE0/s1600/23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WhoWgIgmr20/T2yhZbbpZOI/AAAAAAAAEL0/dr8hNU-zjE0/s320/23.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A new brick house been built next to the mud hut its replacing</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Through its conservation, research, community development, empowerment, capacity building and sustainable development programs, the SLWCS has had a significant effect in changing the socio-economic dynamics in the villages where the Society has implemented projects. Due to these ongoing efforts, there is a marked difference in the attitudes and knowledge of local villagers and increased involvement in conservation and sustainable development initiatives of the Society. Due to SLWCS’ efforts humans and elephants coexist with minimum conflict at our project sites. In addition the SLWCS shares its knowledge and resources with community organizations to establish an effective network of partners.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The SEHP project has achieved the following:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"></div><ul><li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Prior to the introduction of solar powered electric fences, 70% of the agriculture land was left uncultivated due to elephants frequently raiding fields.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">After the fences were introduced, elephant raids have significantly reduced in some villages by 99.9% enabling villagers to cultivate all their fields. They are now cultivating seasonal and annual crops, which they could not do before.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Alleviated poverty by increasing incomes in some villages by 212%</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Approximately 7 hours per day per farmer has been saved, which used to be spent on protecting crops in the night. Villagers can sleep at night now or use that time for other activities.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Villagers used to spend on average Rs.5,500 (<$55) per annum to purchase kerosene oil, firecrackers, flashlight batteries and bulbs to protect crops in the night. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Since the SEHP project was implemented, the average monthly cost per household to maintain the electric fence is Rs.500 (>$5) per year. Therefore the average household is saving Rs.5,000 (approx $50) per annum. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">The environmental awareness of some communities has increased by an average of 43%.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">In two villages, 100% claim their wellbeing and safety has improved since the electric fences were erected.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Feedback from villagers shows their mobility, especially after nightfall, has increased due to the security from the fences.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">The social life of villagers has vastly improved, increasing their quality of life.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Reduced stress due to the lower risks of elephant attacks.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Children do not have to miss school because of elephants and potential damage or deaths in the village.</span></li>
</ul><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">The efforts of the SLWCS has proved that HEC can be resolved through research and a participatory effort if all the major stakeholders are committed to work together—which is perhaps the biggest lack to address this issue island wide. The most challenging obstacle is the obvious reluctance and backpedalling of the government authorities, to work with the private sector to resolve HEC effectively, to save a national asset from unnecessary, cruel and meaningless annihilation. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-my7I_zyWYJY/T2ykN4Kqg1I/AAAAAAAAEMc/pPLA6I-Sd80/s1600/Priest&Dead+Elephant+Wasgamuwa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-my7I_zyWYJY/T2ykN4Kqg1I/AAAAAAAAEMc/pPLA6I-Sd80/s320/Priest&Dead+Elephant+Wasgamuwa.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The death of a living cultural icon!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">It is remarkable, that considering HEC has become today one of the biggest environmental and socioeconomic crises in Sri Lanka, there is no official government support for the public sector to work in partnership and collaboration with the private sector. Makes one wonder…“</span><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">when will they ever learn…when will they ever learn</i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">.” </span>SLWCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13385383717997197891noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759649900435291798.post-41496389062493661722012-03-10T12:16:00.001-08:002012-03-23T10:52:09.856-07:00Elephant Encounters (The Good Kind): In the Deep with Elephants, Crazy Di and Ryo Clarke<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kq2ziIYt3Es/T1r0M37LiYI/AAAAAAAAEBs/jADJ0onNCoI/s1600/1A.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kq2ziIYt3Es/T1r0M37LiYI/AAAAAAAAEBs/jADJ0onNCoI/s400/1A.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A herd of elephants feeding by the Weheragala Tank</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">It is around 3 pm and we are heading out to the Tree Hut Corridor to observe human elephant interactions from our tree hut.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">With me is Diana van der Kamp the founder Director of Wild Invest based in England.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Wild Invest sponsored our Whitley Fund for Nature associate award in 2009.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Diana is visiting our project site to see the work we are doing in Wasgamuwa to mitigate human-elephant conflicts for the long term conservation of the Sri Lankan elephant.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Along with Diana we have with us Ryo Okazaki Clarke from Japan, who is volunteering on our Saving Elephants by Helping People (SEHP) Project as a volunteer for two weeks.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">He came to us through The Great Projects (</span><a href="http://www.thegreatprojects.com/projects/the-great-elephant-project">http://www.thegreatprojects.com/projects/the-great-elephant-project</a>)<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> volunteer placement company. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ryo is a jazz pianist by profession, which goes to show the diversity of the volunteers who visit our SEHP project in Wasgamuwa!</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Please keep an ear out to grab a premiering swinging jazz album from Ryo Clarke Quartet very soon.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">We drive south along the main Hettipola to Wasgamuwa road and then make a right to enter the Weheragalagama village where we installed our second community based electric fence. We pass through the electric fence gate and drive through the village and exit through another fence gate and then drive on to the dam of the Weheragalagama Tank and drive along it. We are traveling in our 47 year old Series III Land Rover that has been named Gloria, by a former English volunteer presumably with a great patriotic spirit. </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bXC_Bj2fRTo/T1r0k0vyZbI/AAAAAAAAEB0/mbNEBI2KWhU/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bXC_Bj2fRTo/T1r0k0vyZbI/AAAAAAAAEB0/mbNEBI2KWhU/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gloria our trustworthy Land Rover Series III on the dam</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sampath is driving, and he suddenly hits the brakes sliding us along the bench seats to pile on top of each other.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Not a very comfortable situation if you happened to be at the bottom of the pile!</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Turning around Sampath excitedly pointed out towards the far end of the tank where a large herd of elephants were feeding along the tank edge.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Some of the elephants were in the water and they seem to be having a great time.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">We immediately got off the vehicle and looked for the fishermen who are always in the tank laying nets to catch tank fish. We work with these fishermen when we do tank monitoring to collect data on elephants. Chinthaka waved out to an outrigger catamaran that was just pulling up to the shallows some distance away and the boatman began to row towards where we were standing on the dam. The catamaran belonged to a young fisherman called Rupé (short for Rupesinghe) from the Weheragalagama Village. Once he brought the catamaran close to where we were standing on the dam, I went down to the boat and held on to helm for Chinthaka, Diana and Ryo to get on. Pushing the boat away from the dam I hopped to the front and we started to row to the other side of the tank where the elephants were. <o:p></o:p></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oE7QZS16nxk/T1r04UKCL2I/AAAAAAAAEB8/HsQUeEpC-Ac/s1600/3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oE7QZS16nxk/T1r04UKCL2I/AAAAAAAAEB8/HsQUeEpC-Ac/s400/3.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Rupé pulled the catamaran up to where we were on the dam</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DQY-rZgnpIE/T1r1JSgZTiI/AAAAAAAAECE/iDXTEdlYxwE/s1600/10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DQY-rZgnpIE/T1r1JSgZTiI/AAAAAAAAECE/iDXTEdlYxwE/s400/10.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The herd kept on feeding and bathing with no alarm at our approach</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aHV6ikGEj60/T1r1LGHU95I/AAAAAAAAECM/4Qo7-dJluMo/s1600/4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aHV6ikGEj60/T1r1LGHU95I/AAAAAAAAECM/4Qo7-dJluMo/s400/4.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the wobbling Catamaran</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bi4uPk6FaO0/T1r1N0BvQoI/AAAAAAAAECU/JzH9nYerO20/s1600/5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bi4uPk6FaO0/T1r1N0BvQoI/AAAAAAAAECU/JzH9nYerO20/s400/5.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gliding quietly in the boat we approached the elephants </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VjsGjB99tlQ/T1r1QPkWtBI/AAAAAAAAECc/RA9HEmkck_0/s1600/6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VjsGjB99tlQ/T1r1QPkWtBI/AAAAAAAAECc/RA9HEmkck_0/s400/6.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The herd numbering over 27 elephants were spread out</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_QHo0L21a4E/T1r1SGwA8zI/AAAAAAAAECk/WgZ1GlH5u4I/s1600/7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_QHo0L21a4E/T1r1SGwA8zI/AAAAAAAAECk/WgZ1GlH5u4I/s400/7.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wobbling became acute as we got close to the elephants in the water </td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">With quick strokes Rupé had the boat pointed out towards the other end of the tank and we were soon gliding swiftly across its calm surface. Seated at the stern I reach out to my camera bag that I had wedged in the very front of the boat when suddenly the boat rolled unsteadily and I saw the outrigger go underwater and come up! I was at the very front facing forward which is not the best position if you want to know what is happening in the back. In the very confined narrow space of the unstable catamaran I was debating whether I should twist my head or turn around to inquire what made the boat wobble. Turning my head to get a peripheral view of the rear I inquired from Chinthaka and the boatman what was going on! I did not get any answer. Apparently the rowing sound and the noise of the boat gliding over the water were drowning out my voice. The boat rolled again unsteadily and I grabbed at the gunwale to steady myself and to keep myself from falling into the water. The boat steadied and kept moving swiftly towards the elephants. I desperately wanted to find out what was making the boat roll! We were now only a few meters away from the elephants that were in the water, and I was not keen at all to join them— which, it seems like we would be doing pretty soon, whether I liked it or not! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BTpw-e3PmsI/T1r5cpNbtJI/AAAAAAAAEDE/qPo2d44xOu8/s1600/8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BTpw-e3PmsI/T1r5cpNbtJI/AAAAAAAAEDE/qPo2d44xOu8/s400/8.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unintentionally we were about to crash an elephant pool party! </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Since we were so close to the elephants I did not want to raise my voice since sound carries well over water and I did not want to alarm the elephants. The last thing I wanted was to meet up with an angry elephant in the water where it definitely had all the advantages. This was a difficult situation. Keeping my voice as low as possible I requested again from the back to report why the boat is unsteady. I just wanted to know why I’m about to fall into water that had elephants in it! Apparently sound carries backwards in a catamaran quite slowly. After a long silence, Chinthala tells me, “Diana is moving around in the boat.” I try to picture the six foot Diana moving around in a boat that is not much longer than her height. Apparently we had not taken into consideration the risk factor of having those long and lanky legs in a catamaran that was barely only 12 inches wide. Now those long dangling legs were spelling trouble with a capital T! </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z2P8qrLIdIU/T1uuiNsBcUI/AAAAAAAAEHk/GTYgJFyOfHM/s1600/40.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z2P8qrLIdIU/T1uuiNsBcUI/AAAAAAAAEHk/GTYgJFyOfHM/s400/40.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Diana - either in a yoga position or just about to fall into the water</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I tell Chithaka, “What does Diana think she is on—a cruise ship?”</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I then hear Chinthaka telling Diana, “Mr. Ravi says this is not a cruise ship, and to stop moving around.” He then tells Diana, “without sitting sideways why don’t you sit on the cross beam facing forward?” <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I grab the gunwales with one hand and my camera bag with the other as the catamaran wobbles and the outrigger goes under and comes up again. I assume Diana is moving around, to find a comfortable perch. Holding tightly to the gunwale I contemplate the chances of coming out of this adventure without getting dunked in the tank. I’m hoping that Diana will find a comfortable seat soon, otherwise we are all going to end up in the big pond! What was surprising was that we did not hear a hum from Ryo! <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">After a little while, I hear Diana tell Chinthaka, “Oh this is so much more comfortable—why was I seated sideways?” <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Chinthaka, “I don’t know, you are the one who chose to sit sideways.” <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I would like to point out again the diversity of the volunteers and visitors we get at Wagamuwa!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IMjydIYGxFc/T1uvVfH-HfI/AAAAAAAAEHs/oJQfFsxlQg8/s1600/41.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IMjydIYGxFc/T1uvVfH-HfI/AAAAAAAAEHs/oJQfFsxlQg8/s400/41.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ryo the Jazz Pianist</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Seated on a crossbeam just behind where the front outrigger beam is tied to the gunwale, I notice the ropes holding the cross beam, that connects to the outrigger have come loose! At the same time Chinthaka had noticed the same with the outrigger beam tied at the rear. We are now experiencing frequent wobbling and the situation was becoming desperate! With much concern I watched the outrigger—anxious whether it would part company with the boat, which was not a comforting thought at all. I call out to the fisherman cautiously lest even talking loudly might get the boat and outrigger to part like two illicit lovers! I tell the fisherman that that there is a problem at both ends of the boat—that the outrigger is lose and we need to tighten it up before we all got unloaded into the tank. We were now no more than 15 meters from the elephants in the water and I had serious doubts that they would take kindly to us crashing their pool party!</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ybhEEkZivAE/T1r4FMF-8VI/AAAAAAAAEC8/ITZPq0A3coc/s1600/8A.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="231" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ybhEEkZivAE/T1r4FMF-8VI/AAAAAAAAEC8/ITZPq0A3coc/s400/8A.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The elephants fortunately weren't aware that we were about to crash their party! </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The part of the tank that we were moving through had fingers of land jutting into the water. These mini peninsulas along with a series of small islands had created a narrow and shallow channel. Three large bull elephants were in front of us in an open water area surrounded by several of these small peninsulas. On the left close by to us was one of the islands—a small grassy knoll on which I asked Rupé to land the boat. He steered the catamaran to it and I jumped off and held on to the boat while Diana, Ryo and Chinthaka got off. We made ourselves comfortable and inconspicuous while Rupé repaired the outrigger, while just a few meters away in the water the bulls were playing like a group of school boys. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Slss8lSX0vA/T1r7QU8kL8I/AAAAAAAAEDM/FNqlNjqxCkA/s1600/12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Slss8lSX0vA/T1r7QU8kL8I/AAAAAAAAEDM/FNqlNjqxCkA/s400/12.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Rupé repairing the outrigger</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ake6fv9GLi4/T1r7ShJ3ZOI/AAAAAAAAEDU/x3zeakxdeZ0/s1600/13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ake6fv9GLi4/T1r7ShJ3ZOI/AAAAAAAAEDU/x3zeakxdeZ0/s400/13.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">An elephant keeps an eye on Rupé while he is repairing the outrigger</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Along the water’s edge a herd of twenty five elephants and several massive bulls were feeding placidly. The bulls in the water were having a great time. We watched the elephants for more than 2 hours. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S-zENgF3Unc/T1r7kSHxDyI/AAAAAAAAEDc/RnAu6alhof8/s1600/14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S-zENgF3Unc/T1r7kSHxDyI/AAAAAAAAEDc/RnAu6alhof8/s400/14.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We made ourselves inconspicuous on the island</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rd0qAhD4BdQ/T1r7mprt8rI/AAAAAAAAEDk/Xmj5wkDL-sg/s1600/15.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rd0qAhD4BdQ/T1r7mprt8rI/AAAAAAAAEDk/Xmj5wkDL-sg/s400/15.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The elephants went about their business with hardly a glance at us</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3EXMnFIEcDM/T1r7oxLsjLI/AAAAAAAAEDs/VBARtnoDXps/s1600/16.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3EXMnFIEcDM/T1r7oxLsjLI/AAAAAAAAEDs/VBARtnoDXps/s400/16.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A massive bull coming out of the water</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pvWXz2IhuOM/T1r7rCNqRLI/AAAAAAAAED0/16K9QYQuxHE/s1600/17.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pvWXz2IhuOM/T1r7rCNqRLI/AAAAAAAAED0/16K9QYQuxHE/s400/17.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It walked out of the water not more than 10 meters from us</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kIygaHe39Sg/T1r7tTOmYDI/AAAAAAAAED8/aAgbzkA18w4/s1600/18.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kIygaHe39Sg/T1r7tTOmYDI/AAAAAAAAED8/aAgbzkA18w4/s400/18.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elephas maximus maximus (the biggest largest elephant)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nRgutWTqpIE/T1r7v4EFGWI/AAAAAAAAEEE/7baCSjqEtYU/s1600/19.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nRgutWTqpIE/T1r7v4EFGWI/AAAAAAAAEEE/7baCSjqEtYU/s400/19.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Diana observing elephants</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gt8aQCFVpF4/T1r7yBj16-I/AAAAAAAAEEM/FxVEzq5YXyk/s1600/20.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gt8aQCFVpF4/T1r7yBj16-I/AAAAAAAAEEM/FxVEzq5YXyk/s400/20.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ryo with elephants</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RXl9u1-UZPQ/T1r70gczpDI/AAAAAAAAEEU/LU5IvvLMLbk/s1600/20A.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RXl9u1-UZPQ/T1r70gczpDI/AAAAAAAAEEU/LU5IvvLMLbk/s400/20A.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey guys look over there...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fdx1k0wLajs/T1r723xsDWI/AAAAAAAAEEc/DAvD4YN_jwc/s1600/21.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fdx1k0wLajs/T1r723xsDWI/AAAAAAAAEEc/DAvD4YN_jwc/s400/21.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...its Diana!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iwN94yGRirQ/T1r75diN8qI/AAAAAAAAEEk/xOYCBgJgdzg/s1600/22.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iwN94yGRirQ/T1r75diN8qI/AAAAAAAAEEk/xOYCBgJgdzg/s400/22.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yoohoo Di!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">While we were thus engrossed, a lone bull completely covered in mud appeared suddenly on the bank, right opposite to where we were! It immediately sensed that we were across the water and kept raising and waving its’ trunk probably to get a whiff of us. Then it purposely strode to the water a few meters across from us and entered it. Wading up to its belly the elephant drank directly from the mouth. Then it submerged its head and did a headstand in the water raising its massive posterior like a breaching whale! Diana, who is a yoga freak, thought that this was a very admiring trait in the bull! Her only criticism was that he did not raise his rear legs to form a perfect vertical yoga headstand. I invited Diana to teach the bull how to do it! While the bull was thus occupied—doing yoga head stands in the water it was joined by another bull. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zee6j-96JjU/T1r89UaG2mI/AAAAAAAAEE0/m0oH3lAqOmc/s1600/23.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zee6j-96JjU/T1r89UaG2mI/AAAAAAAAEE0/m0oH3lAqOmc/s400/23.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The mud splattered bull suddenly appeared from the side</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YQgfYAI95m0/T1r8_z8vZfI/AAAAAAAAEE8/ZNyyefn_I7k/s1600/24.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YQgfYAI95m0/T1r8_z8vZfI/AAAAAAAAEE8/ZNyyefn_I7k/s400/24.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It kept raising its trunk</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kh6vD064jVg/T1r9CLls7dI/AAAAAAAAEFE/A_POc9HvTiM/s1600/25.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kh6vD064jVg/T1r9CLls7dI/AAAAAAAAEFE/A_POc9HvTiM/s400/25.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hi chaps what's up!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1p1qhywtJc/T1r9ERuV9zI/AAAAAAAAEFM/RHQfljyy7dE/s1600/26.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1p1qhywtJc/T1r9ERuV9zI/AAAAAAAAEFM/RHQfljyy7dE/s400/26.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bull strode to the opposite side of where we were... </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b92MzJWHpbY/T1r9GosJSaI/AAAAAAAAEFU/PBzm0AS-CjI/s1600/27.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b92MzJWHpbY/T1r9GosJSaI/AAAAAAAAEFU/PBzm0AS-CjI/s400/27.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and kept coming towards our direction</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1TSZ5rrpeHA/T1r9I9sf1zI/AAAAAAAAEFc/s6h0sWKiYq8/s1600/28.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1TSZ5rrpeHA/T1r9I9sf1zI/AAAAAAAAEFc/s6h0sWKiYq8/s400/28.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bull striding towards our direction</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MClMJmvGLdI/T1r9LVkxEzI/AAAAAAAAEFk/i6WiMvAdwR4/s1600/29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MClMJmvGLdI/T1r9LVkxEzI/AAAAAAAAEFk/i6WiMvAdwR4/s400/29.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Rupé and I hauled the boat as the bull kept coming towards us</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SjxTVBVUd8M/T1r9NlCP6bI/AAAAAAAAEFs/Ba8ZPcW47H8/s1600/30.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SjxTVBVUd8M/T1r9NlCP6bI/AAAAAAAAEFs/Ba8ZPcW47H8/s400/30.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally it stopped and walked towards the tank...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rqblNZlYHok/T1r9P_-yu3I/AAAAAAAAEF0/5fdzt2KF3yg/s1600/31.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rqblNZlYHok/T1r9P_-yu3I/AAAAAAAAEF0/5fdzt2KF3yg/s400/31.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...tested the water</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EEOekz0MeFQ/T1uuJ_RTdkI/AAAAAAAAEHc/Ifaji6jBJWA/s1600/44.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EEOekz0MeFQ/T1uuJ_RTdkI/AAAAAAAAEHc/Ifaji6jBJWA/s400/44.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A tern watched entire incident from the air</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">They played in the water for a while and in the interim had moved closer to where we were on the island. Suddenly the first bull, the Yogi, saw us and it immediately stood up with water cascading down its body. With head held high and ears fanned out it looked in our direction very much aware of our presence. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hh1ow9FnO_U/T1r-JzQIlYI/AAAAAAAAEF8/OlJxL-40Pbc/s1600/32.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hh1ow9FnO_U/T1r-JzQIlYI/AAAAAAAAEF8/OlJxL-40Pbc/s400/32.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bull approaching the boat</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Rupé and I slowly pulled the boat back and discussed an exit plan if the bull decided that we needed to be taught a yoga trick or two! To begin with we had very few exit options. Mainly because, the narrow channel was not deep enough for us to quickly row away, with five adults in the boat. The island we were on was just a grassy knoll, and it had nothing to offer in the way of a tree or even a large vertical rock to climb onto, or hide behind if the elephant decided to give us personal yoga instructions. The last option was for Rupé and me to haul the boat with the rest on board until we came to deep water to row away.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">As we were discussing the merits of the available options the elephant began to move towards us. I signaled everybody to move behind the boat while Rupé and I hauled it backwards. We moved back in concert with every forward step of the elephant. Since rowing out of there was not possible because of the shallow depth, our only hope was to keep a safe distance between us and the bull. At least until we reached water deep enough to get into the boat and row away. The bull kept moving in our direction and its massive pillar like legs created waves with a loud splashing noise. We were now at a point that we had to either get on the boat or stand our ground. We stopped moving and the bull came to a standstill as well. For an insignificantly finite period we stared at each other—two species entwined through a long historic relationship that spanned over 3,000 years. Which of course the bull was not aware of! Suddenly, it turned towards the lakeshore and walked away. It went up to a dust bath and began to spray liberal volumes of dust on itself in a content and unhurried manner. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xoUdcrbQ4X0/T1uqVNKfoUI/AAAAAAAAEGE/oeBLZbRbt7I/s1600/33.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xoUdcrbQ4X0/T1uqVNKfoUI/AAAAAAAAEGE/oeBLZbRbt7I/s400/33.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the elephant spa!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OLDERK_KGmQ/T1uqYxXXz3I/AAAAAAAAEGM/s7cBQ0zED4U/s1600/34.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OLDERK_KGmQ/T1uqYxXXz3I/AAAAAAAAEGM/s7cBQ0zED4U/s400/34.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A dust bath is the fad</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HaeuP2fVoIc/T1uqctHKsoI/AAAAAAAAEGU/oDIAAbdBko8/s1600/34A.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HaeuP2fVoIc/T1uqctHKsoI/AAAAAAAAEGU/oDIAAbdBko8/s400/34A.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dust is good</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FiXMCXZzXSs/T1uqgc_dseI/AAAAAAAAEGc/4UxPSD2Diug/s1600/34B.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FiXMCXZzXSs/T1uqgc_dseI/AAAAAAAAEGc/4UxPSD2Diug/s400/34B.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More powdery the better!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_Km-L_eRND8/T1uqj5-cB-I/AAAAAAAAEGk/ILjMkIfQY_g/s1600/34C.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_Km-L_eRND8/T1uqj5-cB-I/AAAAAAAAEGk/ILjMkIfQY_g/s400/34C.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enough of dust - got to get on</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">In the meantime the large herd, that was loosely and widely distributed along the tank edge, feeding and socializing, had all moved away in the direction of the forest in a manner that always reminded me of synchronization in music. It is amazing how a large group elephants on cue bunch together and move away in minutes! One minute the entire group is spread out and doing their own thing, and then suddenly the entire herd is walking together, singly or in pairs headed towards some common destination. The herd gradually disappeared into the forest. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DHG1NKgcX6A/T1urzy6HJFI/AAAAAAAAEGs/L9bJOoPSpXM/s1600/9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DHG1NKgcX6A/T1urzy6HJFI/AAAAAAAAEGs/L9bJOoPSpXM/s400/9.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On cue elephants that were widely spread will regroup and move off together...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VWsrY9i8oqw/T1ur-p4l6UI/AAAAAAAAEG0/5-EWZpDifuw/s1600/36.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VWsrY9i8oqw/T1ur-p4l6UI/AAAAAAAAEG0/5-EWZpDifuw/s400/36.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...singly...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-czhYcEajlyg/T1usB1HXv6I/AAAAAAAAEG8/a2q6NkUNQ-A/s1600/37.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-czhYcEajlyg/T1usB1HXv6I/AAAAAAAAEG8/a2q6NkUNQ-A/s400/37.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...in pairs...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yzsCAwIibjM/T1usFInB8FI/AAAAAAAAEHE/Z2f8WWXFHuE/s1600/38.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yzsCAwIibjM/T1usFInB8FI/AAAAAAAAEHE/Z2f8WWXFHuE/s400/38.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and as a herd</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">It is amazing how a landscape that was just occupied by tens of sometimes even hundreds of elephants, could, within a matter of minutes become completely empty and desolate giving no indication of their earlier presence. I fervently hope this would not be an indication of what the future holds for the elephant in Sri Lanka—to disappear without a trace from our lives! </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ql5h7nvW37w/T1utTDK58mI/AAAAAAAAEHM/2yVLX2B6LEU/s1600/38a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ql5h7nvW37w/T1utTDK58mI/AAAAAAAAEHM/2yVLX2B6LEU/s400/38a.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An empty landscape that was moment ago full of elephants</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">With great satisfaction of having been able to observe elephants in such an awesome situation, we headed back to the dam where Sampath was waiting with <i>Gloria</i> the Land Rover. As we were leaving I could not help but dwell on the matter of, “for how long, would wild elephants enjoy freedom in this manner, before development and electric fences imprisoned them in national parks and reserves forever.” This obviously led to the more important question which is, whether, we would be able to safeguard and protect the last wild places in Sri Lanka? </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ti_s-rs9WP4/T1uteO0gbXI/AAAAAAAAEHU/mvkCVq9IpfE/s1600/43.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ti_s-rs9WP4/T1uteO0gbXI/AAAAAAAAEHU/mvkCVq9IpfE/s400/43.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What does the future hold for our elephants?</td></tr>
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</span></div>SLWCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13385383717997197891noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759649900435291798.post-70023891312942744692012-03-03T00:21:00.012-08:002012-03-03T20:52:35.482-08:00Elephant Encounters of the Good, the Bad and the Ugly Kind!<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KmGprSOj8Is/T1G3j5wdgBI/AAAAAAAAD5k/V4GnUE_1Ch0/s1600/22.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="427" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KmGprSOj8Is/T1G3j5wdgBI/AAAAAAAAD5k/V4GnUE_1Ch0/s640/22.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elephants and cattle at the Mannampitiya Garbage Dump 2005</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">It is 9.30 am February 15</span><sup style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> 2012, and we are waiting at the Dambulla Ibbankatuwa Tank behind the cricket stadium, by a floating jetty, to meet a French television crew who was coming on a chartered SriLankan Airlines air taxi flight from Colombo. With me are the SLWCS field staff, Chinthaka, Darshana and Sampath, a van we had hired and its driver Paul and four international volunteers, Emma, Gemma and Katha aka Kathryn from good old England and Gene from the rainy State of Washington, USA. With us was also the local Dambulla media correspondent, Kanchana with whom we work closely to keep track of human-elephant conflict incidences in the region. Kanchana is a dedicated environmental journalist who is highly respected in the area for his integrity and credibility in reporting matters of environmental and social concern. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The jetty is located at the tank’s edge and the only way to it is over some marshy land and incredibly enough there is no road access to the jetty where the passengers and their luggage is dropped off! With no proper road to go up to the jetty the Land Rover Series III that I had brought to pick up the film crew got stuck in the mud. Now I know what their promotional slogan a “taste of paradise” means. It’s just mud! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-76B4NSCdIqQ/T1G3qv-loyI/AAAAAAAAD5s/qJ6WB-jj1m4/s1600/2+road+to+the+jetty+half+done.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-76B4NSCdIqQ/T1G3qv-loyI/AAAAAAAAD5s/qJ6WB-jj1m4/s400/2+road+to+the+jetty+half+done.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With no proper road access the Land Rover got stuck in the mud </td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">My main concern now is how to extricate the vehicle—but I’m also wondering how this incident would bore well in relation to the nearly one week of shooting we will be doing on human elephant conflicts in Sri Lanka! Apparently a “taste of paradise” has to be taken literarily. While the SLWCS field staff battled with the mud to get the vehicle out—the air taxi ground staff looked on as we were very kindly providing them with off flight entertainment! In the meantime the French film crew sat on their luggage on an abandoned paddy field enjoying the fresh damp air and drizzling rain. I can’t think of a better tasting paradise! It was an adventuresome morning indeed, what with an off road passenger pick up and a mired vehicle we could not have asked for a better start to our day.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GATWuA-Hn-s/T1G3unEAtLI/AAAAAAAAD50/ACCOCWBYC8M/s1600/1+plane+lands+at+a+floating+jetty.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GATWuA-Hn-s/T1G3unEAtLI/AAAAAAAAD50/ACCOCWBYC8M/s400/1+plane+lands+at+a+floating+jetty.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The SriLankan Airlines Air Taxi by the floating jetty</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zhHCAbXbrRY/T1G_0MF4AXI/AAAAAAAAD78/EGBkBhJFNT0/s1600/3+Guest+hauling+their+lugguage+over+a+marsh.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zhHCAbXbrRY/T1G_0MF4AXI/AAAAAAAAD78/EGBkBhJFNT0/s400/3+Guest+hauling+their+lugguage+over+a+marsh.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great customer service: If you brought it then you gotta carry it off!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V_OdjYDADwk/T1G3yXRXkeI/AAAAAAAAD58/QBkDIQmsdoI/s1600/4+staff+looked+on+while+the+vehicle+was+stuck.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V_OdjYDADwk/T1G3yXRXkeI/AAAAAAAAD58/QBkDIQmsdoI/s400/4+staff+looked+on+while+the+vehicle+was+stuck.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Off flight entertainment: The Air Taxi ground staff looks on while we try to extricate the Land Rover!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"A Taste of Paradise!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OND5BtxPiXM/T1G32NX-7WI/AAAAAAAAD6E/n12qm9BtQBM/s1600/5+Waiting+room+open+to+the+elements.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OND5BtxPiXM/T1G32NX-7WI/AAAAAAAAD6E/n12qm9BtQBM/s1600/5+Waiting+room+open+to+the+elements.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Elephant Encounters of the Ugly Kind: A Buffet of Refuse and a Victim of a Hit and Run Train</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">February 15, 2012. After extricating the Land Rover and picking up the French film crew members: Bertrand, Andre and Jean Michel from France 3 television and their half ton of equipment we headed out on the Habarana Road to the Digampathaha Forest Reserve. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5FRwoolAX4o/T1G35smKLnI/AAAAAAAAD6M/jTHzRqosMJw/s1600/6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5FRwoolAX4o/T1G35smKLnI/AAAAAAAAD6M/jTHzRqosMJw/s400/6.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading off to the Digampathaha Forest Reserve</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">What was going on there was a story straight out of an unpublished version of Dante’s hell! The refuse dump for the entire Dambulla town was in this forest reserve! What a place it was—a rottenly nutritious and violent landscape! The huge piles of garbage attracted a hoard of animals both wild and domesticated: Cattle, cattle egrets, crows, myna birds, house sparrows, dogs, cats, lord-only-knows-what, and elephants! They were all gluttonously consuming refuse at the dump! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AILGJUeTR_8/T1G3_vhxriI/AAAAAAAAD6U/QY2nc7qjo64/s1600/6A.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AILGJUeTR_8/T1G3_vhxriI/AAAAAAAAD6U/QY2nc7qjo64/s400/6A.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The refuse dump in the Digampathaha Forest Reserve</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WEp9gbsRw24/T1G4DY9fwUI/AAAAAAAAD6c/dQfWouj6cWc/s1600/6BC.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WEp9gbsRw24/T1G4DY9fwUI/AAAAAAAAD6c/dQfWouj6cWc/s400/6BC.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cattle Egrets....</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pRXmLhDQAqY/T1G6pLVHjII/AAAAAAAAD7M/6JdWu17llB4/s1600/6B.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pRXmLhDQAqY/T1G6pLVHjII/AAAAAAAAD7M/6JdWu17llB4/s400/6B.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...cattle and elephants all come to the dump to eat garbage!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Why visit a refuse dump? We visited the refuse dump for two reasons. First the dump is a good example of the lack of a cohesive national or at the local government level—a garbage processing and management plan. Garbage is simply collected and dumped in the nearest convenient location that is as far away from the town with total disregard to environmental impacts or health and hygiene concerns. Even at Wasgamuwa where we have been addressing human elephant conflicts successfully for the past 16 years we are facing this dilemma. We are now looking into developing measures to address this issue in a manner that it could provide a win-win-win situation for the local authorities, the environment and elephants. These measures need not be based on “rocket science” to use a very colloquial idiom so to speak. It is the lack of public-private participation and contributions from the private sector that are the hurdles to put in place sustainable measures to address the garbage issue. Over ninety percent of the garbage is generated by private commercial enterprises and households. Both of these entities neither care nor consider it is their civic responsibility as producers of garbage, to encourage and support the authorities to properly process and manage garbage so it will have the least impact on their environment.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The second reason we were in this cesspit representing human disregard to everything else other than themselves, was because we were told that villagers set trap guns in the forest surrounding the dump. They set these trap guns to kill wild boar who relished the refuse. Unfortunately these trap guns injured or killed indiscriminately any animal that was the height of a wild boar or taller and several elephants had been thus injured. All the injuries sustained by the elephants were on their legs. So we were there basically to see if we could find these elephants—and if possible get some footage or photographs of them which we could then submit to the authorities to follow up. The images would help to easily identify the injured elephants and also to get an idea of the extent of their injuries—that is if we could find them or if they were still alive! <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Generally elephants that get shot from homemade guns and ammunition rot to death after prolonged suffering due to infectious agents in the ammunition and also due to the fact that they never or hardly get any veterinary care. Unless it is a superficial injury to treat successfully a wild elephant with a serious injury such as a broken bone or a major infection is near impossible. It is better to have an official policy of euthanizing such animals to quickly put them off their misery rather than allow them to die such a prolonged and horrendous death. When we were filming a documentary on human-elephant conflicts in 2010 (</span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.humanelephantconflict.com/" style="font-size: 11pt;" target="_blank">http://www.humanelephantconflict.com/</a>) </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">with Greener Media, a documentary film production company based in New York, we came across a male elephant in Kiri Oya close to the town of Laggala-Pallegama in the Central Province that was shot about a week before on the right leg breaking its' thigh bone. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Eq8HUG-ModY/T1G7fPxe1DI/AAAAAAAAD7U/OpoOz8YSqmk/s1600/9A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="206" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Eq8HUG-ModY/T1G7fPxe1DI/AAAAAAAAD7U/OpoOz8YSqmk/s400/9A.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Kiri Oya elephant with the broken thigh bone </td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The elephant was lying on its own filth and the place where it was shot was a gaping maggot infested orifice oozing pus. The crew could smell its death and decay a hundred meters away before they got to it! It is horrifying to see a live animal rotting away—especially to smell the odor of death in an animal that was still alive. While some kind hearted people had erected a canopy over it to give some shade others more inhuman have chopped off parts of its trunk and tail. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">While some have showed kindness to a fallen enemy...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6Rslgumwl9Q/T1G8JkA8kjI/AAAAAAAAD7s/q71v9JFq6kg/s1600/9C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6Rslgumwl9Q/T1G8JkA8kjI/AAAAAAAAD7s/q71v9JFq6kg/s400/9C.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...others had mutilated it in its defeat. A part of the trunk and the tail had been chopped off</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">It took two weeks for this mutilated elephant to die since there was absolutely nothing anybody could have done to save it other than euthanize it. Since the wound was manmade euthanizing it would have been the most humane thing to do. This would have at least ensured the elephant did not suffer unnecessarily. Unfortunately today, mainly due to bureaucratic ignorance, apathy, and insecurity and pressure due to the sentiments of an unrealistic public—hundreds of elephants are left to die an agonizing death from manmade injuries. Ninety percent of these elephant casualties are victims of human-elephant conflicts.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-shbAZ-uPsc4/T1G8cDEwynI/AAAAAAAAD70/B_1eO8qISo0/s1600/9D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-shbAZ-uPsc4/T1G8cDEwynI/AAAAAAAAD70/B_1eO8qISo0/s400/9D.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eyes glazed over in pain reflects the in-humane mentality of the authorities responsible for the fate of these elephants</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">As we drove down the deeply rutted and winding dirt track leading to the garbage dump through a teak plantation we passed two men leading a pair of buffalos in the direction of the dump. This turned out to be an interesting side incident that also got the local police involved because as we found out from Kanchana—an area behind the dump was used as an open air abattoir to slaughter cattle illegally. Apparently this refuse hell could not get any worse! Fortunately for these two buffalos and another five that had been brought earlier and were waiting to be slaughtered our timely arrival help save their lives. The Police were tipped off and they arrived quickly and arrested the culprits and took the cattle and the illegal butchers into custody.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zhImksqMxEg/T1G4M4QC_SI/AAAAAAAAD6s/qzx27ZyXrko/s1600/6C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zhImksqMxEg/T1G4M4QC_SI/AAAAAAAAD6s/qzx27ZyXrko/s400/6C.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the men with the two buffaloes</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-76_Q2BHL3-8/T1G4Pt1CeII/AAAAAAAAD60/qAvC6RoafVs/s1600/6D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-76_Q2BHL3-8/T1G4Pt1CeII/AAAAAAAAD60/qAvC6RoafVs/s400/6D.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our timely arrival saved the lives of seven buffaloes that were going to be slaughtered illegally that day.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RYpbUeYzyFk/T1G4SN3M5zI/AAAAAAAAD68/nv-9Yxhxuww/s1600/6E.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RYpbUeYzyFk/T1G4SN3M5zI/AAAAAAAAD68/nv-9Yxhxuww/s400/6E.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Volunteer Gemma aka Wamma walking past one of the apprehended illicit butchers</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">To approach the dump as quietly as possible we got of the vehicles and walked the last few hundred meters. The unmistakable and overpowering stench of fermenting and decaying refuse hit our olfactory organs like a sucker punch! </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vPNB4Nf31Jw/T1HBmVrNhkI/AAAAAAAAD8E/iAdRYevxShU/s1600/6F.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vPNB4Nf31Jw/T1HBmVrNhkI/AAAAAAAAD8E/iAdRYevxShU/s400/6F.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We got off the vehicles to go on foot to the garbage dump</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8YTG-bYWaeM/T1HBpJbrzAI/AAAAAAAAD8M/u5LCBB18oRQ/s1600/6G.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8YTG-bYWaeM/T1HBpJbrzAI/AAAAAAAAD8M/u5LCBB18oRQ/s400/6G.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaving the vehicles behind we headed to the garbage dump on foot</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">On the left side of the dump partly hidden by trees a solitary bull elephant was feasting on the refuse. As we approached, the elephant stood staring at us for a little while and then spun around and took off as if ashamed to have been found eating garbage! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sfZmF5pbhdg/T1HB9vyM-KI/AAAAAAAAD8U/xo9gXzR8tMw/s1600/7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sfZmF5pbhdg/T1HB9vyM-KI/AAAAAAAAD8U/xo9gXzR8tMw/s400/7.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A solitary elephant was feeding on refuse</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p8WjrBrChf4/T1HCAO4wMdI/AAAAAAAAD8c/G6_R-agENO4/s1600/8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p8WjrBrChf4/T1HCAO4wMdI/AAAAAAAAD8c/G6_R-agENO4/s400/8.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We moved cautiously forward...was this one of the wounded elephants? </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_8FF8SVItWo/T1HCE0HztSI/AAAAAAAAD8k/rYaRT33oNxk/s1600/10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_8FF8SVItWo/T1HCE0HztSI/AAAAAAAAD8k/rYaRT33oNxk/s400/10.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kanchana cautions the film crew from approaching too close to the elephant</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qiyzudTE_3o/T1HCI1NCZmI/AAAAAAAAD8s/1x4ckwBl-co/s1600/11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qiyzudTE_3o/T1HCI1NCZmI/AAAAAAAAD8s/1x4ckwBl-co/s400/11.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The elephant stopped eating and kept looking in our direction...is it going to charge?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o5gGn2_RQlw/T1HCMRtDl3I/AAAAAAAAD80/RUy3dnPQqyk/s1600/12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o5gGn2_RQlw/T1HCMRtDl3I/AAAAAAAAD80/RUy3dnPQqyk/s400/12.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It kept looking in our direction for a few minutes and then made up its' mind...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eL_3CFaLBV4/T1HCOZF_n6I/AAAAAAAAD88/hEQmAOewfKA/s1600/13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eL_3CFaLBV4/T1HCOZF_n6I/AAAAAAAAD88/hEQmAOewfKA/s400/13.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...turning around...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z2MTjknTWSk/T1HCTxY0jqI/AAAAAAAAD9E/dzlGPHAnZZQ/s1600/14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z2MTjknTWSk/T1HCTxY0jqI/AAAAAAAAD9E/dzlGPHAnZZQ/s400/14.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...it bolted into the forest. I guess ashamed of been found out eating refuse! </td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">But in a little while it was back because it could not resist the refuse. First it poked its’ head out like a miscreant and tested the wind with its raised trunk. I wonder whether even it could smell us because of the overpowering stench of garbage. Apparently not having the will power to resist the irresistible aroma of rotting garbage it became quite bold, and treaded directly to the garbage pile it was eating from before and resumed pigging out on refuse. Our presence did not seem to bother it at all! It is disconcerting as well as makes one so angry to watch an animal that is so magnificent and tightly integrated with our culture, religion and day to day life brought to a level of a garbage scavenger. </span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4G6B36XBTdc/T1HCl8OqakI/AAAAAAAAD9M/j0DdIhdfzXg/s1600/15.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4G6B36XBTdc/T1HCl8OqakI/AAAAAAAAD9M/j0DdIhdfzXg/s400/15.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm back...but I want to check whether you are from the press.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zv50bB4_vbg/T1HF6KK8s2I/AAAAAAAAD-8/i98C3NJwHmc/s1600/16A.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zv50bB4_vbg/T1HF6KK8s2I/AAAAAAAAD-8/i98C3NJwHmc/s400/16A.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What the heck - you chaps seems OK. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YWAWxkGrUk0/T1HCuDYAZ2I/AAAAAAAAD9U/8IGE2QKZ8EU/s1600/16.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YWAWxkGrUk0/T1HCuDYAZ2I/AAAAAAAAD9U/8IGE2QKZ8EU/s400/16.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Having convinced it self that we meant no harm it strode up to the pile of garbage with no shame. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yRDFo2anVt0/T1HCvhnwi4I/AAAAAAAAD9g/zSyEeoT4q2A/s1600/17.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yRDFo2anVt0/T1HCvhnwi4I/AAAAAAAAD9g/zSyEeoT4q2A/s400/17.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Digging Dirt</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LqQXaSGLs2M/T1HCwR8KfDI/AAAAAAAAD9o/8mQZMWk6ufk/s1600/18.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LqQXaSGLs2M/T1HCwR8KfDI/AAAAAAAAD9o/8mQZMWk6ufk/s400/18.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bingo! </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qVM_Xr3HR6g/T1HCxWf0tZI/AAAAAAAAD9w/9w8cxxV2TZQ/s1600/19.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qVM_Xr3HR6g/T1HCxWf0tZI/AAAAAAAAD9w/9w8cxxV2TZQ/s400/19.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What rubbish! This is good stuff!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gQ0CrIiR2Uo/T1HCxwxLkAI/AAAAAAAAD98/CywtzOXuy40/s1600/20.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gQ0CrIiR2Uo/T1HCxwxLkAI/AAAAAAAAD98/CywtzOXuy40/s400/20.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There is nothing like spreading a little rubbish around! If people can do it then we can do it too!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NnrqQiyAgQk/T1HCyji9uMI/AAAAAAAAD-E/vxS0SJJ-_fQ/s1600/21.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NnrqQiyAgQk/T1HCyji9uMI/AAAAAAAAD-E/vxS0SJJ-_fQ/s400/21.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You chaps want some?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">It would be easy to put the blame on official disregard and reluctance to apply ethical environmental measures, their “don’t care attitude,” and apathy. Rather than blame it all on bureaucracy it needs to be pointed out that the lack of civic responsibility and national pride in the civilian population is actually one of the main reasons. For example while it is the local Municipal Council or Provincial Council that has the responsibility of collecting and transporting garbage to dumps such as this, most of the garbage is generated by commercial establishments and private homes. Therefore both the public and private sectors are responsible to implement a garbage processing and management plan and put measures in place to ensure that wild animals cannot get at the refuse. But everyone’s attitude is, “out of sight out of mind!”</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">This is not the first dump I had visited that elephants and various other animals were feeding on refuse generated by commercial enterprises and civilian homes. The first one I visited was in Mannampitiya in the early 1990s which was in fact located in the Floodplains National Park. The last I heard about it the Mannampitiya garbage dump was shut down around 2006 or 2007 due to the lobbying of concerned people after the death of several elephants from eating polythene. The second dump I visited was in 2007 and it was located in Hambantota. The third dump I visited was in 2010 and it was in Trincomalee and it definitely gets the first prize for been the worst hell—probably compared to it Hades must feel like heaven! <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O2lqPC2WBeI/T1HDWbvNL2I/AAAAAAAAD-M/7NC6IkPgy-I/s1600/23.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O2lqPC2WBeI/T1HDWbvNL2I/AAAAAAAAD-M/7NC6IkPgy-I/s400/23.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mannampitiya Garbage Dump circa 2005</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-73A_OjWuEs0/T1HDXGrWwPI/AAAAAAAAD-U/BK9Nf1mGEgw/s1600/24.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-73A_OjWuEs0/T1HDXGrWwPI/AAAAAAAAD-U/BK9Nf1mGEgw/s400/24.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hambantota garbage dump circa 2007</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OX1MJ2YbHbY/T1HDX9Mp-0I/AAAAAAAAD-c/e3x2mL-Gb2c/s1600/25.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OX1MJ2YbHbY/T1HDX9Mp-0I/AAAAAAAAD-c/e3x2mL-Gb2c/s400/25.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hambantota Garbage Dump circa 2007</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TR8F-o2Z2_0/T1HDY9tqXMI/AAAAAAAAD-k/SeQCvSsgY3Q/s1600/26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TR8F-o2Z2_0/T1HDY9tqXMI/AAAAAAAAD-k/SeQCvSsgY3Q/s400/26.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The worst of them all the Trincomalee Town garbage dump located in a Wildlife Sanctuary. July 2010</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n0mwGERp58Y/T1HDaH_yamI/AAAAAAAAD-s/-ka_6fy3_dQ/s1600/27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n0mwGERp58Y/T1HDaH_yamI/AAAAAAAAD-s/-ka_6fy3_dQ/s400/27.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Trincomalee Dump a partially hidden elephant seems like a ghostly apparition due to the smoke from the garbage fires </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CCTpe3TNu9M/T1HDa44eg9I/AAAAAAAAD-w/3VdnXEwXqVM/s1600/28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CCTpe3TNu9M/T1HDa44eg9I/AAAAAAAAD-w/3VdnXEwXqVM/s400/28.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trincomalee Dump. A magnificent animal reduced to the level of a garbage scavenger</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">As we were observing and filming the elephant to find out whether it was injured a massive bull at least one and a half the size of the first bull suddenly appeared—it displaced the smaller bull and attacked the mounds of refuse with relish. From whatever we could see of their lower extremities, it was obvious from the way they moved and their disposition that these two bulls were not the less fortunate ones that had got injured. After about an hour of observing and filming the refuse scavenging elephants we left this place of decay and stench to see another elephant—in fact a victim of the official “don’t care” policy that was hit by a train 5 days ago. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2gueUB57JR8/T1HI9_cyX5I/AAAAAAAAD_E/GSPP7eWnle0/s1600/29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2gueUB57JR8/T1HI9_cyX5I/AAAAAAAAD_E/GSPP7eWnle0/s400/29.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A massive bull appeared suddenly</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m_CJ0oDHhUg/T1HI-pN8JmI/AAAAAAAAD_I/zbwwceCd508/s1600/30.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m_CJ0oDHhUg/T1HI-pN8JmI/AAAAAAAAD_I/zbwwceCd508/s400/30.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Displacing the younger bull it kept looking at us</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cZU8QW0cp-Q/T1HJAPpXRQI/AAAAAAAAD_c/ggt3Go7TUmg/s1600/32.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cZU8QW0cp-Q/T1HJAPpXRQI/AAAAAAAAD_c/ggt3Go7TUmg/s400/32.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't you know it is rude to stare when others are eating?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b8_9sAg0Uks/T1HJwgm67PI/AAAAAAAAD_0/Sh7qMKfayl8/s1600/31.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b8_9sAg0Uks/T1HJwgm67PI/AAAAAAAAD_0/Sh7qMKfayl8/s400/31.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The smaller younger bull came back.... </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p_xZ7Lo1A5Y/T1HJCNZZ6gI/AAAAAAAAD_k/zb7Y145xlqY/s1600/33.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p_xZ7Lo1A5Y/T1HJCNZZ6gI/AAAAAAAAD_k/zb7Y145xlqY/s400/33.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and they let bygone be bygones since there was enough rubbish for both. SLWCS staff members Sampath and Chinthaka in the dumps </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f6pc5Vq7orI/T1HJDIRbvjI/AAAAAAAAD_o/BVarX2VH9ag/s1600/34.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f6pc5Vq7orI/T1HJDIRbvjI/AAAAAAAAD_o/BVarX2VH9ag/s400/34.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inspiring and gutty volunteers tramping around in a garbage dump! Rubbish ! If there are elephants there we are game. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">We drove down the Kantale Road to a place called Gal Wanguwa where a young bull elephant had been hit by a train 5 days ago and was supposed to be lying injured near the tracks. Unfortunately or fortunately for this elephant—since we know how these wounded elephants suffer—two days ago the elephant had succumbed to its injuries. As we were driving off from the dump we saw the three butchers that had been arrested for illegally slaughtering cattle seated on a culvert by the road side waiting to be taken to the police station. Several police officers and a truck was there probably waiting for further instructions from the head office. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-inuVN78dnQ0/T1HOzTHu2HI/AAAAAAAAD_8/YpcktpGsVis/s1600/34A.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-inuVN78dnQ0/T1HOzTHu2HI/AAAAAAAAD_8/YpcktpGsVis/s400/34A.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting back into our vehicles we headed to Gal Wanguwa along the Kantale Road</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Within a short time we arrived at Gal Wanguwa and parked the vehicles by the road side and walked up to the railway tracks that were about 20 meters away parallel to the road. The elephant was supposed to be lying by the side of the railway tracks. As we were walking on the tracks we could see to the left of us a large solitary bull elephant about 50 meters away feeding placidly on the Mana in an open scrub forest area. Even though we were a large crowd the bull did not pay any attention to us and went on feeding—either quite oblivious or completely ignoring our presence—at least it behaved like that which was fortunate for us, because railway tracks are not the most suitable track and field conditions to do the 100 meters dash—it would be an impossible situation—especially with a very determined pachyderm trying to beat you to the finish! </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mM8vGq3QOXI/T1HPL5O0-MI/AAAAAAAAEAE/yzIbSCGRdoc/s1600/35.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mM8vGq3QOXI/T1HPL5O0-MI/AAAAAAAAEAE/yzIbSCGRdoc/s400/35.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A string of Pall bearers heading to carry a casket. The film crew, Kanchana and Ravi walking to the place where the elephant had died </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-texIqzMBsM0/T1HPMknxraI/AAAAAAAAEAM/DEkQiwok92M/s1600/36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-texIqzMBsM0/T1HPMknxraI/AAAAAAAAEAM/DEkQiwok92M/s400/36.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The massive bull that kindly allowed us to walk along the railway tracks unmolested to see its fallen compatriot.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">As we got close to where the elephant was supposed to be we were assailed again by the unmistakable stench of death and decay. We were sort of getting used to it by now—out go Channel No. 5 and “Death & Decay” becomes vogue! Soon we came across the dead elephant by the side of the tracks in a prone position with its head facing the jungle. The train after hitting the elephant had dragged it several meters along the tracks. We could see the main injury from the collision. Its’ left thigh had a gaping wound and obviously the thigh bone was broken. Again nothing could have been done for this elephant either. Fortunately time has ceased for this elephant. It was now just a decaying maggot ridden and a fly infested carcass—a somber reminder of state institutional apathy and disregard to protect and safeguard one of our biggest national assets.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qNNhDm6-dOs/T1HQHv6GbOI/AAAAAAAAEAU/pMz8_FntiXc/s1600/37.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qNNhDm6-dOs/T1HQHv6GbOI/AAAAAAAAEAU/pMz8_FntiXc/s400/37.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The elephant that got hit by a train</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WVlsRELvK9s/T1HQIUOIIBI/AAAAAAAAEAc/cFcJywMV5ak/s1600/38.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WVlsRELvK9s/T1HQIUOIIBI/AAAAAAAAEAc/cFcJywMV5ak/s400/38.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A requiem for a dead elephant! </td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">So far today in our quest to encounter elephants we have experienced the ugly reality of the lack of a cohesive national or even a local government level plan to address the mounting refuse management issue. A situation that is actually created by the lack of civic responsibility and national pride in the local population who should be held responsible for the garbage they are generating. Both the authorities and civilian population should work together to minimize the impacts of garbage on the environment and wildlife in the area. They can easily implement a 3R campaign to </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Reduce, Reuse and Recycle</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> and encourage locals to use their perishable refuse to produce compost or biogas. There are plenty of simple and low cost technologies available to do so efficiently today. Such an effort will definitely help to reduce the volume of garbage that is dumped. Then most importantly a permanent barrier that elephants cannot breach needs to be erected to keep them from entering the dump. Such a barrier the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society has designed for the Millennium Elephant Foundation to provide facilities to allow their elephants to walk around in a large area without chains. This fence can be easily adapted to surround the garbage dump. Unlike an electric fence which elephants can break and needs frequent maintenance the permanent fence is designed in a manner that it needs minimum maintenance and cannot be breached by elephants. We got back into our vehicles and headed off our spirits rather dampened by what we have seen so far. We drove on the Kantale Road back to Dambulla and took the Kekirawa Road to Galkiriyagama to go to the Kalagama village on the borders of the historic Kalawewa Tank. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">We were in fact going to visit a home in the Kalagama village that had been repeatedly broken by elephants four times in the past three months! The most recent attack had been just two days ago. There must be something really awful about this house that elephants detest it so much—probably its’ design! The home owner should sue the architect. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rQ2w7K4feBs/T1HRzMfBPHI/AAAAAAAAEAk/lFmaOBnTZyU/s1600/IMG_7172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rQ2w7K4feBs/T1HRzMfBPHI/AAAAAAAAEAk/lFmaOBnTZyU/s400/IMG_7172.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The house at Kalagama village that elephants broke four times within the past 3 months</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2OLJHKxrYew/T1HRz0gYhYI/AAAAAAAAEAo/94CwQAJRQWA/s1600/IMG_7180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2OLJHKxrYew/T1HRz0gYhYI/AAAAAAAAEAo/94CwQAJRQWA/s400/IMG_7180.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rifkhan the son of the household explaining the last incident that happened 2 days ago to Ravi, Kanchana and the film crew. The falling debris hit his father on the head injuring him seriously </td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The fact is elephants attack houses where farmers have stored their grain and other crops inside their homes. With their acute sense of smell elephants know exactly where the food is stored and will knock down walls to get at it. Many people are severely injured or sometimes even die from the falling debris. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-91-L7himk-M/T1Hfl5SEysI/AAAAAAAAEA8/6CHcvos1DlI/s1600/39.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-91-L7himk-M/T1Hfl5SEysI/AAAAAAAAEA8/6CHcvos1DlI/s400/39.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An elephant lurking by a village home</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">As we were driving off to Kalawewa I could not but contemplate on what else could be waiting in store for us there? I guess we were about to find out the “bad side” of the efforts to address one of the biggest national environmental and socioeconomic problems in Sri Lanka which is human elephant conflicts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-chs3MxLHYfg/T1HShghxWOI/AAAAAAAAEA0/cz3pZih_PSs/s1600/IMG_7009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-chs3MxLHYfg/T1HShghxWOI/AAAAAAAAEA0/cz3pZih_PSs/s640/IMG_7009.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stay tuned please folks because there is plenty more rubbish coming!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b>To be continued… </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Photo Credits & Copy Rights: Otherwise stated all photographs belong to SLWCS </b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>The photos of the Kiri Oya wounded elephant is courtesy of Greener Media (http://greenermedia.com/)</b></span><b style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">, New York, USA </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>The photos of the two buffaloes been taken for slaughtering is courtesy of Dambulla Media Correspondent, Mr. Kanchana Ariyadasa</b></span></div></div>SLWCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13385383717997197891noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759649900435291798.post-70324435748822336282012-02-14T21:24:00.002-08:002012-02-20T04:33:30.292-08:00Return of Robert…what of the elephants?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pFET4pEp4VI/Tzsil8JFS6I/AAAAAAAADz0/F91aYz2jq6E/s1600/IMG_6366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pFET4pEp4VI/Tzsil8JFS6I/AAAAAAAADz0/F91aYz2jq6E/s320/IMG_6366.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The road to elephant walk</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">It is Tuesday, February 7</span><sup style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> and I’m on my way to Wasgamuwa after making a short visit to the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">With me is Andy Blue who is one of the mammal curators at the world famous San Diego Wild Animal Park in California.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Andy is on a short visit to Sri Lanka and very interested to get as much experience of our wildlife.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The time was around 3 pm and the skies were heavily over cast and not surprisingly it began to drizzle as we were leaving for Wasgamuwa.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">With the first drops of rain I received a text on my phone.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">It was from my good friend Robert who had already reached Wasgamuwa with a group of friends. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">It read, “Arrived safe & sound, rain good 4 elephants?”</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I immediately called Chinthaka who oversees operations in Wasgamuwa to verify about the rain.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">He said, “Mr. Ravi we had no rain for the entire month of January and now it is pouring over here. I already took Robert to the tree hut corridor and there were no elephants.”</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I felt despair—because if it was raining that heavily and there was no let up the chances of seeing elephants were remote or at worst—zero!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JBh06ZIl48Q/TzsiarHelPI/AAAAAAAADy4/y3AjFfmx-c0/s1600/IMG_0545+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JBh06ZIl48Q/TzsiarHelPI/AAAAAAAADy4/y3AjFfmx-c0/s320/IMG_0545+-+Copy.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From mountain tops...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vh5nyFA9o84/TzsiO9As7sI/AAAAAAAADyA/1sxao2ZMHJY/s1600/IMG_0418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vh5nyFA9o84/TzsiO9As7sI/AAAAAAAADyA/1sxao2ZMHJY/s320/IMG_0418.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...by vehicle</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TXsmcFcZSRU/Tzs5LlS2yII/AAAAAAAAD1k/zWXa3cLmQc4/s1600/IMG_0428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TXsmcFcZSRU/Tzs5LlS2yII/AAAAAAAAD1k/zWXa3cLmQc4/s320/IMG_0428.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...from tree tops...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">During Robert’s first visit to Wasgamuwa last year he spent three days with us and it became a huge challenge to show him a wild elephant. Finally Robert left without seeing one elephant but with the promise that he will return. And of course Robert—like the proverbial son has returned! The fact that we could not show Robert any elephants during his first visit started off a whole chain of events which resulted in us re-strategizing our entire research efforts to find out what exactly had happened to the elephants. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_BCZKBgw61w/TzsiTOJJPgI/AAAAAAAADyQ/HebCm9D0NLY/s1600/IMG_0430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_BCZKBgw61w/TzsiTOJJPgI/AAAAAAAADyQ/HebCm9D0NLY/s320/IMG_0430.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...by foot...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9DnEjfUbQHs/TzsiVkHy4LI/AAAAAAAADyY/U4N3mT6D5-0/s1600/IMG_0432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9DnEjfUbQHs/TzsiVkHy4LI/AAAAAAAADyY/U4N3mT6D5-0/s320/IMG_0432.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...in every nook and cranny....</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">When Robert informed me that he would be visiting us on February 7</span><sup style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> we felt confident that we could show him elephants this time.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">So when it began to rain our confidence of showing elephants to Robert eroded like a mud bank on a stream.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I arrived around 9 pm and it was good to meet up again with old friends.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Lorans, a friend of Robert who came with him to Wasgamuwa the first time has brought his wife and three young sons.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">This would be their first time seeing wild elephants!</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The pressure to find elephants was building up!</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ARy3b0PmGWc/TzsihYKSIrI/AAAAAAAADzc/u-OcqYtDztY/s1600/IMG_0582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ARy3b0PmGWc/TzsihYKSIrI/AAAAAAAADzc/u-OcqYtDztY/s320/IMG_0582.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...we searched for elephants to show Robert!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">After spending some time with the guests Chinthaka, myself and the rest of the staff sat down to decide on the best course of action to take to ensure that this time Robert would meet up with some elephants. After discussing the various options we finally decided to spend the entire day at the Wasgamuwa National Park. We made this decision mainly because it was still pouring and the chances were that it would continue to do so the next day. In that case it would be impossible to do any activity such as going on a foot safari or spending time in the tree hut in the rain. The plan was to leave early enough to be at the park entrance by 6 am which is the official opening time of the park. We will have breakfast and lunch delivered to the park later on.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">By 6 am we were at the park entrance only to find the offices still closed with no employee in sight! We called the park warden who informed us that the entire Department of Wildlife lower rank administrative staff was on a trade union action of work to rule so therefore the park opened only at 8 am! Talk about bad Karma!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">We immediately got back into the Land Rover and sped off to the Tree Hut Elephant Corridor hoping that we could catch some last minute elephant action before it was too late. Chinthaka and I went ahead on foot to scout for elephants leaving the others by the tree hut. We found their signs: fresh dung, footprints, broken branches and trampled grass everywhere. Having walked about 100 meters away from the vehicle we were suddenly brought to a stop by the snapping of branches which is the unmistakable sound of elephants or an elephant feeding in the forest. While I tried to get a visual of the elephant Chinthaka went back to bring the rest of the group. Unfortunately the elephant kept on feeding and moving deeper into the forest. By the time the rest of the group joined me it has moved away. Again we scouted the entire area but with no success. The sun was rising and whatever elephants that were in the area had moved back into the forest. The day was definitely not starting of nicely!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">We got back into the vehicle and drove back to the park and when we arrived there were several vehicles waiting at the main entrance. After getting our permit we headed out to the jungle with Game Guide, Vijey Bandara (VB). I asked VB to take us to where we had the best chance of meeting up with an elephant or elephants. Staying in contact with game guards in vehicles that were already ahead of us by mobile phone VB took us to all the possible locations in the park that elephants frequent as a habit. As we drove slowly along the winding sand tracks with eyes peeled we would often come across piles of fresh elephant dung and footprints. They were so numerous that at one point we came across a male peacock displaying to a pile of elephant dung in the middle of the road! What unusual things go on in the wilderness!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">From 8 am in the morning to 1 pm in the afternoon we drove around the park and did not see one elephant! The only interesting interaction was with a Bengal or land monitor that to its mortification became a prop for a nature lesson for the kids and adults. I guess to be held by the neck and the tail is not the most respectable way for a land monitor to be introduced to a group of people! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9FrOQX8Nrnc/TzsiizBHg8I/AAAAAAAADzk/44JB2Xx_UFI/s1600/IMG_6350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9FrOQX8Nrnc/TzsiizBHg8I/AAAAAAAADzk/44JB2Xx_UFI/s320/IMG_6350.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first lesson of nature ladies, gentlemen, boys and girls is...never let anything catch you!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">We spent the entire morning up until noon driving to all possible locations and finally decided to call a break and have lunch since breakfast time was long gone and so were the elephants. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">It was not hard to figure out what everybody was thinking as we concentrated on our food and made small talk, we were all thinking “whether we will see elephants today?”</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">After lunch we rested for awhile and then around 3 pm set out for the final game run of the day. VB, Chinthaka and I held a council of war to figure out where in the park we would have the best chance of finding elephants. We decided to head first to Sanstha Pitiya and then on to Kokabay and then to Yudaganawa plains where legend says an epic battle was fought nearly 2300 years ago between the armies of King Dutugemunu and King Elara. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Back again on the road we drove slowly peering into gloomy recess of forests and towards the infinite horizons of vast open plains. We saw large herds of spotted or axis deer, wild water buffalo, basking crocodiles, and flamboyant peacocks displaying with their tails spread and backs open to whoever was unfortunate enough to be behind them. If Robert was a birder he would have been in paradise but he could care less whether it was a white-browed bulbul, an Indian Sharma or a plain old crow! An elephant—a wild one at that what he desperately wanted to see right now! <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ektck3TSO1c/TzsinVk2xtI/AAAAAAAADz8/NLpm6kow5RE/s1600/IMG_6375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ektck3TSO1c/TzsinVk2xtI/AAAAAAAADz8/NLpm6kow5RE/s320/IMG_6375.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A basking crocodile</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WXWLmfYlTo4/TzsipBfrhvI/AAAAAAAAD0E/dAHRFN2RQSg/s1600/IMG_6377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WXWLmfYlTo4/TzsipBfrhvI/AAAAAAAAD0E/dAHRFN2RQSg/s320/IMG_6377.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heron in flight</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SXAVE47xUfs/TzsirNAvNNI/AAAAAAAAD0M/HyvJ9ywDJaw/s1600/IMG_6382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SXAVE47xUfs/TzsirNAvNNI/AAAAAAAAD0M/HyvJ9ywDJaw/s320/IMG_6382.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aerial ballet...the flight of the egret</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nB2OwgmMIwk/Tzsi4CVt45I/AAAAAAAAD1M/Fa2HuljSTdc/s1600/IMG_6479.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nB2OwgmMIwk/Tzsi4CVt45I/AAAAAAAAD1M/Fa2HuljSTdc/s320/IMG_6479.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Bengal or land monitor thermoregulating </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Around 3.30 pm there was a woolly-necked stork close by on the right side of the road. I asked Chinthaka to stop the vehicle since it was a great opportunity to take a close up of this handsome bird. I started to click away when Lorans' who was seated opposite to me and was craning his neck to see behind him said, “may inney Aliya (here is the elephant).” And sure enough there were three elephants, a mature female with two juvenile males probably her progeny feeding placidly by the road partially covered by some bushes. The reason we did not spot them immediately. Robert was unable to see them since he was seated with his back to them. Moving slowly forward we maneuvered the vehicle for Robert to get a look at his first wild elephants in Sri Lanka! </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I don’t know about storks delivering babies but the woolly-necked stork definitely was a harbinger of pachyderm luck to us that day! </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">What joy and what relief! Now I could breathe and sleep easy knowing the 7</span><sup style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> fleet will not be deployed to Wasgamuwa! </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DAwxzBEAYIg/Tzsi2ADCqNI/AAAAAAAAD1E/M_xug23qlY8/s1600/IMG_6464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DAwxzBEAYIg/Tzsi2ADCqNI/AAAAAAAAD1E/M_xug23qlY8/s320/IMG_6464.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A handsome Woolly-necked stork - the harbinger of pachyderm luck! </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-itVq4om-F0c/Tzsiv-M7guI/AAAAAAAAD0k/mTXM-1K26oc/s1600/IMG_6427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-itVq4om-F0c/Tzsiv-M7guI/AAAAAAAAD0k/mTXM-1K26oc/s320/IMG_6427.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The herd was behind shrubs</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HwaX-jNhU1w/Tzsixc2skPI/AAAAAAAAD0s/rY2F6w0bH2Q/s1600/IMG_6443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HwaX-jNhU1w/Tzsixc2skPI/AAAAAAAAD0s/rY2F6w0bH2Q/s320/IMG_6443.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A family of three</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DVxO8qILIhM/Tzs6li5VfHI/AAAAAAAAD10/K_offywkXro/s1600/IMG_6390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DVxO8qILIhM/Tzs6li5VfHI/AAAAAAAAD10/K_offywkXro/s320/IMG_6390.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A fairly mature large juvenile male...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W_sgA9gUjkk/Tzs6mxwy5AI/AAAAAAAAD18/M6w0kluGzOg/s1600/IMG_6395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W_sgA9gUjkk/Tzs6mxwy5AI/AAAAAAAAD18/M6w0kluGzOg/s320/IMG_6395.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and a younger male sibling and mother</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lcqq0RcU-0A/Tzs6oI98_FI/AAAAAAAAD2E/XnxB3z8zeEE/s1600/IMG_6396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lcqq0RcU-0A/Tzs6oI98_FI/AAAAAAAAD2E/XnxB3z8zeEE/s320/IMG_6396.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The juvenile male</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">We spent close to an hour observing this herd and then a little further on came across a massive solitary bull that looked rather pink! Apparently not with envy! </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h-vYAehzNrA/Tzs-yHI95pI/AAAAAAAAD2M/v50dDitBa78/s1600/IMG_6448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h-vYAehzNrA/Tzs-yHI95pI/AAAAAAAAD2M/v50dDitBa78/s320/IMG_6448.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pinky</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lhI6zKfZNSE/Tzs-zDp2rMI/AAAAAAAAD2U/n5zm98X3hU4/s1600/IMG_6452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lhI6zKfZNSE/Tzs-zDp2rMI/AAAAAAAAD2U/n5zm98X3hU4/s320/IMG_6452.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Makes other elephants pink with envy due to his massive size!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">While observing the lone bull Lorans' elder son spotted a large herd but unfortunately they were two faraway. It was a great ending to a rather long day of hope, despair, hope and eventually striking luck! </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qg5r5BN5rY4/Tzs_2EYxP4I/AAAAAAAAD2c/Yuv5yHxbkIA/s1600/IMG_0484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qg5r5BN5rY4/Tzs_2EYxP4I/AAAAAAAAD2c/Yuv5yHxbkIA/s320/IMG_0484.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">OMG they do exist!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ihj_yU9iVOo/TzsiubvTHfI/AAAAAAAAD0c/mupvqi04MRg/s1600/IMG_6403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ihj_yU9iVOo/TzsiubvTHfI/AAAAAAAAD0c/mupvqi04MRg/s320/IMG_6403.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robert of the elephants</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M1aWObOQBKk/TzsiX4svdfI/AAAAAAAADyo/LS5LH5fvVT4/s1600/IMG_0473+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M1aWObOQBKk/TzsiX4svdfI/AAAAAAAADyo/LS5LH5fvVT4/s320/IMG_0473+-+Copy.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If happiness had a face then this is it!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rs4IxX-atLk/Tzsis5u5GCI/AAAAAAAAD0U/RagToaowXlM/s1600/IMG_6400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rs4IxX-atLk/Tzsis5u5GCI/AAAAAAAAD0U/RagToaowXlM/s320/IMG_6400.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The elephant: "Bleaching white ivories Robert's here!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">Very happily we bid adieu to the elephants and head back to the field house where of course we celebrated this momentous event with a liberal quantity of JD that Robert had brought very thoughtfully with him. Next day was sunny and beautiful. Around 5.30 am we all hiked up the Sunrise Rock. </span></div></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AGCQPJNmr5I/TzsicQhkm6I/AAAAAAAADzA/d4cN5iqNoNs/s1600/IMG_0554.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AGCQPJNmr5I/TzsicQhkm6I/AAAAAAAADzA/d4cN5iqNoNs/s320/IMG_0554.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To share special moments...that's what friends are for</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">After the sunrise hike while Robert and his friends relaxed in the field house several of us went again for another hike in the forest. We came across plenty of elephant sign and even smelled one that was lurking very close by but we did not get to see it. On our return we found out that there had been some excitement at the field house. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HJyLFhvqq0o/Tzsifh6LZ9I/AAAAAAAADzU/aLoxs2daUDM/s1600/IMG_0577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HJyLFhvqq0o/Tzsifh6LZ9I/AAAAAAAADzU/aLoxs2daUDM/s320/IMG_0577.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Morning hike in elephant country</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">A brown vine snake had visited it and Lorans had made an effort to catch his first tank fish.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The brown vine snake of course is a harmless beautiful snake.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Lorans on other hand had finally resorted to purchasing fish from the local fishermen since the local fish hasn’t thought much if his bait.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">After a sumptuous lunch of local curries Robert and his friends left for Colombo—of course with the promise that he was coming back again!</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">There goes our rest easy! </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Maybe we should focus our conservation efforts on an ubiquitous species such as the house sparrow which is so easy to show people!</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'll be back!</td></tr>
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</span></div>SLWCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13385383717997197891noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759649900435291798.post-20420367041022349472012-01-29T08:56:00.000-08:002012-01-30T03:46:58.482-08:00Where have all the elephants gone (Part II)...we are finding out!<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Prologue<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">By October our concerns had increased due to the continuous physical absence of elephants at our Tree Hut Elephant Corridor. To find out what has happened to the elephants became even more urgent when my good friend Robert Durham came to visit us at Wasgamuwa and we could not show him any elephants. We basically combed the entire Wasgamuwa region to find an elephant to show Robert with no luck! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--ujEv-qymVc/TyTvJnksCgI/AAAAAAAADtM/GXHXHnKxOaY/s1600/Robert+in+the+tree+hut.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--ujEv-qymVc/TyTvJnksCgI/AAAAAAAADtM/GXHXHnKxOaY/s320/Robert+in+the+tree+hut.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robert, Nilanga and Ravi in the tree hut</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mlcNVFYl_Go/TyTvVB1HXkI/AAAAAAAADtU/WyZj5_QtiUk/s1600/Robert+checking+out+a+crocs+dry+season+den.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mlcNVFYl_Go/TyTvVB1HXkI/AAAAAAAADtU/WyZj5_QtiUk/s320/Robert+checking+out+a+crocs+dry+season+den.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robert checking out a dry season den of a mugger crocodile!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-onx_rQEIapU/TyTvinD2spI/AAAAAAAADtc/O7W69ktGfzU/s1600/Robert+at+the+Mahaweli+Ganga.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-onx_rQEIapU/TyTvinD2spI/AAAAAAAADtc/O7W69ktGfzU/s320/Robert+at+the+Mahaweli+Ganga.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanging out by Sri Lanka's longest river, the Mahaweli Ganga</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The tree hut corridor is a place that we could always guarantee where elephants would be. It seems our guarantee has run out along with the elephants! It became important to find out what was going on or what had happened? </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FzL5OQm2MRU/TyRHHrDpYJI/AAAAAAAADlk/tafoAQtI5fM/s1600/Barren+Land+without+elephants.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FzL5OQm2MRU/TyRHHrDpYJI/AAAAAAAADlk/tafoAQtI5fM/s320/Barren+Land+without+elephants.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">How barren,desolate and unexciting our lives would be if we allowed elephants to disappear from our jungles…forever!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">This entire area had become a haven for elephants and other wildlife because of the human-elephant conflict mitigation initiatives we have implemented through our Saving Elephants by Helping People project for the past 16 years. </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ki4A_6U68pE/TyRJFT-LM4I/AAAAAAAADoU/CpUD7x5OlMg/s1600/Elephants+at+the+WG-Tank+-+Naima+1102+(19).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ki4A_6U68pE/TyRJFT-LM4I/AAAAAAAADoU/CpUD7x5OlMg/s320/Elephants+at+the+WG-Tank+-+Naima+1102+(19).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The entire Tree Hut Corridor area has become an haven for elephants because of the HEC mitigation efforts of the SLWCS for the past 16 years!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Therefore it was imperative to find out what were the environmental and/or anthropogenic factors that were directly and indirectly affecting the elephants and could be contributing to their absence. We also wanted to find out the temporal and spatial distribution of the elephants and to identify whether there was a seasonal pattern as to how they utilized the various habitats during the course of the year. In December, I instructed Chinthaka, the Project Manager of our Wasgamuwa operations to start implementing a new research program to gather data on the elephants in the entire Tree Hut Elephant Corridor area. These efforts were initiated with the help of our volunteers and interns whose participation makes it possible for us to cover a larger area and get more work done than it would be possible with just a few staff members. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vaEgMB7fKrI/TyRKY42et7I/AAAAAAAADoc/iBZphQeOwEo/s1600/Volunteer+are+crucial+for+our+efforts.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vaEgMB7fKrI/TyRKY42et7I/AAAAAAAADoc/iBZphQeOwEo/s320/Volunteer+are+crucial+for+our+efforts.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Field Team consisting of volunteers and SLWCS staff</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The following selected accounts are from the members of the field team as they forayed into the jungles of Wasgamuwa in search of the elephants that mysteriously disappeared…so we thought!</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Craig Fox</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> is from England and this is his second time volunteering for the SLWCS. He first came in April 2011 for 2 weeks and for his second visit Craig stayed a month from December 2011 to January 2012. Craig joined us at the time when we were just about to implement our new field research activities and observations so he was involved in these efforts from the beginning and we were glad to have him. Craig also very generously donated a much needed Garmin eTrex GPS unit to the project which we appreciate very much. This is his account.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4SBinkkPg1c/TyRKtLKA-FI/AAAAAAAADok/us8E5TYqEvQ/s1600/Craig-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4SBinkkPg1c/TyRKtLKA-FI/AAAAAAAADok/us8E5TYqEvQ/s1600/Craig-1.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Craig Fox</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Craig Fox - A Note from the Jungle</b></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">December 26, 2012: The streets of Hettipola are a far cry from the bustle of Sri Lanka’s metropolis, Colombo. The jungle air is intoxicating. The men discuss whilst the women glide in their saris, commerce everywhere. Fresh fruit, vegetables and fish add colour to the timber buildings. Hettipola is the closest town to the Sri Lankan Wildlife Conservation Society (SLWCS) research station, in Sri Lanka’s Central Province. Here, the city echo that drowns out silence is gone.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0SysWCGv71A/TyRK_6pwelI/AAAAAAAADos/7Uf1BA4MFuQ/s1600/Hettipola-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0SysWCGv71A/TyRK_6pwelI/AAAAAAAADos/7Uf1BA4MFuQ/s320/Hettipola-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hustle and bustle of Hettipola Town</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YgcZkX3ns8g/TyRLCcf0EvI/AAAAAAAADo0/TkMXccV678U/s1600/Hettipola-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YgcZkX3ns8g/TyRLCcf0EvI/AAAAAAAADo0/TkMXccV678U/s320/Hettipola-2.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A spice vendor with his aromatic and colorful produce</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eKAuGgODSAc/TyRLEiBKcHI/AAAAAAAADo8/SlHN1Ll6REo/s1600/Hettipola-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eKAuGgODSAc/TyRLEiBKcHI/AAAAAAAADo8/SlHN1Ll6REo/s320/Hettipola-3.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A street vendor with miscellaneous items</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">It takes an hour to drive to base camp from town. It doesn’t feel like an hour. The road is small but functional. The Minipe canal flanks the road right along separating the cars, bicycles and tuk-tuks from the rice fields and the jungle.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OrpXiqIHVq0/TyRM15XNuaI/AAAAAAAADpE/GVR3M7iwlIU/s1600/The+Minipe+canal+along+the+main+road.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OrpXiqIHVq0/TyRM15XNuaI/AAAAAAAADpE/GVR3M7iwlIU/s320/The+Minipe+canal+along+the+main+road.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Minipe Canal goes right along the main road all the way up to the Wasgamuwa National Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The trip from Colombo to base camp can be quite arduous. But, all that frustration seems to vanish when I’m being introduced to the camp staff. The field house open-air, functional and the custodians are very welcoming.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KflT-3iV8Lo/TyROz3L6cxI/AAAAAAAADpU/ppUuQzoPJG8/s1600/PG+Field+House+location.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KflT-3iV8Lo/TyROz3L6cxI/AAAAAAAADpU/ppUuQzoPJG8/s320/PG+Field+House+location.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The location of the SLWCS Ambassador's Lodge Field House</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HH_Gqfplw1Q/TyRN30FXgrI/AAAAAAAADpM/P82AT07x-u4/s1600/PG+Field+House.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HH_Gqfplw1Q/TyRN30FXgrI/AAAAAAAADpM/P82AT07x-u4/s320/PG+Field+House.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of the interior of the Ambassador's Lodge Field House</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I quickly discover that I have arrived at an exciting time. New projects are being developed. The new research will help to find out the temporal and spatial distribution of the elephants in the area that is called the Tree Hut Elephant Corridor and will also help to evaluate the social and economic impacts of human-elephant conflicts within the study area.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Tracking elephant movement can help the SLWCS to identify and predict patterns. This information is vital to achieve minimum levels of conflict as well as to act swiftly if adverse human actions are going to impact the elephants. The SLWCS is in the process of developing new transects that researchers and volunteers can regularly use to monitor elephant activity. I’m very fortunate to have been witness to the foundational phase of this research. Like the first time I saw a wild elephant, this was extremely exciting.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lDFd3YvfVWk/TyRkRUMcB2I/AAAAAAAADpc/FvLDiSm_Lv4/s1600/Craig's+first+elephant.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lDFd3YvfVWk/TyRkRUMcB2I/AAAAAAAADpc/FvLDiSm_Lv4/s320/Craig's+first+elephant.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first elephant Craig saw when he first volunteered with the SLWCS in April 2011</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Walking in the jungle with very experienced researchers and scientists is mesmerizing. We got to see some fascinating wildlife, including sambar, water buffalo, elephants and an incredible diversity of bird life. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sWqaQGYLyVM/TyRq3pkozEI/AAAAAAAADqE/CqSiDfz2f6E/s1600/Craig+on+transect+in+the+forest.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sWqaQGYLyVM/TyRq3pkozEI/AAAAAAAADqE/CqSiDfz2f6E/s320/Craig+on+transect+in+the+forest.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Conducting a transect</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">We walked, collecting information as we identified elephant dung, and other direct and indirect signs left behind by elephants.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LaOz149cfss/TyRncOnOulI/AAAAAAAADp8/0S1P7OFIq0Y/s1600/Craig+with+dung.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LaOz149cfss/TyRncOnOulI/AAAAAAAADp8/0S1P7OFIq0Y/s320/Craig+with+dung.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elephant dung...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jByiEh14bdo/TyRmFTwuyzI/AAAAAAAADp0/TlTGZ3TYwa8/s1600/Elephant+footprints.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jByiEh14bdo/TyRmFTwuyzI/AAAAAAAADp0/TlTGZ3TYwa8/s320/Elephant+footprints.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...footprints and the plants they have fed are some of the obvious signs that elephants leave behind.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">A large elephant bull had arrived in the area. Tracking an elephant can be quite difficult. They can move a lot faster than people, especially people who are relentlessly searching for tracks and other signs. Nonetheless, this didn’t stop us. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u_xeQWdYtFo/TyRlafJjleI/AAAAAAAADpk/cjkl0uNQiE4/s1600/Nodiya+is+around+treehut+at+around+11.00am.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u_xeQWdYtFo/TyRlafJjleI/AAAAAAAADpk/cjkl0uNQiE4/s1600/Nodiya+is+around+treehut+at+around+11.00am.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A massive solitary bull </td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">This Bull had walked along a new transect less than two hours before we arrived in the area. Everyone was very confident that the new transect was going to yield some good data. The presence of this new bull was daunting but very encouraging. For days after we first found fresh tracks, we always seemed to be just behind this elephant. It was becoming clear that this bull had never been in this area before. His movement patterns had very little deliberateness about them. As we developed new transects we would regularly noted the presence of this giant. I think he was lost and most certainly confused.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">During most evenings we would retire to a tree house that the SLWCS and local villagers had built, to observe elephants moving in the buffer zone of Wasgamuwa National Park and along the Tree Hut Elephant Corridor. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H39mMIXfx3U/TyRshQGjjyI/AAAAAAAADqM/uLOGJ8WgGks/s1600/Tree+Hut.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H39mMIXfx3U/TyRshQGjjyI/AAAAAAAADqM/uLOGJ8WgGks/s320/Tree+Hut.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Tree Hut</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Being up high is a great way to observe terrestrial mammals. By being very quiet and patient you can almost blend to the surroundings, allowing wildlife to behave very naturally. We observed elephants moving to water on three occasions. Both were top class sightings. We were able to get some good pictures of each elephant’s head, ears and flank. All this information will be used to identify individuals in the future and create a database that can be used as a reference for future sightings.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ix9EaQAyVgA/TyRs5Yd_QpI/AAAAAAAADqU/enYMpRv20DQ/s1600/Elephnt+-Nondiya-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ix9EaQAyVgA/TyRs5Yd_QpI/AAAAAAAADqU/enYMpRv20DQ/s320/Elephnt+-Nondiya-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A flank shot of a bull elephant</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I met a lot of the local villagers and farmers on my trip. The SLWCS works very closely with the local people. There is a shared respect, which is marvelous to see. All the people I met were very warm and welcoming. Something I haven’t always experienced in other parts of the world. I felt a part of the beginning of a very exciting phase for the Sri Lankan Wildlife Conservation Society.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Naima Starkloff</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> is from Sri Lanka and is interning with the SLWCS for a month. She is doing her undergraduate studies at the Bennington College in Vermont. Naima’s internship with the SLWCS will fulfill a requirement of her undergraduate program.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4GJw_YwMP7A/TyRt2vaeO3I/AAAAAAAADqc/0CLP7HIq358/s1600/Naima+Starklof.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4GJw_YwMP7A/TyRt2vaeO3I/AAAAAAAADqc/0CLP7HIq358/s320/Naima+Starklof.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Naima Starkloff</span></b> </td></tr>
</tbody></table><b style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Naima Starkloff - Elephant Bones and Herds</b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AwaswaPaXyU/TyRuvNbwt2I/AAAAAAAADqk/KTXTIUbNjLw/s1600/Dawn+at+the+Ambassador'sLodge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AwaswaPaXyU/TyRuvNbwt2I/AAAAAAAADqk/KTXTIUbNjLw/s320/Dawn+at+the+Ambassador'sLodge.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">Sunrise that morning!</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">January 23, 2012: In terms of elephants, this was the best day yet. Today's transect was one of those ordinary forest-into-shrub-into grasslands-and-then-repeat sort. Well, until we stumbled upon an enormous decaying white mass. We had found the giant skull of an <i>E</i></span><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">lephas maximus maximus</i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">. And a few meters away, we found the rest of his skeleton. This elephant was shot in the head—we found a tiny bullet hole in his skull. Probably he was shot in one of the villages where human elephant conflict is still very rampant and scurried away to the forest where he died, about one and a half years ago.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0rFXoiBOm-k/TyRu9HVLBVI/AAAAAAAADqs/ct7smZj-T5A/s1600/Elephant+Skull+with+Maxilla.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0rFXoiBOm-k/TyRu9HVLBVI/AAAAAAAADqs/ct7smZj-T5A/s320/Elephant+Skull+with+Maxilla.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Skull </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wnDDyIZ5w7U/TyRvh5k597I/AAAAAAAADq0/ZNLPIiUvdIg/s1600/Elephant+jawbone+or+Mandible+with+two+molars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wnDDyIZ5w7U/TyRvh5k597I/AAAAAAAADq0/ZNLPIiUvdIg/s320/Elephant+jawbone+or+Mandible+with+two+molars.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lower jaw with the molars still intact</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--G6TSewzOkM/TyRvsrcShhI/AAAAAAAADq8/ijUPqVOT7vE/s1600/Elephant+rib+bones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--G6TSewzOkM/TyRvsrcShhI/AAAAAAAADq8/ijUPqVOT7vE/s320/Elephant+rib+bones.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ribs bones were all scattered around by scavengers</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mg6id3dRgD8/TyRv6XFLVhI/AAAAAAAADrE/2Kb1WxMuadU/s1600/Elephant+vertebrae.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mg6id3dRgD8/TyRv6XFLVhI/AAAAAAAADrE/2Kb1WxMuadU/s320/Elephant+vertebrae.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A vertebral bone</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The afternoon was somewhat lively indeed. At about 4:45 pm—finally in daylight—a herd of 10 elephants, including 3 babies, tried to slide by the tree house unnoticed. I happened to hear rustling in the brush but I didn't think much of it, just because it seemed too early. But there, I saw an entire herd eating their way through the forest, heading for the lake. They were beautifully coordinated and surprisingly swift. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px;">We were told that it had been 3 whole months since an entire herd like this had been seen out in the open in this area.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EvWbuHRTtRo/TyS6Uhpf5TI/AAAAAAAADrM/Lv-rfZ5Pz6M/s1600/Elephants+around+tree+hut+-+Naima+1083+(9).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EvWbuHRTtRo/TyS6Uhpf5TI/AAAAAAAADrM/Lv-rfZ5Pz6M/s320/Elephants+around+tree+hut+-+Naima+1083+(9).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The herd came to the tree hut area very quietly</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-suGTRWSMYjk/TyS6YPkiTYI/AAAAAAAADrU/GxiSIe2MEA0/s1600/Elephants+around+tree+hut+-+Naima+1083+(10).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-suGTRWSMYjk/TyS6YPkiTYI/AAAAAAAADrU/GxiSIe2MEA0/s320/Elephants+around+tree+hut+-+Naima+1083+(10).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They hardly made any noice!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ozzhykgLABY/TyS6aG2gOXI/AAAAAAAADrc/qVsJyXJCAuI/s1600/Elephants+around+tree+hut+-+Naima+1083+(12).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ozzhykgLABY/TyS6aG2gOXI/AAAAAAAADrc/qVsJyXJCAuI/s320/Elephants+around+tree+hut+-+Naima+1083+(12).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After a while the herd spread out sensing no danger in the area</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Two women, with one carrying a small child, happened to walk down the road and when they saw the herd, they stopped in their tracks. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The elephants seemed very aware of their presence and hid behind the trees. Taking this as a cue for an open road, the two ladies ran for their lives to their village.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RsjbLS4kA9s/TyTj_8BslVI/AAAAAAAADrk/wM5NbqQ6jpQ/s1600/Woman+carrying+a+child+and+running.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RsjbLS4kA9s/TyTj_8BslVI/AAAAAAAADrk/wM5NbqQ6jpQ/s320/Woman+carrying+a+child+and+running.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the women carrying a child running down the road to the village</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZkFYDKDT30w/TyTk8cRxiMI/AAAAAAAADrs/RmoS0oDUze0/s1600/Siriya+looking+out+for+Elephants.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZkFYDKDT30w/TyTk8cRxiMI/AAAAAAAADrs/RmoS0oDUze0/s320/Siriya+looking+out+for+Elephants.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Siriya, the Majordomo at the field house looking out for elephants!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MmdvNSFs_2w/TyTl4vswS7I/AAAAAAAADr0/zYo8_lu9uQo/s1600/Fitting+Sunset" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MmdvNSFs_2w/TyTl4vswS7I/AAAAAAAADr0/zYo8_lu9uQo/s320/Fitting+Sunset" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">A fitting sunset to end a great day!</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Chinthaka Weerasinghe</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> is the Project Manager in charge of the SLWCS operations in Wasgamuwa. While Chinthaka is not an academically trained field scientist he has undergone training and learned a tremendous amount about field research and data collecting under the guidance of a multitude of scientists who had collaborated with the SLWCS over the years.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lKHC5Aur6HA/TyTnKsb9S_I/AAAAAAAADr8/JRUuP2fWscs/s1600/Chinthaka+&+Buffalo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lKHC5Aur6HA/TyTnKsb9S_I/AAAAAAAADr8/JRUuP2fWscs/s320/Chinthaka+&+Buffalo.JPG" width="227" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chinthaka...on the right</td></tr>
</tbody></table><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Chinthaka - January 23</span><sup style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">rd</sup></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b> 2012.</b> Last night I was on the phone with Mr. Ravi discussing various details of our efforts to gather information about the elephants in the Tree Hut Elephant Corridor. And now according to his instructions I’m discussing with Jayathilaka about marking out another new transect in the Tree Hut Elephant Corridor. We decided to mark this new transect starting from Hettipola going north parallel to the main road from Hettipola to the Wasgamuwa National Park, and then once we got to Mahathun’s house to mark a second transect perpendicular to the first transect heading West towards the Tree Hut. These would be two entirely new transects that we had not done before. The field team will be led by Field Scout Jayathilaka, who is one of our senior Fields Scouts and also the technician of the Weheragalagama Community Electric Fence that was erected by the SLWCS with funding from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2002. This electric fence would be celebrating its 10</span><sup style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> anniversary in June 23</span><sup style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">rd</sup><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> of this year making it the second oldest continuously operating community electric fence in Asia. The villagers are planning a huge celebration to mark this anniversary and we are expecting the United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka, the Honorable Patricia Butenis to attend this event as one of the honored chief guests. The oldest electric fence is in the village of Pussellayaya in Wasgamuwa, which is one of the world’s first community-based electric fences—and it too was erected by the SLWCS and it is now 16 years old and still operating!</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">After we had agreed on the two new transects and had mapped them out I drove the field team to Hettipola which is the beginning point of the new transects. After I dropped the field team at the starting point I headed to our Irriyagaha field camp site with our camp cook Leelawathi. She had brought with her all the provisions to prepare lunch for the field team. After dropping Leelawathie at Irriyagaha I drove back to the Tree Hut which was the ending point of the second transect to wait for the arrival of the field team. It took the field team over three hours to get to the Tree Hut. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iQ1z6uA2AaU/TyTnqOizWhI/AAAAAAAADsE/HgbBXr2YaS8/s1600/New+Transect+inbetween+WG+village+&+ele+corridor+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iQ1z6uA2AaU/TyTnqOizWhI/AAAAAAAADsE/HgbBXr2YaS8/s1600/New+Transect+inbetween+WG+village+&+ele+corridor+(2).JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Field Team arriving at the tree hut after doing one of the new transects</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I picked them up and brought them to the Irriyagaha Field Camp where Leelawathie had prepared a sumptuous lunch consisting of local curries. After lunch we relaxed for a while discussing the new transects. Apparently the team had come across a lot of elephant signs—more than we had imagined we would find on these two transects. Around 3 pm we went back to the tree hut to observe elephants. We climbed up to the tree hut and settled down to wait for the elephants to show up. Some evenings even though the elephants are not visible we can hear them rumbling, screaming and trumpeting in the forest adjacent to the tree hut as they moved parallel while making their way to the Weheragala Tank (lake). What is unique about observing elephants from the tree hut is that the road leading to the village also runs through the corridor. Very often both people and elephants are at the corridor at the same time and it is interesting to watch the interactions between people and elephants. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-31X8rfyGy2c/TyVgfgVWRbI/AAAAAAAADu0/kv_L0BgRi2E/s1600/Elephants+&+People+by+the+tree+hut-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-31X8rfyGy2c/TyVgfgVWRbI/AAAAAAAADu0/kv_L0BgRi2E/s320/Elephants+&+People+by+the+tree+hut-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">People moving through the corridor<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OfmvBQCe6TE/TyVnOEDD-xI/AAAAAAAADwQ/xeSQlEg9d2E/s1600/Nondiya+looking+towards+road.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OfmvBQCe6TE/TyVnOEDD-xI/AAAAAAAADwQ/xeSQlEg9d2E/s1600/Nondiya+looking+towards+road.JPG" /></a></div> A bull elephant looking towards the road<br />
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</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">It is interesting to see how differently herds which consists mostly females and calves and groups of males or lone bulls behave when people are traveling on the road either by foot or by vehicle. The female herds would stop feeding and bunch together and become absolutely still and quiet or either rush into the forest or hide behind trees. The massive dominant bulls generally just keep feeding or would turn facing the direction of the people and wait with their ears spread and heads held high sometimes with their trunks partially raised until the people have moved away to resume feeding. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7rId65Xhefk/TyVgd_iAlJI/AAAAAAAADus/NWq3Xm5CfD4/s1600/Elephant+%2526+People+by+the+tree+hut.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7rId65Xhefk/TyVgd_iAlJI/AAAAAAAADus/NWq3Xm5CfD4/s320/Elephant+%2526+People+by+the+tree+hut.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some bulls would face the direction of the vehicle with their trunk raised or...<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">Younger bulls tend to get nervous and will run into the forest trumpeting excitedly with their tails held high. So far we have not observed elephants making any deliberate attempts to attack people. Our efforts to mitigate human-elephant conflicts in the area have contributed to creating this sense of tolerance in the two species and we are doing our best to keep it that way. In fact that is why we started the current study to find out what was making the elephants change their ranging in the Tree Hut Corridor. What we have begun to observe more frequently is the increasing number of vehicles—especially tuk tuks and motorcycles that are traveling on this road. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PH7phIw9L7k/TyTqDlNS9FI/AAAAAAAADsk/c3vKIQ975-w/s1600/Increasing+Traffic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PH7phIw9L7k/TyTqDlNS9FI/AAAAAAAADsk/c3vKIQ975-w/s320/Increasing+Traffic.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Increasing vehicular traffic on the road through the Tree Hut Corridor</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oW5ycKUsgys/TyTp-NPMZsI/AAAAAAAADsc/UIg5gJzOV5w/s320/Increasing+Traffic+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Land Master Tractor full of people...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oW5ycKUsgys/TyTp-NPMZsI/AAAAAAAADsc/UIg5gJzOV5w/s1600/Increasing+Traffic+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oW5ycKUsgys/TyTp-NPMZsI/AAAAAAAADsc/UIg5gJzOV5w/s1600/Increasing+Traffic+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JdDM8FWDmAI/TyToGtQnYmI/AAAAAAAADsM/GY81Pu6pr-U/s1600/Motorcylcist+riding+past+Nondiya.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JdDM8FWDmAI/TyToGtQnYmI/AAAAAAAADsM/GY81Pu6pr-U/s320/Motorcylcist+riding+past+Nondiya.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...a motorcyclist ...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IZ5E1ESfnnQ/TyToRFOAkXI/AAAAAAAADsU/b6uJuafWO3U/s1600/A+cyclist+riding+past+Nondiya.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IZ5E1ESfnnQ/TyToRFOAkXI/AAAAAAAADsU/b6uJuafWO3U/s1600/A+cyclist+riding+past+Nondiya.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...a cyclist all add to the increasing traffic<br />
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</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">We are closely monitoring this increasing vehicular traffic too, to see whether it is also having an impact on the elephants. To round off a really great day around 4.45 pm a herd of thirteen elephants showed up by the Tree Hut. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fooUbz33xsM/TyTrPmDqDaI/AAAAAAAADss/b_JnSU84yD0/s1600/Large+Herd.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fooUbz33xsM/TyTrPmDqDaI/AAAAAAAADss/b_JnSU84yD0/s320/Large+Herd.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A large herd showed up by the tree hut in the evening</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The herd settled down and they were still feeding by the time we left at 8.30 pm to the field house. It is an incredible experience to be up in the tree hut swayed by a gentle breeze listening to a herd of elephants down below contentedly feeding while making various vocalizations. It was a great ending to a very productive and fulfilling day.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Naima Starklof - Right into the heart of the elephant’s lair</b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">January 24, 2012: All these days, we were told by the two Field Scouts, Jayathilaka and Veroni that we may come across elephants during transects and that sometimes we'd just have to run. At the time I would say "<i>ahhh hondai hondai</i>" or directly translated, "ahhh, good good". After all the dung and footprints we've been tracking, it would have been interesting to actually encounter the animals.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Well today was that day—sort of. We headed into the forest and followed a trail of dung, footprints and damaged trees—some of which was still fresh from that very morning. To accompany these we heard some occasional rustles and low hums as we got closer to what seemed like a herd's shelter. There were large but slight indentations on the ground where some elephants had laid down—the elephants' beds!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m3cvb043vgo/TyTrmWBe_pI/AAAAAAAADs0/dfbnxoTQNwk/s1600/Elephant+-+a+broken+tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m3cvb043vgo/TyTrmWBe_pI/AAAAAAAADs0/dfbnxoTQNwk/s320/Elephant+-+a+broken+tree.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A tree broken by elephants</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tczbQd82fbs/TyTryhcL-wI/AAAAAAAADs8/Qvtiy_F3qkM/s1600/Elephant+-baby+dung.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tczbQd82fbs/TyTryhcL-wI/AAAAAAAADs8/Qvtiy_F3qkM/s320/Elephant+-baby+dung.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dung of baby elephants</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">As we continued with the transect we seemed to be going deeper and deeper into the elephants' lair. Sure enough within a few meters, our guide told us that elephants were on both sides and we couldn't continue. Even though we couldn't see any elephants, we could hear loud rustles and the occasional rumble coming from right in front of us. We had woken them up from their slumber, it seemed. Just the mere proximity of these mighty beings made my body shake slightly. I kept thinking about the juxtaposition of our sizes—little me and enormous them.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">From right next to me, then came an unusually loud, low, beastly hum! Let’s call it a hum—which pretty much creeped the living daylights out of me. I turned in its direction, only to find our Field Scout, Jayathilaka, making that very loud, low, beastly hum for the second time. He then waited to get a response from the elephants. There was nothing but silence. Jayathilaka repeated that hum, and once more it send shivers down my spine. The elephant responded with a similar hum, letting us know he was close. We turned to leave, trying to be as soundless as possible. Jayathilaka suddenly turned to us and whispered "run!" and we all ran me more diligently than others. This made for much teasing later, of course.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D76slZf6NkU/TyTsHFVA5XI/AAAAAAAADtE/zwu1M576aws/s1600/Jayathilaka+-calling+base.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D76slZf6NkU/TyTsHFVA5XI/AAAAAAAADtE/zwu1M576aws/s320/Jayathilaka+-calling+base.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">Jayathilaka calling back to base to inform that we are surrounded by elephants!</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">That evening we spent watching elephants play hide and seek from the tree hut. An aged, limping fellow, known as Nondiya (Limper), showed himself at exactly 4:50 pm.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PTIa7Bgji-I/TyVbGGMUC4I/AAAAAAAADtk/cvSL8ZL2lYg/s1600/Elephant+-+Nondiya-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PTIa7Bgji-I/TyVbGGMUC4I/AAAAAAAADtk/cvSL8ZL2lYg/s320/Elephant+-+Nondiya-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nondiya</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-97UcDRFCvjE/TyVbN96ajrI/AAAAAAAADts/0kn1r_VXwVY/s1600/Elephant+-+Nondiya-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-97UcDRFCvjE/TyVbN96ajrI/AAAAAAAADts/0kn1r_VXwVY/s320/Elephant+-+Nondiya-8.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nondiya hiding behind a bush</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3ffJc8t4ing/TyVbX-C-fTI/AAAAAAAADt0/AiuV0HHjRpc/s1600/Elephant+-+Nondiya-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3ffJc8t4ing/TyVbX-C-fTI/AAAAAAAADt0/AiuV0HHjRpc/s320/Elephant+-+Nondiya-3.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nondiya approaching the tree hut</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e9d4fs98xsU/TyVbchb2A8I/AAAAAAAADt8/8uoaDiBjvc0/s1600/Elephant+-+Nondiya-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e9d4fs98xsU/TyVbchb2A8I/AAAAAAAADt8/8uoaDiBjvc0/s320/Elephant+-+Nondiya-7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Limping along</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5QxHJ3WHQAk/TyVbfofJ0II/AAAAAAAADuE/7e3Wlw0UHd4/s1600/Elephant+-+Nondiya-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5QxHJ3WHQAk/TyVbfofJ0II/AAAAAAAADuE/7e3Wlw0UHd4/s320/Elephant+-+Nondiya-6.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nondiya looking towards road</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Chintaka claims for the next few days we will, for sure, see elephants at around 4:45 pm like the day before. This bugger would trot into the forest only to be pushed out by an elephant inside. Then he would run further and try to get into the forest that way. These 2 played around like this for a while. Perhaps the first elephant was being pushed out of the herd as punishment or perhaps he was scanning the scene for the herd that appeared an hour later, or perhaps he was just playing. There was much speculation. Nondiya was seen just that morning around 11 am heading to the lake. He was the guy we had been running from.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qKl4JcI3Z3I/TyVcjfmLybI/AAAAAAAADuM/FlHJU3a86V8/s1600/Elephant+-+Nondiya-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qKl4JcI3Z3I/TyVcjfmLybI/AAAAAAAADuM/FlHJU3a86V8/s320/Elephant+-+Nondiya-5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nondiya feeding after been chased off from entering the jungle</td></tr>
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</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Two men happened to walk down the road at that time. Seeing the elephant, they ran into the grasslands and climbed up a tree. A tractor driving by at one point stopped close to where the elephant was and shouted "I need to get home now. Please go!" and Nondiya actually listened and moved away. As it got darker, a tuk tuk drove along the road just as the elephants were crossing further away. As they saw the giant animals, they promptly turned off the lights and ran as quickly as they could to the tree house.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JZnffrzNxKU/TyVdAzkkKiI/AAAAAAAADuU/pKO2QbVQ9Fw/s1600/Two+men+in+evening+around+the+tree+hut+(53).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JZnffrzNxKU/TyVdAzkkKiI/AAAAAAAADuU/pKO2QbVQ9Fw/s1600/Two+men+in+evening+around+the+tree+hut+(53).JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The two men who came along when Nondiya was by the tree hut</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dW5H7ZIB_UA/TyVdyDNwDBI/AAAAAAAADuc/vWy9oUbnJFw/s1600/Two+men+climbing+tree+when+the+see+Nondiya.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dW5H7ZIB_UA/TyVdyDNwDBI/AAAAAAAADuc/vWy9oUbnJFw/s320/Two+men+climbing+tree+when+the+see+Nondiya.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The two men climbed a tree as soon as they saw Nondiya</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Chinthaka - January 24, 2012.</b> It is the beginning of another beautiful day at the SLWCS Ambassador’s Lodge Field House at Pussellayaya, Wasgamuwa. I’m seated in the veranda with a cup of Ceylon tea working on the day’s work schedule while an incredible sunrise is unfolding right in front of me. This is one of the best things about living in the field house—to be greeted every morning by a panoramic display of the rising sun! Visitors to the lodge love seeing the sunrise and rave about its kaleidoscopic display which never fails to mesmerize the beholder. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7inLO1oEl3k/TyVhStDOB-I/AAAAAAAADu8/hOWIE1aB3QY/s1600/Sunrise+at+the+FH+(5).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7inLO1oEl3k/TyVhStDOB-I/AAAAAAAADu8/hOWIE1aB3QY/s1600/Sunrise+at+the+FH+(5).JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise at the field house</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The reason I’m up this early is that I’m planning a new transect which I hope to conduct today with the field team. The plan today is to lay out a new transect from the Tree Hut towards the boundary of the Wasgamuwa National Park through the forest.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">By 9.00 am the field team has assembled by the Tree Hut. After taking a GPS point of the Tree Hut location which is the starting point of the transect, the team started to walk towards the national park boundary which is about 5 kilometers away marking out the new transect. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OLMeoJEI090/TyVhn1OzFYI/AAAAAAAADvE/lxj4gZC48Dc/s1600/Transect+-+getting+ready.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OLMeoJEI090/TyVhn1OzFYI/AAAAAAAADvE/lxj4gZC48Dc/s320/Transect+-+getting+ready.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting ready to leave on a transect</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">At this stage the transect went through grassland and open scrub jungle. Eventually the team will enter the thick forest which from afar looked impenetrable. These were the forests where elephants took refuge during the day time from the hot scorching sun. In the gloomy recess of the forest the grey forms of the elephants blended like leaf insects on guava leaves.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3B3cy214GQI/TyVh3VDA8aI/AAAAAAAADvM/jYRrxL6Up_Q/s1600/Transect+-+leaving+on+a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3B3cy214GQI/TyVh3VDA8aI/AAAAAAAADvM/jYRrxL6Up_Q/s320/Transect+-+leaving+on+a.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaving on a transect led by Field Scout Jayathilkaka</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d3VlTuRAwNY/TyVibqWXKLI/AAAAAAAADvc/tEsKYXdRqZc/s1600/Jayathilaka.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d3VlTuRAwNY/TyVibqWXKLI/AAAAAAAADvc/tEsKYXdRqZc/s320/Jayathilaka.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jayathilaka looking for elephants or picking nellie fruit?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WVauu1UlPoM/TyVh6LoPz_I/AAAAAAAADvU/0c0VgycDuhM/s1600/Transect+-+walking+through+the+grasslands.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WVauu1UlPoM/TyVh6LoPz_I/AAAAAAAADvU/0c0VgycDuhM/s320/Transect+-+walking+through+the+grasslands.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The field team head towards the forest</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I was waiting by the Tree Hut. Field Scout, Jayathilaka who is a local villager and one of our most jungle experienced senior field assistants is leading the team. The plan is for me to wait by the Tree Hut with the Land Rover until the team passed the 2 kilometer mark. Around 11.00 am I climbed up to the Tree Hut to observe from the top the surrounding area. I scanned over the jungle and open forest and grasslands and then I heard an elephant rumble from the direction of the track that the field team had gone! I was getting concerned and just then I got a call on my mobile from Jayathilaka and I was hardly able to hear him! Jayathilaka was whispering that they could not proceed with the marking of the new transect because they have run into elephants! When they had tried to go through the forest they had got charged by an elephant! While I’m talking to Jayathilaka I see from the tree hut a lone bull elephant going pass the tree hut heading towards the Weheragala Tank (lake). This was very unusual—to see an elephant here at this time. Probably it is the same elephant that had charged the field team? It seems elephants were moving—even though we could not see them it seemed like they were moving through the forests patches and this was dangerous to the field team. I could not take a chance—so I immediately instructed Jayathilake to return to the Tree Hut with the team as soon as possible. The safety and security of our volunteers, visitors, interns and staff is always our number one priority. We had no choice—it was not just the presence of elephants but the fact that they were moving in the forest—which made it doubly dangerous for the field team to be in there on the ground amidst the second large terrestrial mammal in the world. We called a halt to the transect and came back to the field house. Around 4.00 pm we went back to the Tree Hut to observe elephants and around 4.45 pm an elephant came up to the tree hut and we got the opportunity to observe plenty of human-elephant interactions at the corridor.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Naima – A Project Orange Elephant Village and an Encounter with a Sneaky Elephant</b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">January 25, 2012: Today we visited the village of Randunnewewa </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">where the SLWCS had given families 10 grafted orange seedlings each, to check on their progress. These plants had been given more recently about a year ago. It seemed as though these villagers had a lot of commitment for the project. The orange plants were still small since they were just over a year old but they were well kept and planted strategically against elephant attack. The difference with this village, however, was that they were not surrounded by an electric fence. So they had elephants as occasional visitors. They have more of an initiative as a result.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--YC3OxxrvRo/TyVkLW2sW1I/AAAAAAAADvk/Pu1jkh28D3U/s1600/POE-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--YC3OxxrvRo/TyVkLW2sW1I/AAAAAAAADvk/Pu1jkh28D3U/s320/POE-1.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Checking the orange plants</td></tr>
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">We saw the elephant bells once again, this time with old cans and barbed wire. The villagers said they used firecrackers and shouting to scare off elephants when they did come. I think they are, as a result, eager to grow the citrus.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sQHm_a4ej_A/TyVkaPi0XUI/AAAAAAAADvs/6dvml1qGC-Y/s1600/Elephant+Bells-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sQHm_a4ej_A/TyVkaPi0XUI/AAAAAAAADvs/6dvml1qGC-Y/s320/Elephant+Bells-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rudimentary Elephant Early Warning System made of old cans</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_mgWsAaw1Mw/TyVk-TZLiuI/AAAAAAAADv0/-HvNrYK7nYQ/s1600/Elephant+Bells-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_mgWsAaw1Mw/TyVk-TZLiuI/AAAAAAAADv0/-HvNrYK7nYQ/s320/Elephant+Bells-2.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A party household</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JHFSlb7b7hQ/TyVlBYiuxFI/AAAAAAAADv8/I2csd8ofAao/s1600/Elephant+Bells-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JHFSlb7b7hQ/TyVlBYiuxFI/AAAAAAAADv8/I2csd8ofAao/s320/Elephant+Bells-3.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anything that would make a jingling or jangling noise is utilized</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">In the afternoon we went to the tree hut and Siriya, the Majordomo of the Ambassador’s Lodge field house came along with us. After been in the tree hut for awhile Siriya was getting bored. So Siriya and Chinthaka went down to see whether they could spot any elephants from the road. From the tree hut I could see both of them chatting on their phones when I</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"> spotted one lone bull elephant. This bull was moving soundlessly and </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">almost slipped by Chinthaka and Siriya unnoticed within 10 meter of them!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sPZN1xcord8/TyVoHVG56oI/AAAAAAAADwY/GPQmMnS_ZSk/s1600/Siriya+on+the+Phone+at+the+Tree+hut.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sPZN1xcord8/TyVoHVG56oI/AAAAAAAADwY/GPQmMnS_ZSk/s320/Siriya+on+the+Phone+at+the+Tree+hut.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Siriya chatting on the phone</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-esOWdqkRixY/TyVoLv-4iHI/AAAAAAAADwg/PsI_l2c49S0/s1600/Sneaky+Bull+heading+towards+the+road.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-esOWdqkRixY/TyVoLv-4iHI/AAAAAAAADwg/PsI_l2c49S0/s320/Sneaky+Bull+heading+towards+the+road.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bull came by noiselessly...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-On6MvNjD_Xo/TyVoP26jddI/AAAAAAAADwo/GOOf_iu4vuk/s1600/Sneaky+Bull-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-On6MvNjD_Xo/TyVoP26jddI/AAAAAAAADwo/GOOf_iu4vuk/s320/Sneaky+Bull-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...headed towards the road soundlessly</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MmfZzU0gjaY/TyVoTSD57LI/AAAAAAAADww/9wFF1BG3WAI/s1600/Sneaky+Bull+approaching+the+road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MmfZzU0gjaY/TyVoTSD57LI/AAAAAAAADww/9wFF1BG3WAI/s320/Sneaky+Bull+approaching+the+road.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even the two dogs on the road did not notice or hear him!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KgJfBi7BRhs/TyVoWYZytMI/AAAAAAAADw4/e9ZA_ajZpJY/s1600/Sneaky+Bull+Crossing+the+Road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KgJfBi7BRhs/TyVoWYZytMI/AAAAAAAADw4/e9ZA_ajZpJY/s320/Sneaky+Bull+Crossing+the+Road.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossing the road</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YqnYlibRWkA/TyVoZCpizFI/AAAAAAAADxA/FFi0DpC3nMA/s1600/Sneaky+Bull+crossing+the+road+behind+Siriya.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="215" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YqnYlibRWkA/TyVoZCpizFI/AAAAAAAADxA/FFi0DpC3nMA/s320/Sneaky+Bull+crossing+the+road+behind+Siriya.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Siriya oblivious to the fact that a massive bull elephant is behind him!</td></tr>
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<b style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Epilogue - sort of!</span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">From these short accounts and the information we have gathered so far—while we cannot make definite conclusions in regard to the temporal and spatial distribution of elephants—at least we know they had not disappeared from the area as we had earlier feared! The elephants seem to have changed the time of their ranging in the area and are moving during the late morning and afternoon which seemed very unusual. The observations show that the elephants were moving much earlier or later during the day than we were used to seeing them do in the past. This could be because we never made an attempt to observe elephants during these times before. But on the other hand we know for sure that for the past 3 months they were not making an appearance during the usual times at the places we used to see them very frequently.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">This could be a seasonal behavior that we were observing based on weather and the availability of food and water since the jungle is still very lush and verdant from the last rains. What is exciting for us is that elephants are still frequenting and moving through the Tree Hut Elephant Corridor albeit at different times. According to the ongoing observations it seems they are in the process of reverting to their former routine—we will know this for sure as the dry season gradually sets in and the availability of food and water depletes in the forest. Nevertheless this current information bodes well for my good friend Robert Durham, who is planning to celebrate his birthday in a grand manner next month amidst the elephants at Wasgamuwa! This is an event everybody in Wasgamuwa is waiting for in high anticipation. Maybe we can arrange an elephant to blow out the candles!!! <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eDyCThik6GA/TyVse4deojI/AAAAAAAADxI/L3xV5ZhTM60/s1600/Robert+-+I'm+coming+back!.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eDyCThik6GA/TyVse4deojI/AAAAAAAADxI/L3xV5ZhTM60/s320/Robert+-+I'm+coming+back!.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'll be back!</td></tr>
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</span></div>SLWCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13385383717997197891noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759649900435291798.post-7138206604961240822012-01-08T19:01:00.000-08:002012-01-08T19:01:28.589-08:00Where have all the Elephants gone…will we ever know?<div style="text-align: justify;">It was the second week of October 2011 and we were beginning to feel that something has drastically changed in the area that we call the Tree Hut Corridor. Normally on any given day we could guarantee that there would be elephants by the tree hut from the afternoon onwards, but by the 2nd week of October it seems all the elephants had vanished and our guarantee along with them! </div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5n_rYscgdMY/TwnJgeoXwJI/AAAAAAAADf4/vG9SgF1DJ_A/s1600/DSCF4222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5n_rYscgdMY/TwnJgeoXwJI/AAAAAAAADf4/vG9SgF1DJ_A/s320/DSCF4222.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elephants can be found by the tree hut practically everyday by afternoon.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">Just the week before we were with a French film crew from Ocean Television based in Montreal, Canada and elephants were everywhere. We even organized a limited over cricket tournament between the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society staff and two of our project villages for the film crew with the elephants providing a unique backdrop. But now all of a sudden they were gone and we had no clue as to why, where or when! </div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eQ-H9P86UYU/Twncba_F9sI/AAAAAAAADgA/0sQdiEMGU60/s1600/Lahugala+Field+Trip+-+Aug+16-19th+2010+554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149px" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eQ-H9P86UYU/Twncba_F9sI/AAAAAAAADgA/0sQdiEMGU60/s320/Lahugala+Field+Trip+-+Aug+16-19th+2010+554.jpg" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The elephants provided a unique backdrop to the local cricket tournament</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">During this time we had a very good American friend of mine, Robert Durham from the U.S. Embassy in Colombo drop by with two of his friends to spend some time in the wilderness observing elephants. They spent 3 days with us and all three days we went scouting for elephants on foot and by vehicle and covered an area of over 50 square kilometers. We left everyday at 4 am in the morning and came back to the field lodge only in the late evening beat from our excursions in search for elephants to get revived by Jack Daniels and Sri Lankan curries. Twice we took Robert and his friends to the Wasgamuwa National Park but we did not see one elephant! Further adding to our frustrations was the fact that during our foot safaris we would came across fresh piles of elephant dung but no elephants! We waited by the Hettipola town’s garbage dump stoically ignoring the stench hoping for elephants to show up. Normally elephants would show up at the dump exactly the same time as the tractor with the day’s garbage collection. No Luck this time! Either the elephants have had enough of eating garbage or had moved on to better food! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robert at the Sunrise Rock at our Field House</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U7SXi1kz_y4/TwnmXuQpSiI/AAAAAAAADhA/pg_NbewA8GI/s1600/IMG_2384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213px" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U7SXi1kz_y4/TwnmXuQpSiI/AAAAAAAADhA/pg_NbewA8GI/s320/IMG_2384.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everyday at 4 am we left by vehicle...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IPqQjiWhVjY/Twnmh2rEVII/AAAAAAAADhI/2McU3iOVFX0/s1600/IMG_2205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213px" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IPqQjiWhVjY/Twnmh2rEVII/AAAAAAAADhI/2McU3iOVFX0/s320/IMG_2205.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and by foot to look for elephants </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZncZOL99fR4/TwnmmvJuR3I/AAAAAAAADhQ/rPk2v9w2Kko/s1600/IMG_2207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213px" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZncZOL99fR4/TwnmmvJuR3I/AAAAAAAADhQ/rPk2v9w2Kko/s320/IMG_2207.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossing the littoral plain of the dried up Namini Oya Lake</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fo4JGgm4ZaM/Twnmr_Vd7LI/AAAAAAAADhY/G_Kr07Ht9_M/s1600/IMG_2217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213px" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fo4JGgm4ZaM/Twnmr_Vd7LI/AAAAAAAADhY/G_Kr07Ht9_M/s320/IMG_2217.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We frequently came across piles of fresh elephant dung but no elephants!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xtVwedbW9GE/TwnmxeipiKI/AAAAAAAADhg/6jHPrAfHUe4/s1600/IMG_2262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213px" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xtVwedbW9GE/TwnmxeipiKI/AAAAAAAADhg/6jHPrAfHUe4/s320/IMG_2262.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robert the intrepid aventurer with a herd of water buffalo in the background</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>It was obvious by then that the elephants in the area have changed their ranging patterns and it was important for us to understand this change—especially to know whether this was an annual cyclic event that was important to the ecology of the elephants in the area. If this was the case then we need to identify the environmental and anthropogenic factors directly and indirectly related to the seasonal distribution of elephant and their transit through the Tree Hut Corridor.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oZ70iGfZfV4/Two2wyOUjAI/AAAAAAAADho/kqZFvIbbKro/s1600/DSCF4185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oZ70iGfZfV4/Two2wyOUjAI/AAAAAAAADho/kqZFvIbbKro/s320/DSCF4185.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A herd of elephants at the Tree Hut Corridor</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The area that we call the Tree Hut Corridor connects the southern boundary of the Wasgamuwa National Park (WNP) and the Vee-Yaya forest reserve with the Weheragalagama Tank and its associated littoral plain and reservation areas and the hilly forest reserves and lowland plains of Sudu Kanda Range extending southwards through Goda Ulpotha and Namini Oya to connect with the Elawana Kanda Range that provides a link to the Knuckles Mountains. Elephants range throughout this entire area all the way up to the Pitawala Pathana, which is a plateau located nearly 5,000 feet in the Knuckles Mountains. The Tree Hut Corridor is a contiguous landscape that provides a vital and important link to various habitats for elephants which is also crucial for their annual ranging. While it would be great to study the temporal and spatial distribution of elephants in this entire area—due to practical considerations we were only interested in the area extending from the southern boundary of the WNP in the north to the northeastern boundary of the Elawana Kanda Range in the south. Observations conducted since 2002 shows that elephants are present in this area throughout the year—which means there is a resident population—but it seems their composition, density, distribution, ranging, and habitat use within this area changes drastically through the year. Therefore it was imperative that we gather data to understand the temporal and spatial distribution of the elephants and to identify the various habitats they utilize during what time of the year in their annual ranging within this area. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zkW8ipsZssg/Two21NAlGzI/AAAAAAAADhw/EjAFVFDZMqU/s1600/DSCF4274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zkW8ipsZssg/Two21NAlGzI/AAAAAAAADhw/EjAFVFDZMqU/s320/DSCF4274.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elephants use the Tree Hut Corridor to access the Weheragala Lake that can be seeing in the background</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dtxKGWSODBg/Two25b7SYsI/AAAAAAAADh4/40qB36jCjo8/s1600/DSCF4297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dtxKGWSODBg/Two25b7SYsI/AAAAAAAADh4/40qB36jCjo8/s320/DSCF4297.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A SLWCS field vehicle approaching the tree hut amidst a herd of elephants that are right underneath it</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7299j6-ocAM/Two29uf70WI/AAAAAAAADiA/hyA_kUWbK8M/s1600/DSCF4305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7299j6-ocAM/Two29uf70WI/AAAAAAAADiA/hyA_kUWbK8M/s320/DSCF4305.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On some days the elephants are so numerous they cause local traffic jams!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>While we were developing the research plan for this project Shafin Kidy from England spent a week with us as our first volunteer for December. Shafin saw six elephants on his first day in the evening feeding at the edge of the Weheragala Tank (reservoir) and on his second day he observed a herd of five elephants from the tree hut. This same herd Shafin observed again the following day when he was returning after helping with a trail transect to collect data on elephants and leopards. A day prior to his departure Shafin spent an entire day in the Wasgamuwa National Park where again he saw a large number of elephants including various other wildlife. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z7FVVv5spMA/Two9sXN1OZI/AAAAAAAADiI/mrTiBbA7WRU/s1600/At+the+Wasgamua+NP+with+Shafin-15-12-2011+023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z7FVVv5spMA/Two9sXN1OZI/AAAAAAAADiI/mrTiBbA7WRU/s320/At+the+Wasgamua+NP+with+Shafin-15-12-2011+023.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shafin with an elephant</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ovtszIK2tqE/Two9xuV13PI/AAAAAAAADiQ/rAvGCRY9lSo/s1600/At+the+Wasgamua+NP+with+Shafin-15-12-2011+043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ovtszIK2tqE/Two9xuV13PI/AAAAAAAADiQ/rAvGCRY9lSo/s320/At+the+Wasgamua+NP+with+Shafin-15-12-2011+043.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shafin observing an elephant from the SLWCS field vehicle</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PCPqt0SWI6g/Two93j7o-OI/AAAAAAAADiY/xRteBdEtvQc/s1600/At+the+Wasgamua+NP+with+Shafin-15-12-2011+031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PCPqt0SWI6g/Two93j7o-OI/AAAAAAAADiY/xRteBdEtvQc/s320/At+the+Wasgamua+NP+with+Shafin-15-12-2011+031.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting an up close and personal experience</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5fjPR5d3WTI/Two-HIJ6x4I/AAAAAAAADio/j2KAYWogCZw/s1600/At+the+Wasgamua+NP+with+Shafin-15-12-2011+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5fjPR5d3WTI/Two-HIJ6x4I/AAAAAAAADio/j2KAYWogCZw/s320/At+the+Wasgamua+NP+with+Shafin-15-12-2011+007.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shafin enjoying a delicious cup of Ceylon Tea by the Mahaweli Ganga River</td></tr>
</tbody></table>By the time we were ready to start the preliminary field surveys Craig Fox from England joined the team on December 25th. On December 27th we started to conduct elephant surveys in the Tree Hut Corridor. The first trail transect was conducted from the Namini Oya tank to where the tree hut is along a South-North axis. The transect was on a new trail about 2 kilometers away parallel to the old track. The field team followed an elephant path and signs left behind by elephants to mark out this new trail. The team consisting of Chinthaka, Craig and Jayatileka who is a local villager the SLWCS has trained as a Field Scout had first encountered the dung of a large bull at the beginning of the transect and had come across piles of more recent dung in the open scrub and savanna areas. They had also found leopard scat! It seems like this area has tremendous potential for wildlife research. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ScFGJPiVAx0/Two-RQvmrFI/AAAAAAAADiw/Kx4w9LnQr6Q/s1600/Transect-Naminioya-Treehut-with+Craig+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ScFGJPiVAx0/Two-RQvmrFI/AAAAAAAADiw/Kx4w9LnQr6Q/s320/Transect-Naminioya-Treehut-with+Craig+011.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chtinthaka, Jayatileka & Craig conducting the first Tree Hut Corridor field survey</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-02OKyGM5ji0/Two-caOKnYI/AAAAAAAADi4/H7PJPHysD2g/s1600/Transect-Naminioya-Treehut-with+Craig+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-02OKyGM5ji0/Two-caOKnYI/AAAAAAAADi4/H7PJPHysD2g/s320/Transect-Naminioya-Treehut-with+Craig+013.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Craig checking out elephant dung</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m3GL2uo-fmc/Two-lxrS2mI/AAAAAAAADjA/qfGhubNwOhc/s1600/Transect-Naminioya-Treehut-with+Craig+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m3GL2uo-fmc/Two-lxrS2mI/AAAAAAAADjA/qfGhubNwOhc/s320/Transect-Naminioya-Treehut-with+Craig+022.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A GPS point is taken of every dung pile that is encountered</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The first transect was ended after 4 kilometers. The following day the team continued from the point where the transect was ended to all the way up to the tree hut—a total distance of 12 kilometers. On January 3rd three massive bull elephants had come right underneath the tree house and have been playing around. They had come around 5.30 pm and stayed up until 7.00 pm. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kUCXcIGVrcw/TwpOPY9fCMI/AAAAAAAADjI/_GcpS5sn030/s1600/Elephants+around+treehut-4-2-2012+059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213px" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kUCXcIGVrcw/TwpOPY9fCMI/AAAAAAAADjI/_GcpS5sn030/s320/Elephants+around+treehut-4-2-2012+059.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three big bull elephants at the Tree Hut</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QuAZ0G3FFCE/TwpOsk7A4bI/AAAAAAAADjQ/_LCXe3vv550/s1600/Elephants+around+treehut-4-2-2012+029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213px" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QuAZ0G3FFCE/TwpOsk7A4bI/AAAAAAAADjQ/_LCXe3vv550/s320/Elephants+around+treehut-4-2-2012+029.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A curious bull elephant</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rQ5n16JLEcw/TwpOxk5DjEI/AAAAAAAADjY/_hQfftoX6wU/s1600/Elephants+around+treehut-4-2-2012+028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213px" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rQ5n16JLEcw/TwpOxk5DjEI/AAAAAAAADjY/_hQfftoX6wU/s320/Elephants+around+treehut-4-2-2012+028.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No worries there - just some curious elephant fans up in a Tree Hut - nothing unusual! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OCtxZK6HkRY/TwpPDYg_O1I/AAAAAAAADjo/l2EWBVA_VI0/s1600/Elephants+around+treehut-4-2-2012+058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213px" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OCtxZK6HkRY/TwpPDYg_O1I/AAAAAAAADjo/l2EWBVA_VI0/s320/Elephants+around+treehut-4-2-2012+058.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bulls spent a relaxed evening while there is much excitement up in the Tree Hut!</td></tr>
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On January 2nd we were joined by Gene Wheeler from Seattle, Washington, USA, so now the team consists of 4 people. During the dry season we do tank monitoring to gather data on elephants along the littoral plains of all the irrigation tanks in the area. Due to the monsoon rains currently the Weheragala Tank (lake) including all of the other tanks are at spill level so there is no way to drive or walk along the shoreline. To overcome this seasonal obstacle the field team goes by boat to the forest to gather data on elephants. The first lake crossing was done on January 4th. The team had crossed the lake and immediately met an elephant in the forest. They had taken cover behind a bush until the elephant had moved away. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Due to the Monsoons all the tanks are at spill level</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elephant sign is still numerous along the shorelines</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The trails around the lakes get flooded making it impossible to walk along the shorelines</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking a boat is one solution. Gene at the helm of the boat</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading into forest to gather data</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SLWCS Field Scout Jayatileka leading the way</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking cover behind some bushes...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mabAk35k_t4/TwpO6XqEmtI/AAAAAAAADjg/Tnu_swcFe5s/s1600/Elephants+around+treehut-4-2-2012+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213px" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mabAk35k_t4/TwpO6XqEmtI/AAAAAAAADjg/Tnu_swcFe5s/s320/Elephants+around+treehut-4-2-2012+016.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...at the sudden appearance of a large bull elephant!</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: justify;">An interesting and fascinating additional activity has been integrated into our daily excursions into the jungles to gather data on elephants. Mr. Rathnayake is the government Archeology Officer and the person responsible for Archeological research in the Wasgamuwa area. He has met Chinthaka at the Divisional Secretary’s office in the Hettipola Town and had mentioned that he is very interested to do some Archeological surveys in the area but found it impossible and was also scared to go alone into the jungle due to the presence of wild elephants. He has asked Chinthaka whether he can join our team when we do trail transects in the forest. On January 4th Mr. Rathnayake had come to our field house to explain and demonstrate to the team how to help with archeological surveys. After spending the night at the field house the early next day morning Mr. Rathnayake had taken the team to do some preliminary archeological training surveys along the shoreline of the Karawgas Weva, which is a lake just below our field house. During this initial training demonstration they have found ancient iron artifacts, ore samples and the remains of a black smith foundry. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr. Rathnayake, the government Archeology Officer demonstrating field techniques</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iron artefacts</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another iron artefact</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A black and white magpie by the ancient iron foundry</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the many ancient iron artefacts that were found at Pussellayaya</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3JYueD3cwUw/Twnc_6UNDOI/AAAAAAAADgw/Mez8n-Am5V4/s1600/%2528Archeology+Research+around+SLWCS+Field+house%2529+Iron+slag+%2526+Oven+%252841%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213px" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3JYueD3cwUw/Twnc_6UNDOI/AAAAAAAADgw/Mez8n-Am5V4/s320/%2528Archeology+Research+around+SLWCS+Field+house%2529+Iron+slag+%2526+Oven+%252841%2529.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An iron ring</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">It seems like adding the archeological research to the elephant research will give a nice mix of culture and nature activities for our international volunteers. The Wasgamuwa region is steeped in legends, myths, and history. Historians claim Wasgamuwa was where an epic battle was fought during 2100 BC. This is incredible! We cannot imagine what exciting new discoveries are waiting to be found in those dry zone jungles? What will we find out about our ancient past along with our efforts to get a better understanding of the current movement of elephants at our project site? Will our efforts to unearth the buried history of Sri Lanka shed new light on our long standing contentious relationship with the elephant? </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Would you like to be a part of these efforts? Why not join us and have an adventure of a life time! Contact us at: info@slwcs.org </div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">For additional photos of our current field work and volunteer experiences please visit our Face Book at SLWCS Sri Lanka.</div></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>SLWCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13385383717997197891noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759649900435291798.post-7504708497913673552010-10-18T08:19:00.000-07:002010-10-18T12:03:17.262-07:00What goes on in the wilderness! The mystery of the disappearing coconuts, adapting to climate change, another diplomatic visit, a Swiss gone native, bantams, Asils & guineas, and the great mouse deer rescue<strong>Wasgamuwa</strong><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLxptXtNTUI/AAAAAAAADW0/2-NO7z_yhqo/s1600/Dawn+at+PG-Cattleshed+&+Ongoing+Construction+113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLxptXtNTUI/AAAAAAAADW0/2-NO7z_yhqo/s320/Dawn+at+PG-Cattleshed+&+Ongoing+Construction+113.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>A new day...a new beginning at Wasgamuwa</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLxpv00ki3I/AAAAAAAADW4/RpACIRTb6Ew/s1600/Dawn+at+PG-Cattleshed+&+Ongoing+Construction+069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="220" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLxpv00ki3I/AAAAAAAADW4/RpACIRTb6Ew/s320/Dawn+at+PG-Cattleshed+&+Ongoing+Construction+069.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Dawn for me always represents the promise of hope</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Dawn―what a great concept! It is the best time of day as far as I’m concerned. A new day, a new beginning…and the same old problems! At 5 am in the morning, Siriya our Ambassador Lodge caretaker along with my customarily cup of hot Ceylon tea has brought a host of complaints. There goes my tranquility and bliss. Since the visit of the Honorable Patricia Butenis, the United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka for a 3 day visit to our field house we have renamed our field house the <em>Ambassador Lodge</em> and the room she stayed the <em>Ambassador Suite</em> which has a large bedroom, its own living room and attached bath. First among Siriya’s complaints is that coconuts that are left on the kitchen counter for cooking are disappearing. The second complaint is along with the coconuts he is also missing his betel leaves depriving him of his customarily chew. Stopping him before he could go on listing more complaints―I ask Siriya for how long this has been going on? Siriya claims it has been going for about a week now. So putting aside what I was working on I put on my mantle of undercover investigator and set out to catch the <em>Pol</em> and <em>Bulath Hora</em> (coconut and betel thief). It took my mind back to the days when as a kid I used to read Enid Blyton mysteries and Hardy Boys books. A little bit of sleuth work had to be done in Sherlock Holmes style aided by my very unlike Dr. Watson side kick, the devious Siriya. </div><br />
<strong>Climate Change</strong><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">Climate change is supposed to be the most important and biggest environmental challenge the world will face in the new millennium. Since the past 3 years the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society has been trying to address this issue―especially by developing local actions for rural farming communities to adapt to climate change. One of the seminal and innovative programs was our Project Orange Elephant (POE). The goals and objectives of POE are multifold. First amongst its objective is to identify and promote alternative crops that are not susceptible to elephant raiding―basically these are crops that elephants do not prefer to eat while bringing the farmer an equal or better income than cultivating rice. The crops also need to be suitable to changing climatic conditions irrespective of whether cultivation seasons get shorter or longer. Basically a “no regrets” approach where the project outcomes will be beneficial either way. As mentioned earlier whatever alternative crops that are selected―not only do they have to survive drastic weather fluctuations but also survive elephant depredations as well. Through our ongoing field work we identified citrus as a good alternative crop that could provide farmers with an economic buffer if their main cereal crops suffered from elephant raids as well climate change induced events such as droughts and floods. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">To make sure that citrus could fulfill this role, we conducted feeding trials with the six elephants at the Dehiwala Zoo to ensure that elephants did not eat citrus preferentially. The elephants were given a selection of 9 food items: carrot, pumpkin, banana, grapefruit, mandarin, orange, bitter gourd, cucumber and a branch of a citrus tree. To ensure they were all very hungry at the time―the trials were conducted always before their main meals. Instead of giving them their main meals each elephant was given the same quantity of the 9 food items first. Six elephant keepers stood in front of each elephant with a basket of food containing the 9 food items in equal portions. Six independent observers were stationed at each elephant to record their feeding behavior. At the ringing of a bell the keepers offered the food to the elephants. The manner in which the elephants selected and ate the various foods was recorded and at the end of 15 minutes the bell was rung and all the leftover food items were collected and measured. The feeding trials were conducted three times a day always before the elephants were given their main meals for 3 non-consecutive days paced over one month to ensure that the elephants did not get habituated. The results showed that elephants did not prefer to eat citrus fruits and bitter gourd. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLxmBbI0JFI/AAAAAAAADWQ/OfR0Gm08xlM/s1600/POE-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="215" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLxmBbI0JFI/AAAAAAAADWQ/OfR0Gm08xlM/s320/POE-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Nine kinds of vegetables and fruits were selected randomly including 4 varieties of citrus</strong></div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLxl_vp5VqI/AAAAAAAADWM/3fe3joF4DXI/s1600/POE-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="215" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLxl_vp5VqI/AAAAAAAADWM/3fe3joF4DXI/s320/POE-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Six equal portions were made of the 9 food items</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLxmITp0W8I/AAAAAAAADWY/LTFqCq43XOg/s1600/POE-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="219" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLxmITp0W8I/AAAAAAAADWY/LTFqCq43XOg/s320/POE-4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>At the ringing of a bell they were given to the elephants</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLxmMb95dAI/AAAAAAAADWc/KJHP8UUQIX8/s1600/POE-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="208" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLxmMb95dAI/AAAAAAAADWc/KJHP8UUQIX8/s320/POE-10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Six observers recorded how the elephants selected and ate the food for 15 minutes</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLxmQDhlu9I/AAAAAAAADWg/4cdjzwpajoQ/s1600/POE-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="205" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLxmQDhlu9I/AAAAAAAADWg/4cdjzwpajoQ/s320/POE-11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLxmTte9kXI/AAAAAAAADWk/AsXuuVRMCQw/s1600/POE-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="216" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLxmTte9kXI/AAAAAAAADWk/AsXuuVRMCQw/s320/POE-12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>At the end of 15 minutes the left over food items were collected and measured</strong></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Based on the outcomes of these feeding trials in 2006, 65 village households of a remote village in Wasgamuwa affected by raiding elephants were provided ten grafted sweet orange seedlings per home. The initial project was funded by Born Free Foundation and Elephant Care International. The project is a tremendous success. The orange trees are bearing fruit now and providing farmers with a large supplementary income. None of the grafted seedlings were damaged or destroyed by elephants while the biggest dangers and risks to the plants were from livestock and uncontrolled burning. Observing the success of the project, now other farmers are clamoring to be recruited into the project. Project Orange Elephant is now in its 3rd phase and a further 1,000 grafted sweet orange seedlings will be distributed with the onset of the rains in October to households in another village close to the boundary of the Wasgamuwa National Park that is affected severely by human elephant conflicts. The Born Free Foundation has continued to fund the project. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLxqTlGMBwI/AAAAAAAADXA/dfFZEluuWys/s1600/POE-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLxqTlGMBwI/AAAAAAAADXA/dfFZEluuWys/s320/POE-8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>65 village homes were given 10 grafted plants each</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLxqQE2ISCI/AAAAAAAADW8/AeMpxPZs1Gs/s1600/POE-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="245" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLxqQE2ISCI/AAAAAAAADW8/AeMpxPZs1Gs/s320/POE-5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>The grafted orange plants awaiting delivery</strong></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLxqWdhK5PI/AAAAAAAADXE/Ksy2M3YFpOI/s1600/RC-Sri+Lanka+Trip+Feb+2010-Part+1+096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLxqWdhK5PI/AAAAAAAADXE/Ksy2M3YFpOI/s320/RC-Sri+Lanka+Trip+Feb+2010-Part+1+096.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>The plants bear fruit in 3 years</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLxqY3WmgnI/AAAAAAAADXI/8ol3_L5_PzI/s1600/RC-Sri+Lanka+Trip+Feb+2010-Part+1+102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLxqY3WmgnI/AAAAAAAADXI/8ol3_L5_PzI/s320/RC-Sri+Lanka+Trip+Feb+2010-Part+1+102.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Orange flowers attract bees providing an additional income</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLxrrDXN9JI/AAAAAAAADXM/fOIg6A1Za1E/s1600/POE-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="238" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLxrrDXN9JI/AAAAAAAADXM/fOIg6A1Za1E/s320/POE-6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Each tree bears over 600 fruits annually</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The low country Dry and Intermediate Zones of Sri Lanka are supposed to be the most vulnerable to climate change impacts. Climate Change experts are predicting that these two climatic zones in Sri Lanka will be affected by longer dry seasons, extended droughts, short rain seasons and heavier rainfall leading to excessive rain and floods. Already we are observing such anomalies in the weather at Wasgamuwa and since both of these climatic zones are important agro-eco regions it has become imperative to start addressing such concerns. In our efforts to develop community-based approaches to climate change adaptation we are now focusing on water conservation and management since water shortages for cultivation and consumption will be a huge concern in the future. To promote awareness the SLWCS established a water conservation and management model at our Pussellayaya field site and at our Maha Mega Uyana dairy farm at Moragaha Ulpotha so that villagers could observe, learn and adapt these methods. We have established a small-plot irrigation system at Pussellayaya that includes an affordable drip irrigation system and a rainwater harvester with a capacity of 12,000 liters. At the Maha Mega Uyana dairy farm we constructed two rainwater harvesters with a total capacity of 40,000 liters. Most rural farmers comprise of those who produce crops on very small plots of land in home gardens or on other small landholdings. These farmers will benefit tremendously by been introduced to small-plot irrigation technologies since these technologies are characterized by low initial investment costs, relatively short payback periods, and high farm-level returns on investments. Along with the water conservation model we have established we will also conduct awareness programs on these technologies to provide stakeholders with linkages and resources to access and acquire these technologies. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx4-kLnETI/AAAAAAAADZ4/lT8aDrAXBug/s1600/Drip+System-15.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx4-kLnETI/AAAAAAAADZ4/lT8aDrAXBug/s320/Drip+System-15.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>The water tank that supplies the drip irrigation system</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx5Bpg_ddI/AAAAAAAADZ8/W_kPnFNg0WM/s1600/Simple+Drip+Irrigation+System.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx5Bpg_ddI/AAAAAAAADZ8/W_kPnFNg0WM/s320/Simple+Drip+Irrigation+System.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>A diagram of a simple drip irrigation system</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><br />
</strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx4RBYUUCI/AAAAAAAADZM/Ti9HkJoQz9E/s1600/Drip+System-12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx4RBYUUCI/AAAAAAAADZM/Ti9HkJoQz9E/s320/Drip+System-12.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Additional sections can be easily added later on</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx4VGpVLDI/AAAAAAAADZU/airsf54mV8g/s1600/Drip+System-17.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx4VGpVLDI/AAAAAAAADZU/airsf54mV8g/s320/Drip+System-17.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Every plant gets a spray nozzle</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx4SngmMPI/AAAAAAAADZQ/3RZLAYR8UhY/s1600/Drip+System-8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx4SngmMPI/AAAAAAAADZQ/3RZLAYR8UhY/s320/Drip+System-8.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>The new nozzles spray which is more effective than dripping</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx4cRmw6zI/AAAAAAAADZc/Hlwj_Hv6Ec4/s1600/IMG_1128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx4cRmw6zI/AAAAAAAADZc/Hlwj_Hv6Ec4/s320/IMG_1128.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>The Pussellayaya rain water harvester under construction</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx4f07QssI/AAAAAAAADZg/7Fr4SGVM67I/s1600/IMG_1149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx4f07QssI/AAAAAAAADZg/7Fr4SGVM67I/s320/IMG_1149.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Putting up the rain gutters to connect to the harvester</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx4iEgZTVI/AAAAAAAADZk/qtsQeicbPS0/s1600/IMG_1245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx4iEgZTVI/AAAAAAAADZk/qtsQeicbPS0/s320/IMG_1245.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>The completed rain water harvester connected to the gutter</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx4nMjy6JI/AAAAAAAADZo/G-Nazkic57A/s1600/Wasgamuwa+Trip+-+Dairy+Farm+Operations-+Sep+2010+113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx4nMjy6JI/AAAAAAAADZo/G-Nazkic57A/s320/Wasgamuwa+Trip+-+Dairy+Farm+Operations-+Sep+2010+113.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>One of the rain water harvesters at the dairy farm under construction</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx4pwu9JeI/AAAAAAAADZs/GWYJizDa4jA/s1600/Second+Wasgamuwa+Trip+-+PG+-+Dairy+Farm+Operations-Poul+Oct+2010+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx4pwu9JeI/AAAAAAAADZs/GWYJizDa4jA/s320/Second+Wasgamuwa+Trip+-+PG+-+Dairy+Farm+Operations-Poul+Oct+2010+006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Compeleted rain water harvesters</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx4tUXmt_I/AAAAAAAADZw/6_EHrn8Ktlc/s1600/Second+Wasgamuwa+Trip+-+PG+-+Dairy+Farm+Operations-Poul+Oct+2010+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx4tUXmt_I/AAAAAAAADZw/6_EHrn8Ktlc/s320/Second+Wasgamuwa+Trip+-+PG+-+Dairy+Farm+Operations-Poul+Oct+2010+008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Each harvester at the dairy farm can hold 20,000 liters</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx4x42HKDI/AAAAAAAADZ0/POwGfO8N1ug/s1600/Second+Wasgamuwa+Trip+-+PG+-+Dairy+Farm+Operations-Poul+Oct+2010+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx4x42HKDI/AAAAAAAADZ0/POwGfO8N1ug/s320/Second+Wasgamuwa+Trip+-+PG+-+Dairy+Farm+Operations-Poul+Oct+2010+005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>The two completed rain water harvesters at the dairy farm with the biogas pit under construction in the middle</strong></div><br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We are also in the process of developing several other programs to further our community-based participatory efforts for climate change adaptation. These efforts include: </div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">1. Acquiring several weather stations to monitor local weather patterns. The weather stations will be located at local schools and students will monitor these stations. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">2. Providing resources, technical support and extension services for villagers to develop their home gardens, practice crop rotation, and cultivate alternative crops.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">3. Increasing the green cover and “carbon sink” capability of the villages by propagating and planting native tree species which will also contribute to biodiversity conservation. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">4. Conducting public awareness program in partnership with local government authorities to encourage villagers to use CFL bulbs and energy-efficient stoves that burn less wood which can help cut about 1 million tons of CO2 each year.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">5. Due to the increasing number of motorcycles, land master tractors and Bajaj Trishaws in rural areas today villagers are becoming dependent on these modes of transportation to do even short trips instead of the traditional pedal bicycles and walking. Through public awareness programs villagers will be encouraged to go back to the use of bicycles and walking for short trips which will not only cut down on emissions and fuel expenditure but also contribute to better health and a cleaner environment. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">One of the main goals of our efforts is to bring about attitudinal and behavioral changes in the communities at our project sites in Wasgamuwa to meet the challenges of climate change adaptation. The Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society (SLWCS) recognizes the fact that today children are seen as one of the most positive influencing forces for social change. One of the most effective ways to promote awareness about environmental issues and promote environmentally responsible behaviors is by providing increased access to environmental education for children. The goal is to expose people to different environmental issues and concerns through their children with the hope that the children’s influence will lead to interest and result in action.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We hope to achieve this by empowering school children to become positive influences and agents for change in their communities for environmental conservation and climate change adaptation by providing them with the knowledge, awareness, and access to information, technology, training, and experience. </div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLxsnDxx0OI/AAAAAAAADXU/l_qejdi6ejo/s1600/Ravi+SL+&+California+Trip+Nov+2009+194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLxsnDxx0OI/AAAAAAAADXU/l_qejdi6ejo/s320/Ravi+SL+&+California+Trip+Nov+2009+194.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Children can be a positive influencing force for social change</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLxspSN_yeI/AAAAAAAADXY/PEV4eY71QDY/s1600/RC-Sri+Lanka+Trip+Feb+2010-Part+1+662.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLxspSN_yeI/AAAAAAAADXY/PEV4eY71QDY/s320/RC-Sri+Lanka+Trip+Feb+2010-Part+1+662.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Samantha giving a presentation on biodiversity</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLxsrJmVgLI/AAAAAAAADXc/hzl0IoZ2yMw/s1600/RC-Sri+Lanka+Trip+Feb+2010-Part+1+704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLxsrJmVgLI/AAAAAAAADXc/hzl0IoZ2yMw/s320/RC-Sri+Lanka+Trip+Feb+2010-Part+1+704.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Children are better at understanding some of the difficult concepts and challenges</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLxsvBVqSdI/AAAAAAAADXg/JFoihwuQqws/s1600/Ravi+SL+&+California+Trip+Nov+2009+114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLxsvBVqSdI/AAAAAAAADXg/JFoihwuQqws/s320/Ravi+SL+&+California+Trip+Nov+2009+114.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Students are tested before...</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLxs18jLQLI/AAAAAAAADXs/SfKeqvuF1hs/s1600/RC-Sri+Lanka+Trip+Feb+2010-Part+1+730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLxs18jLQLI/AAAAAAAADXs/SfKeqvuF1hs/s320/RC-Sri+Lanka+Trip+Feb+2010-Part+1+730.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>...and after a program</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLxsyMvTPlI/AAAAAAAADXk/pzVdCSJNziQ/s1600/RC-Sri+Lanka+Trip+Feb+2010-Part+1+734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLxsyMvTPlI/AAAAAAAADXk/pzVdCSJNziQ/s320/RC-Sri+Lanka+Trip+Feb+2010-Part+1+734.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>The change in their score is a measurement of how much knowledge and awareness they have gained</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLxs0MAgq7I/AAAAAAAADXo/Hd-yUzXjUZA/s1600/RC-Sri+Lanka+Trip+Feb+2010-Part+1+756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLxs0MAgq7I/AAAAAAAADXo/Hd-yUzXjUZA/s320/RC-Sri+Lanka+Trip+Feb+2010-Part+1+756.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>At the end of the program the students are given books or plants</strong></div><br />
<strong>Animal Tales</strong><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Long-necked One Eyed Joe is the largest goose in our gaggle of geese. He is easily over 15 kilos and blind in one eye―hence his name. One Eyed Joe is pretty old―we don’t know how old―probably he must have become a goose at the time the birds split off evolutionarily from the dinosaurs! Seriously he looks that old. The geese have found a new a hangout joint, the kitchen garden and now we have no peace in the field house. The entire kitchen is barricaded with mesh to prevent a geese invasion. Otherwise they come into the kitchen and try to chase the cook away and eat all the food. In the meantime old One Eyed Joe has come across one of the metal equipment cabinets that we keep along a corridor near the kitchen which has a mirror. He has become enamored with the mirror or least with his own image. He now spends a considerable amount of time standing in front of it honking quietly to himself twisting his head and serpentine neck into various poses. Either he is extremely narcissistic―taking extreme pleasure at looking at his own prehistoric form for hours on end―or he is driving himself nuts trying to figure out how come there is a huge goose just like him that he cannot catch hold of, which seems the more likely situation considering his mental capacity which is none.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLxv9pwvh0I/AAAAAAAADX4/vEwYc2hjY4g/s1600/Big+Mutt-DF-Ollie-+Releasing+Meeminna+193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLxv9pwvh0I/AAAAAAAADX4/vEwYc2hjY4g/s320/Big+Mutt-DF-Ollie-+Releasing+Meeminna+193.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>One Eyed Joe 3rd from the right - our largest goose</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLxv6LqIIjI/AAAAAAAADXw/Ln3esLZuxus/s1600/Big+Mutt-DF-Ollie-+Releasing+Meeminna+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLxv6LqIIjI/AAAAAAAADXw/Ln3esLZuxus/s320/Big+Mutt-DF-Ollie-+Releasing+Meeminna+001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>One Eyed Joe posing at the mirror</strong></div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLxv789hm1I/AAAAAAAADX0/tmwI7hNJcJ0/s1600/Big+Mutt-DF-Ollie-+Releasing+Meeminna+033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLxv789hm1I/AAAAAAAADX0/tmwI7hNJcJ0/s320/Big+Mutt-DF-Ollie-+Releasing+Meeminna+033.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>How did it get in there???</strong></div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I’m at a closed door meeting with the cabinet minister and his wife. Important matters are being discussed, which is how to obtain Dodam our male giant squirrel a mate. The meeting ends with the minister’s wife promising to give her fullest support and help to find Dodam a mate. She immediately gives orders to her team of staff to make an all out effort to find a female giant squirrel. Two weeks later I receive a call from the minister’s wife. An orphaned baby giant squirrel has been found but she is not sure whether it is a male or a female. I go by the house and the staff brings out the baby giant squirrel. It is adorable and has become very friendly but unfortunately it was a male. Since the main goal of our efforts is to give all rescued wild animals a second chance to live free, we take him to our field site. The little baby is an instant hit with the volunteers and the American film crew from New York. Emma one of our international volunteers from Scotland promptly names the baby giant squirrel, Ollie. So on August 2010, Ollie the baby giant squirrel joined an ever growing line up of rescued wildlife at our field site. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx0B73rVQI/AAAAAAAADYA/-nqv2uKNR_A/s1600/Cow+Selection-Marble+Beach-Trinco+Dump-Ollie+348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="313" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx0B73rVQI/AAAAAAAADYA/-nqv2uKNR_A/s320/Cow+Selection-Marble+Beach-Trinco+Dump-Ollie+348.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>The day we picked up Ollie from the minster's home</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx0E55cCoI/AAAAAAAADYE/40XXUM5eEvo/s1600/Cow+Selection-Marble+Beach-Trinco+Dump-Ollie+354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx0E55cCoI/AAAAAAAADYE/40XXUM5eEvo/s320/Cow+Selection-Marble+Beach-Trinco+Dump-Ollie+354.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Ollie arriving at our field house</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx0KzplYxI/AAAAAAAADYI/4he_WXLJ9ZU/s1600/Cow+Selection-Marble+Beach-Trinco+Dump-Ollie+374.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx0KzplYxI/AAAAAAAADYI/4he_WXLJ9ZU/s320/Cow+Selection-Marble+Beach-Trinco+Dump-Ollie+374.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Ollie was an instant hit with the ladies...</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx0Ni7qPLI/AAAAAAAADYM/x0KGvX-_1kM/s1600/Cow+Selection-Marble+Beach-Trinco+Dump-Ollie+389.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx0Ni7qPLI/AAAAAAAADYM/x0KGvX-_1kM/s320/Cow+Selection-Marble+Beach-Trinco+Dump-Ollie+389.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>...and practically everybody else</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLyF91AXObI/AAAAAAAADc8/Jkv4e8BXZoI/s1600/Cow+Selection-Marble+Beach-Trinco+Dump-Ollie+377.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLyF91AXObI/AAAAAAAADc8/Jkv4e8BXZoI/s320/Cow+Selection-Marble+Beach-Trinco+Dump-Ollie+377.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>God Mother Emma who christened the baby giant squirrell <em>Ollie</em></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Within a few days Ollie has captured everyone’s hearts expect Dodam’s. Dodam the confirmed bachelor took just one look at Ollie and from his expression it was easy to deduct that he was in vehement denial that Ollie could be any progeny of his. At their first and only meeting Dodam checked out Ollie first to assure himself there was no family resemblance and then took off like a bat out of hell hotly pursued by Ollie. Clambering all the way up to the rafters Dodam refused to come down. I wonder how Dodam will behave when one day we bring him a mate!? I hope he won’t move to the next province!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx1fqOa7ZI/AAAAAAAADY0/mWgyScEG4nw/s1600/Cows-Cattleshed+&+Ongoing+Construction+142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx1fqOa7ZI/AAAAAAAADY0/mWgyScEG4nw/s320/Cows-Cattleshed+&+Ongoing+Construction+142.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Meeting of giants...one barely so</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx1jcOG5HI/AAAAAAAADY4/rUnljXMPf34/s1600/Cows-Cattleshed+&+Ongoing+Construction+145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx1jcOG5HI/AAAAAAAADY4/rUnljXMPf34/s320/Cows-Cattleshed+&+Ongoing+Construction+145.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>I'm outa here</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx1mRvMLnI/AAAAAAAADY8/b5f4Xce7kIk/s1600/Cows-Cattleshed+&+Ongoing+Construction+147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx1mRvMLnI/AAAAAAAADY8/b5f4Xce7kIk/s320/Cows-Cattleshed+&+Ongoing+Construction+147.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Dodam making a beeline to the trees hotly pursued by Ollie</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx1o06SE3I/AAAAAAAADZA/vvgRPemwsbc/s1600/Cows-Cattleshed+&+Ongoing+Construction+154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx1o06SE3I/AAAAAAAADZA/vvgRPemwsbc/s320/Cows-Cattleshed+&+Ongoing+Construction+154.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Phew! That was a narrow escape!</strong></div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">To make sure Ollie learns the basic skills of being a giant squirrel everyday he is taken out and allowed to climb the trees near the field house. Everybody has to be vigilant at this time since there are raptors and wild and feral cats around the field site that would not hesitate to carry plump Ollie off. Ollie seems more interested to explore his surroundings on land than by tree top. I hope we will not end up with a giant squirrel that followed us around like a dog! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx0TIvwA0I/AAAAAAAADYQ/s_Exkb-iXs4/s1600/Kovil-Dancers-Various+Animals-Walking+Cow-Meeminna+102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx0TIvwA0I/AAAAAAAADYQ/s_Exkb-iXs4/s320/Kovil-Dancers-Various+Animals-Walking+Cow-Meeminna+102.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Training day for Ollie</strong></div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx0WwaVg8I/AAAAAAAADYU/aIyqZOog9p4/s1600/Elephant+on+truck-Reeza+&+Dambullu+Boy-Ollie+being+Trained+248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx0WwaVg8I/AAAAAAAADYU/aIyqZOog9p4/s320/Elephant+on+truck-Reeza+&+Dambullu+Boy-Ollie+being+Trained+248.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Do I really need to do this?</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx0mMkTEBI/AAAAAAAADYY/l-Dnnxf6glo/s1600/Elephant+on+truck-Reeza+&+Dambullu+Boy-Ollie+being+Trained+243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx0mMkTEBI/AAAAAAAADYY/l-Dnnxf6glo/s320/Elephant+on+truck-Reeza+&+Dambullu+Boy-Ollie+being+Trained+243.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Am I doing it right?</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx0pcmzGVI/AAAAAAAADYc/cBepGYAnT00/s1600/Big+Mutt-DF-Ollie-+Releasing+Meeminna+222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="254" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx0pcmzGVI/AAAAAAAADYc/cBepGYAnT00/s320/Big+Mutt-DF-Ollie-+Releasing+Meeminna+222.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>I can't believe I'm supposed to do this?</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx0t_1Dk9I/AAAAAAAADYg/KrNnfNZYp0U/s1600/Big+Mutt-DF-Ollie-+Releasing+Meeminna+239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx0t_1Dk9I/AAAAAAAADYg/KrNnfNZYp0U/s320/Big+Mutt-DF-Ollie-+Releasing+Meeminna+239.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Finally made it to the top</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx3svcg_AI/AAAAAAAADZE/lyKAUXtnvYA/s1600/Elephant+on+truck-Reeza+&+Dambullu+Boy-Ollie+being+Trained+267.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx3svcg_AI/AAAAAAAADZE/lyKAUXtnvYA/s320/Elephant+on+truck-Reeza+&+Dambullu+Boy-Ollie+being+Trained+267.jpg" width="296" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>I rather prefer this perch to any old tree branch</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx1NhddzBI/AAAAAAAADYk/jqZSArN8BHI/s1600/Elephant+on+truck-Reeza+&+Dambullu+Boy-Ollie+being+Trained+251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx1NhddzBI/AAAAAAAADYk/jqZSArN8BHI/s320/Elephant+on+truck-Reeza+&+Dambullu+Boy-Ollie+being+Trained+251.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Getting rewarded for effort</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx1YF3IAmI/AAAAAAAADYs/aD6wHKvnDZI/s1600/Big+Mutt-DF-Ollie-+Releasing+Meeminna+227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx1YF3IAmI/AAAAAAAADYs/aD6wHKvnDZI/s320/Big+Mutt-DF-Ollie-+Releasing+Meeminna+227.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Going down seems far more easier than going up</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx1bqEAkmI/AAAAAAAADYw/pNeUws3qkIw/s1600/Second+Wasgamuwa+Trip+-+PG+-+Dairy+Farm+Operations-+Oct+2010+107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx1bqEAkmI/AAAAAAAADYw/pNeUws3qkIw/s320/Second+Wasgamuwa+Trip+-+PG+-+Dairy+Farm+Operations-+Oct+2010+107.jpg" width="284" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>The ground seems much safer than clambering on tree tops...maybe I'll stick to walking</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLyG6quX4VI/AAAAAAAADdA/G0A8Ei_w_xk/s1600/Dawn+at+PG-Cattleshed+&+Ongoing+Construction+&+Ollie+(21).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLyG6quX4VI/AAAAAAAADdA/G0A8Ei_w_xk/s320/Dawn+at+PG-Cattleshed+&+Ongoing+Construction+&+Ollie+(21).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>The kitchen is the best place to hang out</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>At the farm a new batch of ducklings have come out, and today is their training day to learn the ways of ducks and drakes. The bevy of ducklings are loaded into baskets and brought to the pond and placed in the water. The initial expression is a horrified “their trying to drown us” reaction. But soon realizing that it is impossible―meaning to drown since their ducks―they speed across the water like miniature jet-skis! Now every day in the morning they are lined up at their cage door waiting to be let out to romp in the pond. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx6VJep1eI/AAAAAAAADaA/t6F9YjEZSaM/s1600/Ducks+&+ducklings+in+the+pond+-+Dairy+Construction+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx6VJep1eI/AAAAAAAADaA/t6F9YjEZSaM/s320/Ducks+&+ducklings+in+the+pond+-+Dairy+Construction+008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>The ducklings are brought in a basket and placed in the water</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx6ZFhogWI/AAAAAAAADaE/IujHWkrICek/s1600/Ducks+&+ducklings+in+the+pond+-+Dairy+Construction+034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx6ZFhogWI/AAAAAAAADaE/IujHWkrICek/s320/Ducks+&+ducklings+in+the+pond+-+Dairy+Construction+034.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>After they get over their intial horror they jet ski around the pond</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx6b3CEqiI/AAAAAAAADaI/XEUVf0fkxPw/s1600/Ducks+&+ducklings+in+the+pond+-+Dairy+Construction+041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx6b3CEqiI/AAAAAAAADaI/XEUVf0fkxPw/s320/Ducks+&+ducklings+in+the+pond+-+Dairy+Construction+041.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>This is so much fun...</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx6gIX5q-I/AAAAAAAADaM/bwprJ4dP130/s1600/Ducks+&+ducklings+in+the+pond+-+Dairy+Construction+061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx6gIX5q-I/AAAAAAAADaM/bwprJ4dP130/s320/Ducks+&+ducklings+in+the+pond+-+Dairy+Construction+061.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>...until the adults ducks come and make a splash of it</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx6iI7Mf_I/AAAAAAAADaQ/VIRFe9n-qNQ/s1600/Ducks+&+ducklings+in+the+pond+-+Dairy+Construction+083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx6iI7Mf_I/AAAAAAAADaQ/VIRFe9n-qNQ/s320/Ducks+&+ducklings+in+the+pond+-+Dairy+Construction+083.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>The ducklings watch while the adult ducks romp in the pond</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx6l_TYqEI/AAAAAAAADaU/Q1FarImV2ew/s1600/Ducks+&+ducklings+in+the+pond+-+Dairy+Construction+091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx6l_TYqEI/AAAAAAAADaU/Q1FarImV2ew/s320/Ducks+&+ducklings+in+the+pond+-+Dairy+Construction+091.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Better get out before it gets too boisterous!</strong></div><br />
<br />
<strong>The Chicken that Chickened-out</strong><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">I am at our Dehiwala office in Colombo and Gamini as usual walks in full of improbable ideas. Gamini and I used to work for the Education Department of the Dehiwala Zoo. He insists that I acquire a pair of Asils from Lester. Lester is a very well known ornithologists, wildlife artist and naturalist guide who also I knew from my zoo days. Since we were just waiting for any excuse to get out of the office so very gladly putting aside everything Samantha and I head out to Lester’s to check up on his Asils. For those who do not know of these things, Asil (also spelled Aseel) are a breed of fighting chickens or game fowl from India who are known for their tenacious and unrelenting fighting abilities. In fact they are called pugnacious fighters. It is one of our goals to have the most number of pure chicken breeds at our farm so it was not any interest in cockfighting that took us to Lester’s. After much haggling with Lester, Samantha and I convince him to give us three Asils to start a breeding program. We also manage to acquire them at a far more reasonable price than he first demanded. The male and two hens we bring to our farm at Pussellayaya where we now have a considerable collection of various poultry breeds. I don’t know about other Asils and their “pugnacious” fighting qualities but the male Asil we got is a wimp. What is tragic is that even the Japanese bantam roosters come strutting along and knock him down flat and mind you that is just for kicks! I hope Lester does not have a “no return policy” otherwise there is definitely a fight in hand!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx849ryKLI/AAAAAAAADaY/KbvoLu1XtPk/s1600/Elephant+on+truck-Reeza+&+Dambullu+Boy-Ollie+being+Trained+233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx849ryKLI/AAAAAAAADaY/KbvoLu1XtPk/s320/Elephant+on+truck-Reeza+&+Dambullu+Boy-Ollie+being+Trained+233.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>The day the Asils arrived at the farm</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx86nB46_I/AAAAAAAADac/prES7wtDwRA/s1600/Elephant+on+truck-Reeza+&+Dambullu+Boy-Ollie+being+Trained+096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx86nB46_I/AAAAAAAADac/prES7wtDwRA/s320/Elephant+on+truck-Reeza+&+Dambullu+Boy-Ollie+being+Trained+096.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>The male Asil with the two hens</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx88kZq0pI/AAAAAAAADag/GLbH4JMLryU/s1600/Selecting+Cows-Depraved+Cockerel+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx88kZq0pI/AAAAAAAADag/GLbH4JMLryU/s320/Selecting+Cows-Depraved+Cockerel+004.jpg" width="283" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><em>Dambullu Boy</em> the dominant rooster of our free ranging flock</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx8_UgHD4I/AAAAAAAADak/NeINRo9MwBo/s1600/Elephant+on+truck-Reeza+&+Dambullu+Boy-Ollie+being+Trained+133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx8_UgHD4I/AAAAAAAADak/NeINRo9MwBo/s320/Elephant+on+truck-Reeza+&+Dambullu+Boy-Ollie+being+Trained+133.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><em>Dambullu Boy</em> showing the Asil whose Big Boss</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the Sunday Observer classified advertisements I see an advertisement selling various types of bantam chickens. I pass on the information to Samantha who is our farm manager to follow up on. So there we are heading down south to meet up with a chap call Blaser to purchase Japanese bantams from him. Samantha who has spoken to the chap over the phone tells me he seems to have a strange accent and a peculiar manner of speaking. Not a rare combination by any means when I think of all the colorful characters I have met over the years! It is pretty late― nearly 9 pm by the time we get to Payagala. From there onwards the directions get from bad to worse and it seemed like we have ended up in the neighborhood of Nosfaratu! The narrow unpaved drive way snaking along a massive tall wall and strangled by overhanging tree branches and dangling creepers finally ended at two huge looming main gates. I felt as if we had somehow been transposed to a remote location in Transylvania! I could not help thinking that the Count must be waiting for us just over those walls! I came close to asking Samantha whether he remembered to pack a wooden cross and gun with a silver bullet! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx9He7lnbI/AAAAAAAADao/naXFZZIvAV0/s1600/Milking+Australia-Selecting+Cows-Visiting+Blaser+095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx9He7lnbI/AAAAAAAADao/naXFZZIvAV0/s320/Milking+Australia-Selecting+Cows-Visiting+Blaser+095.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>The driveway snakes through a tunnel of trees and creepers</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx9JZtxi6I/AAAAAAAADas/xp1S4k7byGM/s1600/Milking+Australia-Selecting+Cows-Visiting+Blaser+117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx9JZtxi6I/AAAAAAAADas/xp1S4k7byGM/s320/Milking+Australia-Selecting+Cows-Visiting+Blaser+117.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>On one side of the driveway is a large wall barely visible</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx9L6gdVUI/AAAAAAAADaw/d9hae2HaK_M/s1600/Milking+Australia-Selecting+Cows-Visiting+Blaser+098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx9L6gdVUI/AAAAAAAADaw/d9hae2HaK_M/s320/Milking+Australia-Selecting+Cows-Visiting+Blaser+098.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Two looming gates appear at the end of the driveway</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx9OHa4aUI/AAAAAAAADa0/m7N6JeZOHBw/s1600/Milking+Australia-Selecting+Cows-Visiting+Blaser+110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx9OHa4aUI/AAAAAAAADa0/m7N6JeZOHBw/s320/Milking+Australia-Selecting+Cows-Visiting+Blaser+110.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>What lies beyond?</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx9QWa4l0I/AAAAAAAADa4/w3FFCJ1GcWA/s1600/Milking+Australia-Selecting+Cows-Visiting+Blaser+112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx9QWa4l0I/AAAAAAAADa4/w3FFCJ1GcWA/s320/Milking+Australia-Selecting+Cows-Visiting+Blaser+112.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Hellooo is the Count in!</strong></div><br />
After a short wait―enough time to wonder what we have got ourselves into―the gates open and we meet Blaser and a jumble of friendly dogs of various breeds. In a fraction of second we have got transported from an impending Dr. Terror’s House of Horror situation to a set in Midsummer Night’s Dream. It seemed somehow we had managed to get involved in a Dr. Doolittle meets Alice in Wonderland parody. What a Wonderland! Especially for nature lovers, poultry enthusiasts and for fantail pigeon aficionados! Blaser is Swiss who has made his domicile in Sri Lanka for the past 40 years. No wonder the man had a strange accent and a peculiar manner of speaking―living for so long in Sri Lanka can have that kind of effect on people. His six acre garden he has allowed to run wild and become a veritable rain forest with large flowering and fruit trees draped in vines, creepers and lianas. Though he was Swiss he did not speak in Swiss, English or Sinhalese but in a strange <em>patois</em> of his own―mixing words from English and Sinhalese as needed to communicate or get an idea across. After the initial introductions and a friendly reprimand for been late, Blaser wanted to know how many Japanese bantam <em>kukulas</em> (cock birds or roosters) and <em>kikilees</em> (hens) we wanted. He said he will not sell us just a pair since it was unfair for the kikilee since it had to deal with a randy kukula with only one thing in his mind! Reminded me of the depraved cockerel we had at the farm that had an abnormal fascination for ducks. The wayward cockerel has been named by the staff with the obvious acronym <em>DF</em>! Let alone call him that just to write it makes me blush. Blaser tells us that he has lot of problems from <em>horas</em> (thieves) who steals his kukulas (chickens) and pigeons and that is why he is <em>viku-nanawa</em> (selling) most of them. So finally we end up with several varieties of bantams and a pair of guinea fowl and a new friend, Blaser. The bantams and the guinea fowl have been safely transported to our farm where they have settled down very well. The bantams are already laying eggs and the tiny roosters once in a while go and kick the feathers off our male Asil. It is about time I went to meet Lester to check up on his return policy. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx9S36iOTI/AAAAAAAADa8/fc_2HxtDUzY/s1600/Milking+Australia-Selecting+Cows-Visiting+Blaser+114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx9S36iOTI/AAAAAAAADa8/fc_2HxtDUzY/s320/Milking+Australia-Selecting+Cows-Visiting+Blaser+114.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Blaser opening the door to his Wonderland of dogs, chickens, pigeons and who knows what</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx9XQGurlI/AAAAAAAADbA/S7zdL0l6EqI/s1600/Milking+Australia-Selecting+Cows-Visiting+Blaser+134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx9XQGurlI/AAAAAAAADbA/S7zdL0l6EqI/s320/Milking+Australia-Selecting+Cows-Visiting+Blaser+134.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>The garden has been allowed to run riot</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx9bAaX3PI/AAAAAAAADbE/sZNLwz598G0/s1600/Milking+Australia-Selecting+Cows-Visiting+Blaser+136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx9bAaX3PI/AAAAAAAADbE/sZNLwz598G0/s320/Milking+Australia-Selecting+Cows-Visiting+Blaser+136.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Talking about <em>Kukulas</em>, <em>Kikilees</em> and <em>Horas</em></strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx9eZErA9I/AAAAAAAADbI/yjb6d27Vc0o/s1600/Milking+Australia-Selecting+Cows-Visiting+Blaser+141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx9eZErA9I/AAAAAAAADbI/yjb6d27Vc0o/s320/Milking+Australia-Selecting+Cows-Visiting+Blaser+141.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>A wonderland...</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx9iCZrurI/AAAAAAAADbM/UZ-zGBhdw1o/s1600/Milking+Australia-Selecting+Cows-Visiting+Blaser+142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx9iCZrurI/AAAAAAAADbM/UZ-zGBhdw1o/s320/Milking+Australia-Selecting+Cows-Visiting+Blaser+142.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>...of joyful dogs and chickens</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx9lf6_asI/AAAAAAAADbQ/NMaR_I7CG8w/s1600/Milking+Australia-Selecting+Cows-Visiting+Blaser+144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx9lf6_asI/AAAAAAAADbQ/NMaR_I7CG8w/s320/Milking+Australia-Selecting+Cows-Visiting+Blaser+144.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Miniature Bantams and Silkies look as if they have stepped right out of a fairy tale</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx9oPwdHEI/AAAAAAAADbU/3kDAr7rGE3s/s1600/Milking+Australia-Selecting+Cows-Visiting+Blaser+146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx9oPwdHEI/AAAAAAAADbU/3kDAr7rGE3s/s320/Milking+Australia-Selecting+Cows-Visiting+Blaser+146.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Cute and cuddly bantam chickens</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx9q0371II/AAAAAAAADbY/mfo08msiPAQ/s1600/Milking+Australia-Selecting+Cows-Visiting+Blaser+148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx9q0371II/AAAAAAAADbY/mfo08msiPAQ/s320/Milking+Australia-Selecting+Cows-Visiting+Blaser+148.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Newly met <em>Yaluwo</em> (friends)</strong></div><br />
<strong>Another Diplomatic Visit</strong><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">It is 2 am in the morning in the US when I get a call from Chinthaka, the Project Manager who is in charge of our operations at Wasgamuwa. He is calling me urgently to let me know that he has received a call from the Indonesian High Commission in Colombo informing that the Indonesian High Commissioner, His Excellency, Djafar Hussein and his family will be visiting our Wasgamuwa project on the following day which is September 16th. So over the phone separated by two oceans and nearly 12,000 miles we quickly discussed arrangements for the impending diplomatic visit. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Going by the reports I received from Chinthaka it seems the High Commissioner’s visit has gone off very well. Apparently the High Commissioner has been very keen to experience as much of the wilderness and our projects as possible even though he has come only for one night with his family party of 5 members. Of course amongst his many requests of things he wanted to do was meeting the giant squirrels, Dodam and Ollie and Piggy and Wiggy the two wild boars. The diplomatic party has had a tremendously enjoyable time. The 5 am Sunrise Hike up the rock and then along the littoral plain of the lake has become one of the most sought after activities mainly due to the incredibly awesome dawn skies and kaleidoscopic sunrises one could see. The first day and evening the High Commissioner’s party has spent visiting the Wasgamuwa National Park and the tree hut. The following day after the Sunrise Hike and breakfast the High Commissioner’s party had left after planting a tree in commemoration of their visit promising to come back for a longer visit. Later I heard that the High Commissioner was very interested to have some of our bantams and was thinking of making a diplomatic coup on our chicken coop―this was supposed to be a friendly gesture from him to keep our diplomatic relationship warm and cordial. The diplomatic visits we have had so far from both the U.S. Ambassador and the Indonesian High Commissioner have been enjoyable fun filled experiences and everyone is looking forward eagerly to their next visits. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx91zKtTLI/AAAAAAAADbc/-tBY8_-eiX4/s1600/IMG_0071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx91zKtTLI/AAAAAAAADbc/-tBY8_-eiX4/s320/IMG_0071.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>The Indonesian High Commissioner, His Excellency, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Djafar Hussein enjoying the Sunrise Hike</span></strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx97fgDrxI/AAAAAAAADbg/ElfZU1l54do/s1600/IMG_0081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx97fgDrxI/AAAAAAAADbg/ElfZU1l54do/s320/IMG_0081.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Sunrises that cannot be surpassed</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx9_zKs7hI/AAAAAAAADbk/ksdRPs8JjLs/s1600/IMG_0083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx9_zKs7hI/AAAAAAAADbk/ksdRPs8JjLs/s320/IMG_0083.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Only nature can draw a sunrise like this</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx-DIHhcJI/AAAAAAAADbo/XEaLRhbb_lI/s1600/IMG_0133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx-DIHhcJI/AAAAAAAADbo/XEaLRhbb_lI/s320/IMG_0133.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>The members of the diplomatic party meeting Piggy and Wiggy</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx-FQ-vpBI/AAAAAAAADbs/_VVGCYN2iPk/s1600/IMG_0135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx-FQ-vpBI/AAAAAAAADbs/_VVGCYN2iPk/s320/IMG_0135.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Dodam greeting the High Commissioner</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx-JAMqGMI/AAAAAAAADbw/J6TmHcsy0_I/s1600/IMG_0974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx-JAMqGMI/AAAAAAAADbw/J6TmHcsy0_I/s320/IMG_0974.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Getting acquainted with Ollie</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx-QI8Ey0I/AAAAAAAADb0/iAZ7VCBeqx0/s1600/IMG_1163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx-QI8Ey0I/AAAAAAAADb0/iAZ7VCBeqx0/s320/IMG_1163.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Visiting the 10th Anniversary commemorative plaque of the Saving Elephants by Helping People Project</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx-a7C3rtI/AAAAAAAADb4/P_kuNFfLA4g/s1600/IMG_0178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx-a7C3rtI/AAAAAAAADb4/P_kuNFfLA4g/s320/IMG_0178.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Shaking hands with Chinthaka prior to leaving back to Colombo after planting a tree commemorating his visit</strong></div><br />
<br />
<strong>The Mouse Deer Rescue </strong><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">We have spent a long day in Dambulla cow shopping for our Maha Mega Uyana dairy farm. Since 5 am we have been on the road and have seen over 50 cows of various hues, colors, breeds and condition. It is nearly 10 pm and the entire town of Dambulla is dead because we cannot find a place to get ourselves a refreshing cup of tea. Hoping to get tea further along the way at one of the night shops that cater to trucks that haul goods over long distance we head back to our Wasgamuwa field site which is about one and half hours away. The new road through Bakamuna for the first half goes along the western boundary of the Wasgamuwa National Park. So there is always the likely chance of seeing various wild animals from elephants to shrews to frogs and snakes. The newly constructed road stretches far into the distance as far as can be seen in the long beams of the two Warn HID lights on the Defender. The Defender rises and falls on the undulating road like a boat riding on waves. A short while later we spot something huddling on the middle of the road. Our first guess is that it is a hare standing still blinded by the approaching lights. Sampath who is driving slows down immediately and we slowly inch forward to see what it is. Once we got close enough we saw that it was not a hare but a sub-adult Sri Lankan white-spotted chevrotain or mouse-deer (<em>Moshiola meeminna</em>) lying on the middle of the road. There are supposedly two species of mouse deer in Sri Lanka: The white-spotted mouse-deer (<em>Moshiola meeminna</em>) found in the dry zone of Sri Lanka and the yellow-striped mouse-deer (<em>Moschiola kathygre</em>) found in the wet zone of Sri Lanka. Both species are endemic to Sri Lanka. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mouse deer are normally very shy, hardly seen since they are mostly nocturnal and move very fast. Apparently there was something wrong with this animal because it was not behaving like a typical mouse-deer. Our first assumption was that it is hurt or injured. Samantha and Sampath quickly get down from the vehicle and approached the mouse deer which did not make any attempt to flee. I asked Samantha to pick it up and see what was wrong. Samantha bent down to pick it up and immediately pulled his hand off with a grimace. Observing from the car I was wondering why Samantha and Sampath were having such hard time catching such a small animal! In the meantime the mouse deer stood up and walked slowly to the side of the road. I saw then that it had an injury just underneath its right eye where I could see blood. I got off the vehicle and went to see what was going on asking Samantha why he let go after catching it the first time. Samantha said the mouse deer had kicked his hand when he tried to catch it. Sampath cautioned me that the thing was vicious. I could not believe that such a small animal could give so much trouble. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The mouse deer in the meantime has moved again to the middle of the road and was lying down. Obviously it was not only injured it was also disoriented and was in no condition to be left alone by itself. Approaching it from behind, I grabbed it quickly by the neck near the shoulder with my right hand. Immediately I felt my hand exploding in excruciating pain as if red hot needles were being jabbed into it. I quickly let go off my right hand and grabbed it with my left hand which immediately burst with the same explosion of pain. I realized the reason for this pain was that the mouse deer was kicking up and forward rapidly with its’ hind legs which were adorned with these dainty but needle sharp hoofs. It kicked faster than Bruce Lee. Holding on doggedly and refusing to let go amidst the searing pain I asked Samantha to grab the madly kicking back legs while I got a better hand hold on this miniature terror. Before it could do more injury to us―meaning me―we quickly put it into one of the plastic Italian chicken transporters we always carry in the Defender. They are ideal for transporting various kinds of small animals including chickens. As soon as we put it into the crate it immediately calmed down and lay on the floor. Both my hands especially my fingers were lacerated with tiny punctures and wounds where the skin had been gouged out. They hurt like mad. We brought it to the field house and put the cage in a quiet corner. We did not make any attempt to check its’ injuries or treat them because we felt along with its injury it must also feel traumatized by been physically handled so we did not want to subject it to further stress. After providing some water and food we covered up the crate and left it alone. Next day when we checked it was doing pretty well. It was calmly lying in the cage and had fed. We could see now the injury underneath the eye was superficial and would heal in a few days. Our assumption of what must have happened is that some predator had chased it and the mouse-deer must have hit its head somewhere while running which caused the injury as well as given it temporary concussion. Fortunately for the mouse deer we had arrived on time scaring whatever the predator that was intent on killing it. If we had found a place to have a cup of tea probably the mouse deer would not have survived. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx-lELbUWI/AAAAAAAADcA/B6EROWW-iQI/s1600/Kovil-Dancers-Various+Animals-Walking+Cow-Meeminna+595.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx-lELbUWI/AAAAAAAADcA/B6EROWW-iQI/s320/Kovil-Dancers-Various+Animals-Walking+Cow-Meeminna+595.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>The injured mouse deer was placed in the chicken carrier</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx-iOQWBxI/AAAAAAAADb8/go35lGVsnCM/s1600/Big+Mutt-DF-Ollie-+Releasing+Meeminna+120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx-iOQWBxI/AAAAAAAADb8/go35lGVsnCM/s320/Big+Mutt-DF-Ollie-+Releasing+Meeminna+120.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>The mouse deer inspecting the crate</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx-tIm8OLI/AAAAAAAADcE/Z0ZrdNb_AGs/s1600/Kovil-Dancers-Various+Animals-Walking+Cow-Meeminna+583.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx-tIm8OLI/AAAAAAAADcE/Z0ZrdNb_AGs/s320/Kovil-Dancers-Various+Animals-Walking+Cow-Meeminna+583.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>The mouse deer very quickly settled down in the crate</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx-vevzWfI/AAAAAAAADcI/1W7eSV6PLx8/s1600/Kovil-Dancers-Various+Animals-Walking+Cow-Meeminna+587.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx-vevzWfI/AAAAAAAADcI/1W7eSV6PLx8/s320/Kovil-Dancers-Various+Animals-Walking+Cow-Meeminna+587.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Bringing it to the field house</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>In the morning we loaded the crate into the Defender and took the mouse-deer to our Maha Mega Uyana dairy project site. This site is ideal mouse-deer country with several fresh water springs, perennial streams, lush riverine forests, scrub jungle and grasslands. In a secluded glade with thick underbrush next to a bubbling freshwater spring we released it. My hands suffered again since I had to catch it to take it out of the crate to release it. However for all the pain I had to endure it was very satisfying to see the tiny female mouse deer (we gave it a thorough inspection before letting it go) walking away and disappearing into the underbrush in its’ new home. How enriching and exciting life experiences are (albeit some pain) when you live in the wilderness!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx-yy2bpFI/AAAAAAAADcM/CmPSUJwsnOs/s1600/Big+Mutt-DF-Ollie-+Releasing+Meeminna+132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx-yy2bpFI/AAAAAAAADcM/CmPSUJwsnOs/s320/Big+Mutt-DF-Ollie-+Releasing+Meeminna+132.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>The mouse deer being taken to the release site at the Maha Mega Uyana Farm</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx-2NdyyrI/AAAAAAAADcQ/ApieaJZCzVc/s1600/Big+Mutt-DF-Ollie-+Releasing+Meeminna+136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx-2NdyyrI/AAAAAAAADcQ/ApieaJZCzVc/s320/Big+Mutt-DF-Ollie-+Releasing+Meeminna+136.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Not an easy matter catching it for releasing</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx-5IQxdAI/AAAAAAAADcU/4ZixIntHThQ/s1600/Big+Mutt-DF-Ollie-+Releasing+Meeminna+151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx-5IQxdAI/AAAAAAAADcU/4ZixIntHThQ/s320/Big+Mutt-DF-Ollie-+Releasing+Meeminna+151.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>The mouse deer was gently placed on the ground</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx-8t9SsxI/AAAAAAAADcY/LpLloebR7K0/s1600/Big+Mutt-DF-Ollie-+Releasing+Meeminna+154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx-8t9SsxI/AAAAAAAADcY/LpLloebR7K0/s320/Big+Mutt-DF-Ollie-+Releasing+Meeminna+154.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>It very nicely blended in with the ground cover</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx--mmihwI/AAAAAAAADcc/L5rGNoEFLr0/s1600/Big+Mutt-DF-Ollie-+Releasing+Meeminna+156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx--mmihwI/AAAAAAAADcc/L5rGNoEFLr0/s320/Big+Mutt-DF-Ollie-+Releasing+Meeminna+156.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Taking stock if its surroundings</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx_BmH1AYI/AAAAAAAADcg/X_S2vvtH6iI/s1600/Big+Mutt-DF-Ollie-+Releasing+Meeminna+157.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx_BmH1AYI/AAAAAAAADcg/X_S2vvtH6iI/s320/Big+Mutt-DF-Ollie-+Releasing+Meeminna+157.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>A new lease on life</strong></div><br />
<strong>To Catch a Thief</strong><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The coconut is well placed on the kitchen counter―there was no way a professional coconut thief could miss that. The sheaf of betel leafs was blatantly exposed on a shelf above to create an added incentive and incitement for any self respecting thief specializing in coconut and betel robberies to go for a grand slam heist. On the other side of the kitchen Siriya and I are crouching next to the counter in the pantry waiting in hiding, holding our breath waiting to see what will happen next? In my mind Mancini’s <em>Pink Panther</em> theme is playing continuously and I drift into a bemused state contemplating on a long line of comic book, real life and Hollywood master criminals―wondering which one would show up today. Siriya tugs at my hand breaking my bemused reflections to point at an incredible phenomena; the coconut was climbing up the wall! Siriya is muttering that something bad is going on―knowing how is simple one tract mind works, I know he is thinking that some super natural or metaphysical force is at work. Recovering my wits I peer over the counter and see that indeed the coconut is still moving up the wall! I wonder how a coconut could levitate by itself. Stealing up my courage I quickly stand up to see better and immediately realizes how the coconut is going up the wall. It is very well grasped and aided in its upward levitation by none other than the heart throb of the Ambassador Lodge, Dodam the giant squirrel! Fortunately we had not called the cops about this matter and thankfully neither do I make a living investigating wildlife crimes―it is definitely not a paying job and neither does it sound like a serious occupation! Dodam has developed a penchant for raw coconut and betel leaves―while I can understand him liking coconut I never would have believed that giant squirrels ate the rather tangy and acidic betel leaves as part of their regular diet. Dodam has been a revelation as to the weird stuff that giant squirrels love to eat and drink if given a chance. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx_JUw4v9I/AAAAAAAADck/wb3BJaM4_0w/s1600/Cow+Selection-Cock+Fight-Piggy+&+Wiggy-GP+Sky+646.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx_JUw4v9I/AAAAAAAADck/wb3BJaM4_0w/s320/Cow+Selection-Cock+Fight-Piggy+&+Wiggy-GP+Sky+646.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Dodam taking of with a coconut</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx_Vgks8AI/AAAAAAAADcs/EaqaEQZb6LY/s1600/Cow+Selection-Cock+Fight-Piggy+&+Wiggy-GP+Sky+653.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx_Vgks8AI/AAAAAAAADcs/EaqaEQZb6LY/s320/Cow+Selection-Cock+Fight-Piggy+&+Wiggy-GP+Sky+653.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Enjoying his ill gotten gains</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx_Rj6uMFI/AAAAAAAADco/SLdXCPRJzdI/s1600/Cow+Selection-Cock+Fight-Piggy+&+Wiggy-GP+Sky+571.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx_Rj6uMFI/AAAAAAAADco/SLdXCPRJzdI/s320/Cow+Selection-Cock+Fight-Piggy+&+Wiggy-GP+Sky+571.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Making sure no one can take the coconut back</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx_aIwpxqI/AAAAAAAADcw/Ajjl6-ssYew/s1600/Cow+Selection-Cock+Fight-Piggy+&+Wiggy-GP+Sky+436.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx_aIwpxqI/AAAAAAAADcw/Ajjl6-ssYew/s320/Cow+Selection-Cock+Fight-Piggy+&+Wiggy-GP+Sky+436.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>The Betel Leaf chewing giant squirrell</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx_cCCs-jI/AAAAAAAADc0/CowNkod_jKU/s1600/Cow+Selection-Cock+Fight-Piggy+&+Wiggy-GP+Sky+448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx_cCCs-jI/AAAAAAAADc0/CowNkod_jKU/s320/Cow+Selection-Cock+Fight-Piggy+&+Wiggy-GP+Sky+448.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>I need to have my customarily chew</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx_fo0cbjI/AAAAAAAADc4/lChrMVpsk3Y/s1600/Cow+Selection-Cock+Fight-Piggy+&+Wiggy-GP+Sky+457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TLx_fo0cbjI/AAAAAAAADc4/lChrMVpsk3Y/s320/Cow+Selection-Cock+Fight-Piggy+&+Wiggy-GP+Sky+457.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>I'm not a thief it is just that I have a discerning appetite</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The things you learn in the wilderness. Glad that the mystery of the disappearing coconuts and betel leaves have been solved. Now I can go back to what I was working on before Siriya interrupted me…well that was just wishful thinking on my part! </div><br />
<div align="justify"></div>SLWCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13385383717997197891noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759649900435291798.post-47633855333154745772010-08-20T15:21:00.000-07:002010-08-29T09:41:21.859-07:00A Diplomatic visit, Pachyderms and People in conflict, a Wayward Cockerel, a Drunkard Head Bass, and Other Animals<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="justify">It is July 19th 2010 and there is a frenzy of activities going on at our Pussellayaya field house. For the past 3 months we have been getting ready for a 3 day visit by the United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka, the Honorable Patricia Butenis. So the field house is undergoing some major expansions. The kitchen, several bedrooms and the bathrooms are all been redone along with the roof. We have just 5 days to finish all the construction work especially the roof over the room the Ambassador will occupy and the kitchen which still needs to be completed. So when Amarasena, my right hand man comes to me and informs me that, Wijey the main head <em>Bass</em> (the contractor) is gone missing, I’m ready to inflict some serious human-human conflicts. I have enough experience mitigating human-elephant conflicts to know how to go about starting my very own conflicts effectively. That evening I run into the head Bass on the road in an inebriated state with an equally inebriated colleague with a small drum singing in duet traditional folksongs. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG84j1Ah39I/AAAAAAAADUc/yTJqujzJcck/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(74).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG84j1Ah39I/AAAAAAAADUc/yTJqujzJcck/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(74).jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>The Singing Duo of Pussellayaya</strong></div><br />
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While still quite annoyed with the man for his lack of responsibility by absconding and leaving us with a half done roof―I was also debating whether to hire the duo to entertain the diplomatic contingent―sort of a local Simon and Garfunkel act with a little traditional drum sans the acoustic guitar. Wisely I decided the Bass could be put to better use by getting him to finish the construction work he had started on our field house rather than encourage him to think he was Motown material headed for the Grammys. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6bMen4trI/AAAAAAAADM0/pLQ2JzdOB5s/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(115).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6bMen4trI/AAAAAAAADM0/pLQ2JzdOB5s/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(115).JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Wijey, the absconding head Bass working on the new constructions </strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6ZIiSyibI/AAAAAAAADMs/gAdZAx8oeos/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(7).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6ZIiSyibI/AAAAAAAADMs/gAdZAx8oeos/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(7).JPG" /></a></div><div align="justify"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">At Moragaha Ulpotha the work on the roof of our <em>Maha Mega Uyana</em> (the great raincloud forest) dairy farm is also undergoing completion. The dairy project is funded by Exetel Private Limited, a major Australian company that also has a business operation in Colombo. Back at Wasgamuwa along with the construction work on the field house a pond is also been built for the geese and the ducks since the walk to the diminishing lake is becoming tiring for the waddling honkers and quackers since the dry season has finally set in. </div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6boDlb1bI/AAAAAAAADNc/s-PC46WcNnE/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(22).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6boDlb1bI/AAAAAAAADNc/s-PC46WcNnE/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(22).jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>The pond for the geese and ducks under construction</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong></strong> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6exQvha6I/AAAAAAAADSU/K768jAwUBi0/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(94).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6exQvha6I/AAAAAAAADSU/K768jAwUBi0/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(94).jpg" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6ccTByvzI/AAAAAAAADOU/Ozro2_vhcug/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(10).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6ccTByvzI/AAAAAAAADOU/Ozro2_vhcug/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(10).jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="justify"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG9EOQnKQJI/AAAAAAAADU0/HQh_AOiQwLw/s1600/Siriya+Dancing+the+Devil-June+20-2010+170.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG9EOQnKQJI/AAAAAAAADU0/HQh_AOiQwLw/s320/Siriya+Dancing+the+Devil-June+20-2010+170.jpg" /></a></div><strong>The pond was an instant hit with the geese and the ducks - especially now which is the height of the dry season </strong></div><div align="justify"><br />
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Not that we didn’t have enough in our hands we were also expecting a documentary film crew from New York to descend on us amidst this (un)coordinated chaos. Adding to the mental overload two elephants had walked down the village road and broken out through the electric fence. As if that was not enough―more bad news awaits me. Samantha the farm manager informs me that there is cockerel in the farm that wants to mate with a duck! The things that goes on in farms! I decided I will never take any kids to visit a farm again. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6bjaub5-I/AAAAAAAADNU/F0loFlwa-R4/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(13).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6bjaub5-I/AAAAAAAADNU/F0loFlwa-R4/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(13).jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>The depraved cockerel chasing after a duck!</strong></div><div align="justify"><br />
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Samantha also informs me that he has to undergo emergency surgery to get rid of the kidney stone that has been troubling him for some time. Samantha in addition to being our Farm Manager was also our biodiversity expert, and I was hoping to use him to guide the Ambassador during the hikes in the forest and during the safari in the national park. So I had to send an urgent SOS to Gamini, a long standing friend and colleague from the days we both worked at the Dehiwala Zoo to come and help me out. Very generously he agreed to come at a moment notice. I was hoping that this would be the last challenge at least for now that I had to deal with. Otherwise I will definitely end up in a funny farm myself. </div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify">So there I was, “<em>Sleepless in Wasgamuwa</em>” just thinking of the diplomatic furor I will be causing for accommodating and entertaining the US Ambassador and her party in a roofless edifice with wild elephants rampaging all over the place while a missing drunkard head Bass somewhere out there in the nights sang traditional village ditties in duet while a depraved cockerel tried to mate with a duck! </div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify">Gradually―similar to how a group of jazz musicians settle back to the original groove after a mind boggling “improv” jam the work at Pussellayaya got sorted out, settled into a rhythm and finally got completed a day before the arrival of the diplomatic party. By then of course I have forgotten how to sleep! </div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify">Finally, Friday July 23rd arrived. Today I will be going to Dambulla to meet the Ambassadorial party and escort them to Wasgamuwa. It is 5.30 am in the morning and I’m at my work desk overlooking the lake. Siriya the field house caretaker has just brought me a nice cup of hot Ceylon tea. The sun rising in the eastern sky has made the sky blush in various hues of salmon pinks and mauves helping to gently unravel the lake below from its swath of velvet darkness while enticing the vast Knuckles Mountain massif situated to the south of our field house to gradually reveal itself in the horizon in a gauzy haze. To watch this vast and beautiful panorama opening up right in front of me―with birds filling the air with their varied calls and roosters crowing in the background―for me this is the best time of day at Wasgamuwa, and this is what I miss the most when I’m away from Wasgamuwa. </div><div align="justify" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6bgHE1cbI/AAAAAAAADNM/rZPQLnthLLU/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(51).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/THqMvNtzFeI/AAAAAAAADV0/pRMTbXaDu8I/s1600/Dawn+at+PG-Cattleshed+%26+Ongoing+Construction+071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/THqMvNtzFeI/AAAAAAAADV0/pRMTbXaDu8I/s320/Dawn+at+PG-Cattleshed+%26+Ongoing+Construction+071.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>The beginning of a new day at Wasgamuwa</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/THqMzwtDhLI/AAAAAAAADV8/EaT3Y3FDooM/s1600/Dawn+at+PG-Cattleshed+%26+Ongoing+Construction+093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/THqMzwtDhLI/AAAAAAAADV8/EaT3Y3FDooM/s320/Dawn+at+PG-Cattleshed+%26+Ongoing+Construction+093.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>The vast Knuckles Mountains at dawn</strong></div><div align="justify"><br />
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Of course my tranquility and bliss is not for long because I hear a loud thump just next to me―to see Dodam the giant squirrel on the ground looking a bit dazed. Apparently the new roof construction has messed up his regular route over the roof. So there he was on the ground because he had miscalculated the new dimensions of the roof, distance between rafters and of course my shoulders. I guess non-life threatening short falls is all in a day’s work for an arboreal (living in the trees) animal such as Dodam. I picked him up and brought him over to my work desk where he quickly finished off my cup of tea. Talk about a quick recovery! I never knew that giant squirrels liked hot tea especially with Nestomalt! The things you learn in the wilderness!</div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6bzivZ6dI/AAAAAAAADNk/xd6z7ktNxxw/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(29).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6bzivZ6dI/AAAAAAAADNk/xd6z7ktNxxw/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(29).jpg" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG786TcwZWI/AAAAAAAADUE/PqR-Iqnt28I/s1600/July+-+1st+week+farm-pond-Dodam-preparing+for+US+Ambo+Visit+214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG786TcwZWI/AAAAAAAADUE/PqR-Iqnt28I/s320/July+-+1st+week+farm-pond-Dodam-preparing+for+US+Ambo+Visit+214.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Dodam drinking tea from my cup after falling from the rafters</strong><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG789t-ZFXI/AAAAAAAADUM/p-OD3JVCPNk/s1600/July+-+1st+week+farm-pond-Dodam-preparing+for+US+Ambo+Visit+216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG789t-ZFXI/AAAAAAAADUM/p-OD3JVCPNk/s320/July+-+1st+week+farm-pond-Dodam-preparing+for+US+Ambo+Visit+216.jpg" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG79Ach6kfI/AAAAAAAADUU/9NY2S4XYUew/s1600/July+-+1st+week+farm-pond-Dodam-preparing+for+US+Ambo+Visit+217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG79Ach6kfI/AAAAAAAADUU/9NY2S4XYUew/s320/July+-+1st+week+farm-pond-Dodam-preparing+for+US+Ambo+Visit+217.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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The Ambassador and her party arrived at the field house in time for lunch. On the way from Dambulla we stopped by at the Maha Mega Uyana dairy farm to see the work in progress, to meet some of the project personnel and learn about the goals and objectives of the farm. When they arrived at the field house the party was received with a welcome drink by Sarath, the Project Manager in charge of the society’s Irriyagaha Ulpotha campsite and hospitality services. A dip in the lake, lunch and some time spending relaxing helped the guests to unwind from the long road trip. Later in the afternoon a short hike up a rock and then along the littoral plain of the lake helped the Ambassador to see the beautiful environment where the field house was located. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6b56YL6cI/AAAAAAAADNs/Vo9mC_s4Cfw/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(78).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6b56YL6cI/AAAAAAAADNs/Vo9mC_s4Cfw/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(78).JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <strong>The Honorable Patricia Butenis, U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka arriving at the SLWCS field house</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6cHQc2uVI/AAAAAAAADN0/DGuBvt5frcM/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(34).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6cHQc2uVI/AAAAAAAADN0/DGuBvt5frcM/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(34).JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>The view when you arrive </strong><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG9SI8ABMfI/AAAAAAAADVU/SWm0ctDcmHQ/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(75).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG9SI8ABMfI/AAAAAAAADVU/SWm0ctDcmHQ/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(75).JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Sarath receiving the Ambassador with a welcome drink</strong></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6ekbdMfdI/AAAAAAAADR8/PvGMilVh46Q/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(90).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6ekbdMfdI/AAAAAAAADR8/PvGMilVh46Q/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(90).JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Observing the workers putting the roof</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6fjpX4vRI/AAAAAAAADTU/kP9nq3jyor8/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(98).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6fjpX4vRI/AAAAAAAADTU/kP9nq3jyor8/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(98).JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Having a discussion about the dairy project</strong></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6eRJO1BjI/AAAAAAAADRc/cBhNvS4Bhig/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(81).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6eRJO1BjI/AAAAAAAADRc/cBhNvS4Bhig/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(81).JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Meeting Darshana who is the SLWCS Logistics Manager overseeing all the construction work at the farm</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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Soon it was time to leave to see some of the local wildlife. In the evening the entire party went to the tree house to observe elephants and human-elephant conflicts. The tree hut is located alongside a road that leads to a village deep in the forest reserve. On either side are open scrub forests and grasslands which are frequently used by elephants to move between the dense forests patches and water. In addition habitual crop raiding bull elephants move through this area on their way to raid the villages and fields. So the tree hut is ideally located at a point where people and elephants intersect and interact. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">As we drove along the road to the tree hut I saw our Land Cruiser with Chinthaka our Project Manager that oversees the Wasgamuwa operations and the three volunteers, Emma, Rachel and Samantha parked a little further away from where the tree hut is. That meant they had already run into elephants on their way to the tree hut. I immediately cautioned everyone to be quite, turned off the engine and let the Defender drift on neutral gear to where the Land Cruiser was. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">As we got closer I could see them pointing their hands towards the place where the elephants were. As we glided to a stop I could see about seven elephants feeding amongst the guinea grass (<em>Panicum maximum</em>) known locally as Mana. Elephants in Mana grass give a very deceptive appearance. The fact is that Mana grass can grow as tall as an elephant which creates an illusory image that the elephants are small. That is until one appears right next you! The second concern is that you cannot see all the elephants when they are in the Mana grass―especially the adolescents and juveniles. So if you were unfortunate enough to get into a middle of a herd where an adolescent or a juvenile feels they have been cut off from the rest of the herd then all hell will break loose. This is the time that a matriarch will charge to kill. Third and main concern is that a person on foot, motorcycle or bicycle, tuk tuk or hand tractor cannot see elephants from the ground when they are in Mana. The only sign that elephants are present is the noise they make grazing on the grass and the calls and sounds they make while feeding. This creates a highly charged and dangerous situation where both elephants and people are not aware of each other until they are practically on top of each other―literally in the case of the people. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">After the Defender came to a stop various members of the party got onto the roof of the vehicle to be able to see the elephants better. For nearly an hour we observed elephants in this manner until they wandered towards the tree hut. Soon they will pass by the tree hut and then cross the road and head towards the tank where they will drink and bath. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6epBokSBI/AAAAAAAADSE/7qTK_rrIroQ/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(92).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6epBokSBI/AAAAAAAADSE/7qTK_rrIroQ/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(92).jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Observing wild elephants near the tree hut from the roof of the Defender</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6c0IZdn9I/AAAAAAAADPE/T7tQ_fOMu_w/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(19).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6c0IZdn9I/AAAAAAAADPE/T7tQ_fOMu_w/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(19).jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Elephants look deceptively small when their in <em>Mana</em> grass </strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6eVp7G-FI/AAAAAAAADRk/A7GjaM6aVD4/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(83).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6eVp7G-FI/AAAAAAAADRk/A7GjaM6aVD4/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(83).jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>After feeding near the tree hut the elephants cross the road to go to the tank</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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I slowly reversed the Defender and drove underneath the tree where the tree hut is. The Cruiser followed me and stopped behind. Chinthaka and I got down first and scrutinized the entire area to check for any elephants nearby and finding none we signaled everyone to get out of the vehicles quietly and climb to the tree hut. Soon everyone was settled in the tree hut which is pretty large and spacious and built very sturdily to hold easily close to 9 adult people. Soon most of the elephants were feeding near the vicinity of the tree hut. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG7rrCcpk2I/AAAAAAAADTc/LhA4-30eHEU/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador%27s+Visit+to+Wasgamuwa-July+23-25th+2010+122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG7rrCcpk2I/AAAAAAAADTc/LhA4-30eHEU/s320/U.S.+Ambassador%27s+Visit+to+Wasgamuwa-July+23-25th+2010+122.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Myself and Chinthaka kept an eye out for elephants while the entire party clambered up to the tree hut</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6efZHPDCI/AAAAAAAADR0/EnDQwV-QYIc/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(86).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6efZHPDCI/AAAAAAAADR0/EnDQwV-QYIc/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(86).jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG7t6cvBUpI/AAAAAAAADTk/AySYtI3WThc/s1600/MG+Farm+Roof-Tree+Hut+Filming-WNP+Visit+128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG7t6cvBUpI/AAAAAAAADTk/AySYtI3WThc/s320/MG+Farm+Roof-Tree+Hut+Filming-WNP+Visit+128.jpg" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Observing elephants from the tree hut</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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Both Chinthaka and I were half way up the ladder observing a young male that had got onto the road and were walking along it towards us. Very soon it will go past us. As we were observing the elephant it suddenly stopped with its ears spread and trunk slightly raised and we soon heard an approaching motorcycle which we could not see clearly because of the tree canopy blocking our view. As soon as the motorcyclist saw the elephant on the road he stopped. Then we heard a child cream in fear and a woman’s voice pleading the motorcyclist to turn back. As soon as we heard the child scream, both Chinthaka and I came down from the ladder and we saw that there was a woman and two children with the motorcyclist. The man seems to be acting belligerent and was trying to scare the elephant by racing his engine. The elephant agitated by the noise began to move again towards the motorbike. We could hear children weeping and the woman imploring to the man to turn back and the man vehemently refusing to back down claiming he was not scared of elephants. This was a sure sign that the man was either an imbecile or inebriated or both. Of the nearly 80 people on average that are killed in Sri Lanka every year by elephants - majority of them are men who were drunk at the time when they were killed. The liquor gives them a false sense of bravado that leads them to an untimely death. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6d-BWEp7I/AAAAAAAADQ8/BTJ5KlfWyrs/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(70).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6d-BWEp7I/AAAAAAAADQ8/BTJ5KlfWyrs/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(70).jpg" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6eNBNUEVI/AAAAAAAADRU/mcvGyqkrU4Y/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(80).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6eNBNUEVI/AAAAAAAADRU/mcvGyqkrU4Y/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(80).jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>The young male elephant walking towards the motorcycle</strong><br />
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It seems like we were going to witnesses a great calamity whether we liked it or not if something quick was not done pretty soon. I got off the ladder and walked quickly to the road and gestured at the elephant which made it to stop moving. At the same time I called out to the woman to bring the two children and come to me as soon as possible. The man was admonishing the woman not to leave. I kept urging the woman until finally seeing the wisdom of seeking safety she gathered the two children and ran towards me completely ignoring the man’s objections. I quickly herded them into the safety of the Land Cruiser. In the safety of the vehicle the woman and children soon settled downed and began to enjoy their experience. After about an hour the man was again acting up and demanding the woman and the children to leave with him and they kept refusing to do so. At this point we also found out that his motorbike did not have headlights and the time is now about 6.30 pm. To prevent an awkward domestic dispute from arising in which we did not want to get involved as well as avert a disaster if the man forced the woman and children to leave on his motorbike, I asked Chinthaka to take the woman and children in the vehicle to their home in the village. The man followed behind the Cruiser weaving on the bike in his drunkard state. It seems as of late drunks have become a bane in my life―makes me want to take to the bottle myself. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The drama that plays out at the tree hut practically every day is an incredible window into one of the biggest environmental and socio-economic crises of the rural Dry Zone of Sri Lanka, which is human elephant conflict (HEC). Annually on average 225 elephants are killed in retaliation by farmers for raiding crops and about 80 people are killed annually by elephants. Most of these people are killed in their own villages, backyards and fields. HEC is pretty intense in Sri Lanka and is escalating practically every year.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It was dark by the time the Cruiser returned and there was no point in staying at the tree hut any longer since all the elephants have now moved beyond it and it was impossible to see them in the dark. We returned to the field house to relax, refresh and discuss the events of the evening. After partaking in some well earned gin and tonic and a sumptuous dinner of local rice and curry eaten out in the open overlooking the lake brightly illuminated by a full moon every one retired for the night. The film crew arrived without mishap late in the night that day and checked into a neighboring facility. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The next day morning was a historic occasion of giant proportions. The U.S. Ambassador got to meet Dodam the giant squirrel. The meeting between Dodam and the Ambassador took place as was his customarily habit, on top of the Ambassador’s shoulders. Dodam is getting to be quite a celebrity―but unfortunately his celebrity status is not helping him to find a suitable mate. Marriage brokers from all levels of society including the help of a wife of a very high senior Minister of the government has been sought to find Dodam a wife. In the meantime Dodam is chalking up a pretty impressive list of dignitaries as his fan club. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6fBKgeGVI/AAAAAAAADSs/NVKaVZ0u5D0/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(100).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6fBKgeGVI/AAAAAAAADSs/NVKaVZ0u5D0/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(100).jpg" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6fD1pyrfI/AAAAAAAADS0/k1WOVfH2WYg/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(106).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6fD1pyrfI/AAAAAAAADS0/k1WOVfH2WYg/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(106).jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>A meeting of giant proportions that took place on the top of the Ambassador's shoulders</strong><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">On the 2nd day some of the members of the Diplomatic party went for a hike in the forest with Gamini and me. A dip in the lake is always a refreshing end after such a long a trek in the forests. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6etvxar5I/AAAAAAAADSM/vxKz3OAqvzE/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(93).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6etvxar5I/AAAAAAAADSM/vxKz3OAqvzE/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(93).jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Going for a hike in the forest reserve</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6d5t4HW9I/AAAAAAAADQ0/f3_dcZEYr5w/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(64).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6d5t4HW9I/AAAAAAAADQ0/f3_dcZEYr5w/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(64).jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Meeting the buddhist monk that lives by himself and meditates in the forest</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6ddHLBS6I/AAAAAAAADP0/ZnKn0wJOkQk/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(36).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6ddHLBS6I/AAAAAAAADP0/ZnKn0wJOkQk/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(36).jpg" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6dgUSmsTI/AAAAAAAADP8/bHQ1XVIln9c/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(39).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6dgUSmsTI/AAAAAAAADP8/bHQ1XVIln9c/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(39).jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Out birding with Gamini at the lake</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6Yq9UwHsI/AAAAAAAADMk/JhL0jQk9e5g/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6Yq9UwHsI/AAAAAAAADMk/JhL0jQk9e5g/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(2).jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Pachyderm water sports</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">In the evening the entire party went to the Wasgamuwa National Park. The mood for the entire safari in the park was set by a group of elephants frolicking in the water as soon as we entered the park. Irrespective of their size they still reminded me of a rambunctious bunch of school boys in a pool. </div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6c7CzDGpI/AAAAAAAADPU/XpKOEy2pVLo/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(25).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6c7CzDGpI/AAAAAAAADPU/XpKOEy2pVLo/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(25).jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Three large male elephants frolicking in the water</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6eFTwENlI/AAAAAAAADRE/ZHOKHmJ9G1k/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(71).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6eFTwENlI/AAAAAAAADRE/ZHOKHmJ9G1k/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(71).jpg" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6c-yYM4UI/AAAAAAAADPc/7CGrU20rmK4/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(27).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6c-yYM4UI/AAAAAAAADPc/7CGrU20rmK4/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(27).jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>They were like a bunch of school boys playing the fool in a pool</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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As we drove around the park the excitement heightened and the atmosphere became charged as large herds of elephants converged around the Defender. Some “mock” charged while others postured aggressively and made rumbling and trumpeting sounds all around us. Two small precocious baby elephants were a delight to watch and wonderfully entertaining. Thankfully my “sleepless nights” worried about rampaging elephants during the Ambassador’s visit did not come to fruit. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6e5zi9VQI/AAAAAAAADSk/lSj1wzyrAzQ/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(97).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6e5zi9VQI/AAAAAAAADSk/lSj1wzyrAzQ/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(97).jpg" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6cXD0nxbI/AAAAAAAADOE/BkypqxeWgAA/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(5).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6cXD0nxbI/AAAAAAAADOE/BkypqxeWgAA/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(5).jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Elephants surrounded our vehicle which can be an incredible experience</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6eIod-PjI/AAAAAAAADRM/vjZFMmAcNGw/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(73).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6eIod-PjI/AAAAAAAADRM/vjZFMmAcNGw/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(73).jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Some mocked charged us...</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6cs9DNVrI/AAAAAAAADO0/zki7qgi2SDU/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(16).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6cs9DNVrI/AAAAAAAADO0/zki7qgi2SDU/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(16).jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>...while others postured aggressively</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6dqufknyI/AAAAAAAADQU/G36edOi757I/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(50).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6dqufknyI/AAAAAAAADQU/G36edOi757I/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(50).jpg" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG71nuZXvXI/AAAAAAAADT8/fTJb3DZkAh0/s1600/Cow+Selection-Marble+Beach-Trinco+Dump-Ollie+623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG71nuZXvXI/AAAAAAAADT8/fTJb3DZkAh0/s320/Cow+Selection-Marble+Beach-Trinco+Dump-Ollie+623.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>The baby elephants are adorable and they are very mischievous and curious</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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As the evening wore on we made one last effort to get a glimpse of a leopard or a sloth bear on the Kiri Oya road which would have been the highlight of the day. The Kiri Oya road is a narrow sand and gravel track that winds through dense dry zone jungle and can look pretty foreboding in the crepuscular (dawn to dusk) hours. Unfortunately we did not see any leopard or sloth bear on the drive along the Kiri Oya road. On the way back in the fading light I got a diplomatic request to narrate some ghost stories. Weaving through the thick dark jungle I started to narrate a story about a famous murder that happened in Sri Lanka in the 1960s and the ghost stories that have now evolved around this murder. One story led to another and by the time we were nearby to the field house I was narrating an unusual midnight experience (nothing to do with ghosts) I’ve had involving a large dog when I used to work as a research assistant in a lonely and remote field outpost in Bandarawela. As the story was coming to an end the maniacal black dog that lives down the road and has a bad habit of running out barking loudly at any moving vehicle did that just right then. The effect it had on the people inside the car now scared out of their wits by my ghost stories had to be seen to behold. People were literarily jumping off their seats meeting in midair, landing on each other’s laps and hanging on to each other for their dear lives sake in sheer fright. Heavy breathing and staggered gasps were all I could hear for a moment. I’m sure any ghost would have been proud to take the responsibility for having scared the wits out of a diplomatic party in such a manner. And there I was with some unpleasant thoughts about what I would like to say to that dog if I ever got to meet him personally―while trying to figure out what the correct diplomatic protocols were to give CPR to an Ambassador if I had too! Gin and tonic was liberally consumed that night. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6dnKUbIjI/AAAAAAAADQM/wgutFKUsfaU/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(45).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6dnKUbIjI/AAAAAAAADQM/wgutFKUsfaU/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(45).jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Dinner by moonlight</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6dWSlV66I/AAAAAAAADPs/j7FTYzqx3FQ/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(33).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6dWSlV66I/AAAAAAAADPs/j7FTYzqx3FQ/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(33).jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Breakfast in the great outdoors</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG9TI5VfwfI/AAAAAAAADVc/3XbSKluhmho/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(52).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG9TI5VfwfI/AAAAAAAADVc/3XbSKluhmho/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(52).jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>The food is so great that people line up before Sarath can get the Buffet organized</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><br />
</strong>Weheragalagama was a village that was affected by raiding elephants very severely. In 2001 the villagers requested the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society to help them to stop elephants from raiding their homes and fields and the danger and risk they posed to their lives. Nearly 70 percent of the land in the village was abandoned due to crop raiding elephants and the entire village lived every day in fear of elephants. There were days when people got locked down in their own homes and children couldn’t even go to school because wild elephants were roaming in the village. One day a funeral of a person killed by an elephant was disrupted and had to be postponed because of elephants coming into the cemetery. Makes one wonder about the <em>Karma</em> of the deceased! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In 2002, the SLWCS with funding from the Asian Elephant Conservation Fund of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service provided the Weheragalagama village with a 10 kilometer solar powered electric fence. That fence has been operating for the past 8 years and is completely managed, maintained and operated by the villagers. This was the second fence the SLWCS erected under its’ internationally award winning Saving Elephants by Helping People Project. The fence effectively stops elephants from wondering into the village. Since the fence was erected there is no HEC in the village. No homes or crops have been damaged or people injured or killed by elephants and no elephants have been injured or killed either by farmers. The fence has created a win-win situation for the farmers and elephants. The villager’s income has increased by 212% and agriculture production is up by 93 percent. Most villagers have progressed from mud huts to brick homes and several village children have gone on to do higher studies in the universities. Until this January a young man from the village who had received a degree in Statistics worked for the SLWCS as a research assistant. He represented SLWCS at the first Asian human-elephant conflict workshop in Beijing last year which was again funded by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Presently he is a school teacher in the village school. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So on the 3rd day morning the villagers of Weheragalagama in appreciation of the help they have received from the US government to resolve HEC in their village which has helped tremendously to reduce poverty and alleviate them socioeconomically held a charming traditional reception to welcome the U.S. Ambassador. On the way to the reception the Ambassador visited the Anandarama Temple in Pussellayaya and met the Chief Incumbent, the very young Reverend Yanananda. The Chief Priest personally escorted the Ambassador around the temple showing her the Boddhinvansa (the sacred pipal tree), the newly constructed Vihara, and the new Chaitiya that is under construction. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6c3RJx-oI/AAAAAAAADPM/l6bZ0BiO1l4/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(20).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6c3RJx-oI/AAAAAAAADPM/l6bZ0BiO1l4/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(20).jpg" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG7zGaEAppI/AAAAAAAADTs/xe9bpPxQnmg/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(30).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG7zGaEAppI/AAAAAAAADTs/xe9bpPxQnmg/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(30).jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Meeting Reverend Yanananda the Chief Incumbent of the Pussellayaya Temple who gave a personal tour of the temple to the Ambassadorial party</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6cw-L8S3I/AAAAAAAADO8/Zm2VRl9wWCI/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(17).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6cw-L8S3I/AAAAAAAADO8/Zm2VRl9wWCI/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(17).jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Meeting some of the young devotees of the temple</strong></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG7zKtAFyiI/AAAAAAAADT0/64BJ4FjtYlU/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador%27s+Visit+to+Wasgamuwa-July+23-25th+2010+394.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG7zKtAFyiI/AAAAAAAADT0/64BJ4FjtYlU/s320/U.S.+Ambassador%27s+Visit+to+Wasgamuwa-July+23-25th+2010+394.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>The new Dagoba or Chaitiya under construction</strong></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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In Weheragalagama, under the shade of a Maila (<em>Bauhinia racemosa</em>) tree nearby to the control room of the electric fence the villagers had constructed a beautiful reception area with benches made from tree branches. The officers of the Electric Fence Maintenance Committee welcomed the U.S. Ambassador and members of her party and officers of the SLWCS by extending in warm welcome hands of beetle leaves. A large table was laden with traditional sweetmeats, <em>kiribath</em> (milk rice) and local confectionaries. A hot herbal beverage made from Iramusu (<em>Hemidesmus indicus</em>) with juggery was served as the drink. The Ambassador using an independent translator discussed with the villagers their experiences with human-elephant conflicts and the positive impacts the electric fence has had in their lives and how it continues to do so. At the request of the villagers the Ambassador promised to attend the 10th Anniversary Celebrations of the electric fence in 2012 as their Chief Guest. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6cgFo_aVI/AAAAAAAADOc/tMhGxGspQws/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(11).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6cgFo_aVI/AAAAAAAADOc/tMhGxGspQws/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(11).jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG9VXXYG4bI/AAAAAAAADVk/wh9ChRkBe20/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(8).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG9VXXYG4bI/AAAAAAAADVk/wh9ChRkBe20/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(8).jpg" /></a></div><strong>Arriving at Weheragalagama and being greeted and welcomed with traditional hands of betel leaves by the villagers</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6cpTaRyEI/AAAAAAAADOs/4z1zsjUOfSs/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(14).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6cpTaRyEI/AAAAAAAADOs/4z1zsjUOfSs/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(14).jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Explaining how the solar powered electric fence operates</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6YnkkwBdI/AAAAAAAADMc/LPUjnw0sE8I/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6YnkkwBdI/AAAAAAAADMc/LPUjnw0sE8I/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>The Ambassador having a discussion with the villagers</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6fQmgC0lI/AAAAAAAADTM/S3Emw_EqDx0/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(116).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6fQmgC0lI/AAAAAAAADTM/S3Emw_EqDx0/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(116).jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Serving traditional sweetmeats and drinks. </strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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For me the whole event in some manner was a surreal experience―especially to have the U.S. Ambassador not only visit one of my first field sites but also stay nearly 3 days with us. It was way back in 1997 as an undergraduate at the Center for Environmental Research and Conservation at the Columbia University in New York that I first conducted my first survey of human-elephant conflicts in Sri Lanka. It was at that time that I came up with the concept to put electric fences around villages as oppose to fencing elephants in national parks. The idea was to keep elephants “out” from areas rather than “in” national parks which unnecessarily obstructed them from their natural ranging and having access to essential resources outside the national parks. When I presented my concept at several international elephant symposia at the time I was told by several eminent international Asian elephant experts my concept would not work. The first fence I erected celebrated its 10th Anniversary last year and the project Saving Elephants by Helping People was awarded a prestigious UNDP Equator Initiative <em>Equator Prize</em> in 2008 for being an outstanding effort to alleviate rural poverty through the sustainable conservation of biodiversity. When compared to the scale and magnitude of human elephant conflicts in Asia and Africa the efforts and achievements of the SLWCS might be small. Yet for the people and elephants in our projects sites they have made a world of change for the better. At times like this I cannot but help think of what the British orator, Edmund Burke, said, “<em>Nobody makes a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little</em>.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Soon after the reception the entire party went back to the field house for a quick lunch after which the diplomatic party departed to Colombo. Prior to leaving the Ambassador and her entire party planted several indigenous trees in the SWLCS field house compound. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6fN8Vr3TI/AAAAAAAADTE/lWpZI7VbGo8/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(110).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6fN8Vr3TI/AAAAAAAADTE/lWpZI7VbGo8/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(110).jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>The Ambassador planted a Mee tree (<em>Madhuca longifolia</em>) prior to her departure</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6fKV-7ByI/AAAAAAAADS8/TGV7TlZFR0s/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(107).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6fKV-7ByI/AAAAAAAADS8/TGV7TlZFR0s/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(107).jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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The visit of the U.S. Ambassador, the Honorable Patricia Butenis is an incredible milestone that will stand out in the history of the SLWCS in the years to come. Her visit has been a tremendous encouragement to us as well as to the rural farming communities we work with. I thank her most warmly and sincerely for taking the time from her busy schedule to visit our projects in Wasgamuwa. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<strong>Some of the other animals:</strong><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG85qfjZnCI/AAAAAAAADUk/asvC4NvpKLU/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(58).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG85qfjZnCI/AAAAAAAADUk/asvC4NvpKLU/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(58).jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>A grey mongoose kept the Ambassadorial party entertained with its hunting efforts</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG85yDScfQI/AAAAAAAADUs/F9mb8aqgulc/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(55).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG85yDScfQI/AAAAAAAADUs/F9mb8aqgulc/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(55).jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>A green bee eater</strong></div><br />
Next: Ollie the baby giant squirrel arrives at Pussellayaya to the utter bafflement of Dodam (who is still a bachelor) and basically scaring the wits out of him, garbage eating elephants, the great cat rescue and adventures of a New York based film crew filming human-elephant conflicts in Sri Lanka (Oh Sweet Child of Mine!). <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG9G1C8jFKI/AAAAAAAADU8/RX48gKmHNtg/s1600/Cow+Selection-Marble+Beach-Trinco+Dump-Ollie+367.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG9G1C8jFKI/AAAAAAAADU8/RX48gKmHNtg/s320/Cow+Selection-Marble+Beach-Trinco+Dump-Ollie+367.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Ollie the baby giant squirrel comes to Pussellayaya</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG9IOdMlNOI/AAAAAAAADVE/E7BI99PkIVw/s1600/Cow+Selection-Marble+Beach-Trinco+Dump-Ollie+198.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG9IOdMlNOI/AAAAAAAADVE/E7BI99PkIVw/s320/Cow+Selection-Marble+Beach-Trinco+Dump-Ollie+198.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>A garbage eating elephant at the Trincomalee garbage dump</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG9IRZFJNxI/AAAAAAAADVM/5p6vLvRgBTI/s1600/Cow+Selection-Marble+Beach-Trinco+Dump-Ollie+170.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG9IRZFJNxI/AAAAAAAADVM/5p6vLvRgBTI/s320/Cow+Selection-Marble+Beach-Trinco+Dump-Ollie+170.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>The New York film crew literarily in the dumps!</strong></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Post Script: The erratic behaviour of the wayward cockerel and its undying fascination and abnormal; love for ducks has been a central topic of humorous discussion between the film crew from New York, the volunteers from England and the US and SLWCS staff. Especially what would be the result of such an unusual union? How would the progeny look like and what should they be called? A suggestion has been made to hold a naming contest. So far the suggestions that have been received are: chucks, chuckens, dickens and duckens. Please send your suggestions to: <a href="mailto:info@slwcs.org">info@slwcs.org</a> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6djvHLnlI/AAAAAAAADQE/FEZa11EaArA/s1600/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(42).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_q71p4WPlzUU/TG6djvHLnlI/AAAAAAAADQE/FEZa11EaArA/s320/U.S.+Ambassador+visit+to+Wasgamuwa+(42).jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>A lively discussion going on of the ways of the wayward cockerel and of there outcomes</strong></div></div></div></div>SLWCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13385383717997197891noreply@blogger.com1