There has always been a constant struggle between man and animals...and this includes our lovely elephants. Humans are, of course, a selfish lot, we clear forests to make way for agriculture (for food, so that's kind-of ok), industries (for jobs) and for housing (REALLY??? Do we actually need 5 houses each??)We tend to forget or ignore that animals were here on this earth first. So seniors rule right??? WRONG! We are supposed to be the greater race, having brains and all that...we right now, all points to pure greed, and the constant need to have more.
Elephants are descendants from the great wolly mammoth (Manny if u watch Ice Age). So they demand R.E.S.P.E.C.T, or just plainly leave them alone. Contrary to popular belief, elephants are gentle souls...do you know that an elephant can walk through the forest and won't break a single branch...that is how graceful and calm these creatures are!
In case you were wondering whose trunk i was holding earlier, it belongs to my baby, Tapis. Aged one-year old, it has experienced the greatest heart ache ever... to be left alone in the forests by your parents. My heart goes out to her, and if you guys like to meet her in person (err...or in elephant-son), head on over to Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary.This centre was established by PERHILITAN in 1989, which serves as a base for relocation of elephants that have been caught in the wild. Here, they are trained to adapt to human activities, and are given good treatment.
Now it hosts 21 elephants, ranging from 1 year old elephants (that's tapis) and Mala (she's 72 years old!). Upgrading works are being done in order to fascilitate their growing numbers as well as to give the extra comfort for visitors to the centre.
This centre is a mere 2 hours drive from KL (ok, 1 and a half hours if u r an F1 driver like yours truly). You can never get this chance to be up close and personal with the elephants, and the best part is- IT'S FREE!!
There are two shows daily, one starts at 10 am and the other at 2 pm. You are able to feed the elephants, touch them, ride them (only for the first 120 people) and of course, the highl
ight of the day, bathe with them! As a lover of all things water...this was of course what I loved the most.Now this old soul that im holding its trunk is Mala, our longest resident, she is 72 years old, but fit as ever! One eye doesnt see so well, but apart from that, she's good and healthy.
The discolouration on her skin is result of old age..like our uban, if you will. Elephants love banana trunks, they love the inside part...its a thrill to see them squish the trunks and get the centre part with their trunks...adorable!
So who do you thank for doing all this? The team from PERHILITAN of course, especially the dedicated team in Kuala Gandah. It is an actual fact that elephants are jealous so they have to the same trainer taking care of them...i would not want to be in the way of a jealous elephant *shudder*.
To the Kuala Gandah team, keep up the good work. For those who are interested to help the centre and the elephants, kindly make donations which will be used for the upkeep of the centre and its inhabitants. No amount is too small.
