28 February 2011

Beautiful Lotus arrives at BLES!
 
Well, after the traumatic rescue of Pang Dow back in September, I was prepared for anything! I had been stressed about the rescue of Lotus for the many weeks leading up to it. I had thought of every possible worst scenario and had prepared myself for the worst…. It was a complete waste of my time and energy, because transporting Lotus from Hua Hin to BLES was an absolute dream! It was the easiest rescue BLES has achieved to date.
 
My team and I arrived in Hua Hin in the very early hours. I sat watching Lotus for a while and when I was sure it was ok to approach her, she watched me. I’m sure she could pick up on my unexpected anxiety, because she broke the ice in no uncertain terms. After our initial ‘hello’, she started to gather up her chain, throw it over her back as if to say, ‘well, come on then, lets go!’
 
I looked around and noticed all the dog poo and cow dung. Then I saw all the trash. Then, to my horror, I realized Lotus was tied up in a graveyard! The place was dry, barren, dusty. No place for an elephant. I was more desperate than ever to get her out of there.
 
We started our long journey home at 2pm. Lotus was at first unsure about getting on the truck, but after some gentle persuasion, she happily walked on and positioned herself. It was clear that she was quite the traveller. She rested her head on top of the cab and that is pretty much how she stayed throughout the journey. We stopped twice to shower her down and empty out the dung and she never once flinched or displayed any signs of being distressed. Her calm and relaxed disposition was catching and soon the rest of us fell into a deep sleep, waking up to find we had already arrived at BLES!
 
It was 4.30 am when Lotus finally made it to her new home. She waited patiently while the truck was reversed and slowly put her feet on BLES soil.  We gave her some bananas and were slightly perplexed when she just stood there, looking back at us. I bent down and started to feed her and then understood — Lotus is a bit of a diva — and why shouldn’t she be?!?!? We laughed and all knelt before her, handing her her bananas and other  treats.
 
Lotus then started to wonder around and explore her surroundings. She was slow and we let her go where she wanted. She started to walk up the hill and we let her go. As I watched her fade into the bushes, I realized that this was the first time she had been in a forest. It was a thrilling moment and one I will treasure for the rest of my life.
 
A few hours later, Lotus reappeared and started to eat everything in sight. Our papaya trees, banana trees, bamboo bushes, our vegetable patch, pineapple plants and even my Christmas trees! She reminded me of Hope when she is choosing an ice cream. She  has to pick up each one, squeeze it, smell it and if  she could, she would probably try it, before putting it back!
 
Lotus is an absolute joy and is happy relaxing around BLES on her own. We introduced her to Pang Suai our resident agony aunt, thinking she would feel sorry for our newest arrival and take her in. Well, we were wrong. Pang Suai proved to us all how deeply protective of Pang Dow she is. Whenever Lotus tried to get close to Pang Dow, Pang Suai challenged her. When Lotus tried  to follow them out on the walk, Pang Suai spun round and lunged towards Lotus. Lifting her two front feet off the ground, Pang Suai smacked Lotus so hard, she almost lost her footing. It worked. We understood. Lotus was not yet welcome with the Pang girls.
 
And so, Lotus spends her time alone. She follows around the housekeepers, eaves dropping on their twittering conversations. She has worked out that if she stands at the bottom of the footpath, someone will appear eventually with some kind of treat for her. Yes, I think it is fair to say Beautiful Lotus is already a firm favorite around BLES.
 
Thank you so much to all of you who made her rescue possible. Lotus is enjoying unlimited freedom and pampering and it is all thanks to you who cared enough to reach out and help her.
 
Trunks of love and gratitude,
 
Katherine and our forever expanding family xx

If you enjoy reading Katherine’s Journal entries, a year’s worth with new photography is available through Blurb Books

21 February 2011

It has been a while since I last wrote and for that I am sorry. I will be honest and share with you that my family and I have been very sick. Having two poorly little ones is no fun, particularly when you are weak and exhausted yourself. Still, life goes on and the elephants continue to give me the strength I need to go along with it.

The 18th of February marked the tenth birthday of my darling boy Boon Lott. We kept celebrations fairly low key this year. I lit some incense and made offerings to our Ganesh shrine, we had a big treasure hunt for the elephants and I gave you all something too…
When Boon Mee sadly passed in December, we dug out a pond in her memory underneath the samcha trees which is where she is buried.

The rescue of our next elephant, Lotus, is soon to be underway. I have been so incredibly moved by everyone’s generosity and the energy that has been put into raising the funds to save Lotus. Your contributions have surpassed what we originally aimed to raise which is wonderful. It is also a huge relief, because we have no idea how much Lotus’s medical bills are going to  cost and knowing we will (for the first time ever) have funds in the bank to rely on takes a lot of the stress and pressure off of me. As a thank you to each and every one of you who did something to help secure the funds for Lotus, I purchased ten lotus plants and released them into Boon Mee’s pond. Boon Mee was the last elephant to leave us and Lotus will be the next one to join us. The circle of life, death, life continues on.

Ten lotus plants to celebrate ten years… I can still take myself right back to lying on that bed with Boon Lott. I can still hear him, smell him and feel his hot, sweet breath on my face. I still get that butterfly feeling when I remember how tight he would squeeze me with that mischievous little trunk of his. I am still moved to tears when I think of the two of us holding on to each other to keep warm during the nights. He would wrap his entire trunk around my waist and pull me close. I still laugh when I look at the photos of us swimming together. He would chase me around the pond and push me up against the wall with his little tusks to prevent me from getting out of the pool! He was such a sweet, playful boy. I can still hear him growling out of excitement when he saw me walking up to the hospital. It was the nicest hello and was always followed up with a kiss blown in my face from him, and then one down his trunk from me.

I will never forget how my heart burst when Boon Lott, ten months after the accident (when everyone said he would die within days) took his very first steps. His face  was trembling from sheer determination and when he looked up at me, I knew instantly what he needed. I sat right in front of him so he could put all his weight on me and lift his back legs, one at a time off the ground. We worked together like this for a few days, until Boon Lott realized he could put his trunk on the floor and use his tummy muscles to pull up his back legs and walk. He would stand unaided for five to six hours a day and take about five steps, before wearing himself out.

I miss him and think of him every day that passes. I know he is here, living and breathing in every BLES moment and I know he is guiding me through this crazy life. I wish more than anything I could see him again and tell him how much I love him. Instead, I will tell his mother, all his brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles who have been saved only because of the legacy he has left behind. Boon Lott was the strongest, cheekiest and greatest little elephant to ever live. He will never, ever be forgotten.

We are all ready to welcome in our newest rescue Beautiful Lotus and I have been busy finalizing and then re-finalizing the minor details. We will be leaving BLES on the 24th and driving through the night to our destination, Hua Hin. As soon as the paperwork and travel documents have been approved, we will be able to start our long journey back to BLES with Lotus in toe. I am excited, but have to admit I am terrified too!

Thank you so much for all you do and are doing daily to help BLES prosper. BLES is only as strong as you make us. I am so proud of you and feel honestly blessed to have your support. For as long as we all stand united, as a global community of elephant lovers and friends, nothing can stand in our way of making a fundamental impact on the future wellbeing of Thailand’s elephants.

The chipin to raise funds to cover Lotus’s medical bills is still ongoing, so there is still time to donate > chipin

This entry is  dedicated in loving memory of Lucy Brooks… taken from those who loved her much too soon. My love and support goes out to Lucy’s family. RIP my friend xx

Katherine

If you enjoy reading Katherine’s Journal entries, a year’s worth with new photography is available through Blurb Books