Dances with Elephants - Corporate cordiality. 8/20/2006
Last Friday, we made a run down to the Sanctuary, to meet some possible corporate sponsors. Through Hmx’s contacts, he has managed to interest a local corporate giant in providing expertise, resources and sponsorship for Mados’ rig. Fair enough when they asked about the public relations mileage they could get out of it. As long as it helps Mados, and any other elephants that may need the rig.
When we got there, Mados was having his feed. The little guy was pleased to see me again, I think.
Everyone made a big fuss over him, and he lapped up the attention. I will have to, sometime next week, get in touch with Mados’ vet, and have a chat with him about the little guys legs. I need to lay my hands on the x-rays, and then after speaking to the doctor, decide how we can get his legs straight, and strong enough for him to put his weight on them. Which will probably involve re-breaking the fractures, and re-setting the bones. I’m not looking forward to that, and probably neither is Mados, but it will have to be done, if the little guy is going to have a chance to survive.
The Elephant Man was impressed with Mados. “He’s a fighter” was the comment.
The Elephant Man took the corporate guys on a short tour of the premises, showing them the pen where the elephants are kept. He explained the purpose and intentions of the sanctuary, and pointed out that the sanctuary was also geared to hold corporate family days and such. The corporate guys perked their ears up at this, and hopefully this will generate more external sponsorship and support for the Sanctuary, especially in the very expensive area of elephant rescues.
I had a discussion with the professor brought along by the corporate guys, and one of his lecturers. The engineering shorthand we were speaking I think left everyone a little perplexed, but they got the idea of what my rig design entails, and they are going to further refine the design, and that leaves me free to work on the portable rig that will be brought into the jungle for rescues.
Have you washed behind the ears?
The Elephant Man also brought along a volleyball for the young elephants to play with. If anyone would like to donate a large medicine ball used for exercise, please get in touch with me. Small footballs and the such are simply not designed to stand up under the punishment a baby elephant can subject it to. Baby elephants need play and love, just like human children.
It was good seeing the elephants in the Sanctuary again, after a 2 week break. The Elephant Man repeated his invitation for Hmx and myself to join him on an elephant rescue up north. I won’t be able to make it this month, because work is going to get in the way, but perhaps next month. The Sanctuary staff are currently tracking a herd of wild elephants, and the plan is to try and relocate the herd to the National Park over the course of the enxt few months.
In and amongst other random conversation in the car, the Elephant Man also mentioned that he was running jungle warfare as part of his corporate training and team building, which he does for a living. He spoke about his small squad tactics used in paintball jungle warfare. Yes, paintball, in a real jungle environment. None of these oil drums and other man made constructions. Where the participants find out, in the most direct way, that the jungle is indeed very neutral.
Elephant Man said I could join his team of assistants. We had a short discussion on small squad tactics, and lots of memories came flooding back. Everytime I talk to this guy, it’s always bittersweet. Some things should remain buried in memory.
- Posted in : Dances with Elephants
- Author : thesnark
Comments»
Is that Girl Friday who I think it is? Wait… nah.
*ears perk up upon hearing ‘paintball jungle warfare’ *
NSDS : Who do you think she is?
Jungle warfare paintball…. i want!!
bikerwannabe : Check the Jungle School link on my blogroll. It’s well worth the experience.
Couldn’t be ‘her’. Hair’s long.
Nothing’s free. The only way to get corporate funding for NGOs nowadays is to give them the whole “what’s in it for them” spiel. It’s really a bit sickening. But hey, this sounds like a good symbiotic relationship - the corporate annual function idea is a good one - get the city slickers to think about something other than petrol prices and shopping for a day at least.
any news from TNB? The patience of the decision makers in KL are slowly runing out and little Mados may have to be put to sleep
unless someone really comes forwward with a working rig to allow Mados to stand on his feet.
I make medicine balls. How do I get one to you? These balls are 14 inches in diameter and we have weights of 4 to 20 pounds.