Dances with Elephants, Part V - Sling shots. 10/5/2006
A couple of days ago, I got a call from the Elephant Man, asking if I was available for a meeting later that night with some friends of his. I replied in the affirmative, and we met in the Club Lounge for coffee and a chat. There I was introduced to K. and I. A lovely couple from Kiwiland, who are involved in … I’ll put it this way, they do things for aquatic animals. I. is a very senior engineer. So senior that he probably designed things when they were still using drafting paper and slide rules. And this incredible store of engineering methods and knowledge in his head.
Because we both sat down, and started discussing Mados’ sling. I. had worked out a design, using trampoline netting as used in sailing catamarans, and his design was that epitome of engineering, elegant and simple. With a little input from me, and based on our discussion, a new design was drawn up by I. and is sitting on my desk now as I write this.
Elephant Man and I went to see K. today, and picked up the netting, and brought it down to a canvas maker. We showed him the design, and I explained to the canvas maker what we wanted. He nodded his head, and said O.K. And then told us everything could be ready by Saturday. I then asked for a sample pattern to be made up today, to be brought in and fitted to Mados tomorrow. And he will do so.
K., Elephant Man and I intend to get to the sanctuary on Sunday, and we will install the rig, and lift Mados. K. has arranged for a stethoscope, so that I can have a good listen to Mados’ lungs. He’s been lying down on his side for so long, that I am concerned about edema. However, the Elephant Man said that Mados is in good health, and is actually moving his legs around, although he obviously cannot put any weight on them yet.
So things are proceeding very quickly, at gunshot pace. K. wants to see Mados upright before she heads back to Kiwiland. Elephant Man wants Mados to get better before the Department HQ makes the decision to have Mados put to sleep. And I want to look at Mados in the eye, and tell him he’s going to be all right now.
So, a trip to Elephant Sanctuary this Sunday, and the installation of Mados’ rig. Anyone want to come along?
- Posted in : Dances with Elephants
- Author : thesnark
Comments»
Can I tag along?
yes..i will be there with latest update from the ‘possible rig sponsor’. All typical MNC operates like a giant tanker…they apply brakes now & here, for a full stop 10minutes & some 5km down the road!
hMx
Di, sure you can.
Hmax : Too late. K., Elephant Man and I have already taken matters in hand. Rig will be up this Sunday. ISKL have stepped in to assist. However, if the MNC would like to make a contribution, you know where to send them.
It’s a temporary rig but i personnaly hope to see a really nice rig set up for future medical treatment of elephant!
Corporate sponsors could also design and construct a portable rig which we can be used in the uneven jungle terrain to rescue trapped elephants in moats, natural holes and abandoned wells. Portable in a sense that it must be made from high grade aluminium, light and portable enough to fix it on the top of a 4WD vehicle, easy to assemble and dismantle with room for possible electric winches powered either using the 4WD’s winches or portable generator sets.
If the sponsorship could also include winches or chain blocks of 1 tonne each… - we need 4 - that would be even better!
Its great to know and have people with humanity in them as well as kindness as I always remind myself that Kindness is the rent that I pay for my time on earth when I think of my past work serving as a member of the faceless people that provided the blanket of freedom for the majority of my fellow malaysians while doing violence on their behalf!
…by the way, its not ISKL but Alice Smith International School!!!
This is really incredible what you do for our great friends the Elephants and the people surrounding them–all blended in with the love of riding!
I was just blessed with meeting and spending a lil time with Mados. And he is such a beautiful, friendly, happy lil dude even though I can imagine the excruciating pain and sadness the poor baby must be in. You guys are awesome, God bless for such wonderful people who have made the extra effort in Mados’ survival. I hope my own little efforts will add to your extraordinary acts of kindness, in time.
I’m crossing my fingers and hoping with all my heart that I’ll see Mados again when I return. I can still smell him on my clothes *sob*
I will be joining the wild elephant rescue team on Tuesday - please extend your blessings and pray that neither us nor the wild elephants in the jungle fringes of Sg Lembing will be hurt.
Its gonna be one tough operation in the month of Ramadhan and hopefully, we will be able to capture and relocate wild elephants from areas of animal-human conflict that has already seen the shinking of the elephants’ natural habitat and give them a permanent humans-free home deep in the jungles of Taman Negara!