One of our very special ele-friends in Siana is Olomunyak, who is a young tuskless bull elephant in his mid-twenties. Tuskless elephants are notoriously defensive and Olomunyak definitely does not disappoint in this regard! Often as soon as we are within a few hundred metres of Kenyorra’s herd, Olomunyak charges out of the bush and flares his ears at us in a magnificent display of “who’s boss”. This happens every time and has almost become a game for him. His charges are almost always half playful and half inquisitive but before he has had all the fun he wants Kenyorra (who we suspect is his mother) reprimands him with a swift smack with her trunk! Olomunyak immediately tones down after this and sulks at Kenyorra …and us! Elephant behavior is astonishing and endlessly entertaining. It is also very educational to watch elephants in their natural activities as it always has a lesson in it for the human observer. Elephants will always surprise you and with our experience we know how to be respectful around them and not push any boundaries but simultaneously keep a constant presence near them to keep them safe. Kenyorra herself is an old friend and it is remarkable that she reciprocates this friendship with her trust and tolerance of our being there!
Elephant behavior may seem less deserving of spotlight than the ongoing daily genocide of elephants but we feel that highlighting the beauty and idiosyncratic phenomena’s of this species is of crucial importance in adding to the long list of reasons why an ivory trinket could never even be in the same sphere let alone field of value as elephants are ALIVE. It goes without saying that Elephant Aware’s work has enormous focus on the poaching crisis and anti-poaching is our main work, however the unique thing about the Elephant Aware project is the many different operational components that make the work we do so effective, one of them being ADVOCACY and AWARENESS as well as HUMAN-WILDLIFE COEXISTENCE DEVELOPMENT and the focus on inspiring respectful awe towards elephants themselves and all wildlife.
