Our Story (85 Percent): India Part IV: Wildlife SOS Elephant Center, A Magical Experience

WARNING---PICTURE OVERLOAD. I TOOK OVER 2000 PHOTOS IN INDIA, AND 1000 OF THEM WERE AT THE ELEPHANT SANCTUARY.

my family with my Bijli

The elephant sanctuary at Wildlife SOS was the highlight of our trip to India (for all of us). We waited for over a year to finally meet all the elephants that we had been reading about online. It did not disappoint. When we arrived, we were given a tour of the facility before we met some of the elephants on their morning walk. The first two were Maya and Phoolkali—two of the largest females in the Herd of Hope. The size of these majestic creatures is very intimidating. We were given bananas and peanuts to feed them, but all of us were too nervous and so we just threw the food into their mouths. Maya does not like to use her trunk. You have to place the food in her mouth. After the first day though, our fears subsided and a natural comfort developed and before you knew it, we were rubbing their tongues. Yes, some enjoy a good tongue rub.

The elephants’ routine always began with a 2-3 hour morning walk. They get two walks a day during the winter. It is good exercise for them. The walks are my favorite because you get the chance to really bond with the elephants. I love rubbing on their trunks, but my favorite was rubbing their cheeks. Their skin is soft yet rough with prickly, coarse hairs.

with Chanchal and Bijli

There are 15 elephants in the herd when we arrived – 10 females and 5 males. By the time we left, WSOS rescued two more elephants (Mia and Sita). We weren’t sure if we would still be at WSOS when the two new elephants arrived, but on our last day, we were there to welcome them to their new home. What an amazing experience to be there when they brought them home!! They both looked terribly thin, fragile, and just horrible, but I know all of this will change soon. The five male elephants were in musth so our interaction was limited. After the morning walk, we would return to the sanctuary for our mid-morning tea. Oh my gosh!!!! We all became addicted India tea. I actually had our friend Bheema show us how to make it. I could drink that every day.

Indian tea. We all waited anxiously for this daily treat.

the red chair was the spot where we had our tea. Lunch was provided as shown above. Lance interacting and socializing with the mahouts

After tea, we would prepare the elephants’ snacks. We spent a great deal of time chopping up pumpkins, papaya, bananas, beets, carrots, melon etc. Susie is the oldest elephant in the sanctuary. She is 65 years old and blind. Her fruit had to be smushed into what we called “Suzy’s smoothie” since she had no teeth. Brandon and Mia were primarily responsible for Suzy’s snack. The knives were very dull which made it difficult to cut/peel the fruit. Lance had his military knife, which he brought out and ended up giving to Bheema. Once all the fruits were cut and distributed into tin pails, we began to feed the elephants. Mia and Brandon liked feeding the younger elephants Peanut (6) and Coconut. Elephants are very much like people with their individual personalities and tastes. Peanut hated pineapple and would spit them out. Coconut hated carrots. Almost all the elephants at the sanctuary are elderly with the exception of the Nut Herd (Peanut, Coconut, Macadamia Nut, Walnut). In fact, many are also blind.

Suzy's Smoothie (apples, papaya, banana, melon)

someone is getting a pineapple snack.

Following their fruit snack, we would do various duties. Lance oftentimes would follow his good friend Moona (a mahout) and one of the veterinarian doctors. He would feed the elephants an unlimited supply of bananas while they were getting treatment. He was able to get to interact with the male elephants and see up close how the doctor treated their ailments. I came along with him when the doctor was treating Raju. Raju is special. He is the most famous elephant in the sanctuary. I got teary eyed standing near him—to finally be able to meet the elephant who started it all for me—It was an honor. Raju is incredibly smart. I would feed him a half banana in his trunk. He would pretend he ate it and would return his trunk for more, but then I would see that banana---it was either hidden way deep in his trunk or behind it. He only pretended to eat it. I started giving him more than one at a time, and he just left his trunk in front of my hands to keep putting in more bananas. He would not retreat. I would put one in and his trunk would not retreat. Two? Three? Four? Five? Six? Yes, finally with six half bananas in his trunk he would bring them up to his mouth to eat. He is so clever and so sweet.

Chanchal getting medial treatment

Chanchal getting treatment

We were also able to bathe the elephants. What an amazing experience! Imagine a car wash, but this is an elephant wash. They would be sprayed with water from a hose and we would just scrub, scrub, and scrub away. Their ears are very heavy, and I accidentally was hit by it. You cannot help but get soaking wet. It was amazing.

I bonded with all of the elephants, but my favorite was Bijli. I didn’t come to WSOS with a favorite, but somehow, someway, my girl Bijli captured my heart. She would flap her ears and purr like a giant cat. The mahout said she was doing that for me and that she was happy. Did you know elephants purr? She would stop in the middle of her walk and allow me to rub her trunk and her cheek. She just stood their basking in the love I had to give. Bijli and I bonded, and from that moment on, I didn’t want to leave her side. I wanted to be with her every moment. When we did leave, I felt incredibly sad and heartbroken. I simply just cried.

my girl...my Bijli

Mia loved Peanut probably because she is still a baby, and Brandon liked Coconut. Lance favored a male named Bhola because he spent a great deal of time giving him treats while the doctor provided veterinarian care. He said that Bhola would recognize him as he walked by his enclosure and would follow him expecting more bananas. All of the elephants had such personality.

Mia is getting played with....

I know the concerns from western veterinarian science would be that it is not safe to allow people so close to these animals….these wild animals, but I never felt unsafe. I always followed and listened to the mahouts instructions. I cannot really do the program justice with my words because honestly, there are no words to describe this experience. I guess for me, it would be “magical”. I would say the five days spent at WSOS elephant sanctuary were just magical.

The elephant sanctuary also had many dogs, and Mia just loved playing with them. They were so loving and affectionate. At times, Mia paid more attention to the dogs than she did the elephants.

Playing in a hole and painting while at the center.

I didn’t want to leave, and I felt horribly sad.

Prior to our visit, we were just monthly donors, but when we left at the conclusion of our volunteer week, we became personally and emotionally attached to WSOS. I knew we would get attached to the animals, but what I did not expect was the bond we established with WSOS staff. No word can express my gratitude to all of the staff. They answered all of our questions. They explained the history of each of the elephants and taught us many things. We also felt completely safe and taken care of under their guidance. They were also incredibly attentive to our kids. They were so, so very good to us. They are so hardworking, kind, humble, good people. Bheema was the volunteer coordinator, and he absolutely adored Mia. He gave Dylan a ride on his motorcycle. Naresh, the elephant manager, was absolutely amazing. I loved his kindness. They were both so easy to talk to, and I loved how genuine they are. I felt so at ease and natural – no false or complicated pretenses.

Naresh

with one of the veterinarians, Traci (fellow volunteer), Moona, and Naresh

Bheema adored Mia and treated her like a princess.

Lance bonded with a mahout named Moona. Moona spoke limited English but somehow, the friendship between him and Lance needed no words. Moona took such good care of Lance, and Lance spent hours with him – assisting him and doctors in the medical treatment of the elephants. What I thought was so incredibly sweet was-----I turned around to look at Lance and Moona and the next thing I knew, Lance took off his watch (the one I gave him for his birthday a few years ago) and gave it to Moona. Moona looked completely shocked as if he was about to cry---it was the most sweetest thing I had ever seen my husband do. Now, please do not go thinking that Moona was asking for things from Lance. He was not. These people are incredibly humble and good, good, good people. In fact, Moona came up to Lance later and told him that he didn’t want him to feel bad and that he would give the watch back, but Lance insisted he wanted Moona to keep it.

When it was time to say goodbye, I knew it would be hard for Lance and Moona. Moona just stood there looking at our car drive away. It was just like a sad, a very sad movie. I knew it was hard for Lance too. I could see it on his face. He tries to hide his emotions, but a subtle change in his facial expression tells me everything. These two men became brothers in a few days.

Lance and Moona

We ate vegetarian the entire time we were there. It was so delicious, but it was also a bit spicy so I struggled trying to find things Brandon and Mia could eat. I guess they survived on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and ramen noodles for a week. When you are in the volunteer program, the vegetarian meals are provided. However, on our very last day, Moona decided to cook us a chicken. I’m not sure which village he got the chicken from, but he wanted to do something special for Lance. I could see on his face how much he loved Lance and vice versa.

I gave Naresh a hug goodbye and tears fell from my eyes too.

I also enjoyed our fellow volunteers—Tracie and Sam (from Australia) and Kat (from Slovenia) and Alfred/Tony (Sweden). We lived in a six bedroom house. It was community living. I never experienced this type of community living because as a college student I went to a commuter college. Our group was absolutely wonderful. They spent the evenings having beer and just talking/laughing. Lance stayed up with them to socialize a few times while I was fast asleep.

the volunteer house

interior of the house with our bunk bed rooms

selfie time

the volunteers with Naresh

We spent Thanksgiving in India so my children did not have the traditional feast with Turkey, gravy, mash potatoes and all the fixings. What I found touching was our fellow volunteers, Bheema and Naresh joined us to celebrate this American holiday with Domino’s pizza. The pizza did not quite taste like American pizza, but it sufficed. We went around the table as it is a tradition in our household and expressed our gratitude for various things. It was very simple yet incredibly beautiful.

Thanskgiving time with new friends

We feel personally connected to WSOS. I know I could never recreate this moment, because if we were to return to India, it would be with different volunteers, but the experience is something we shall NEVER forget. We made both elephant and human friends. It was very sad, because farewells were imminent, but I feel grateful I was able to live it.

The days at Wildlife SOS Elephant Center were magical.