Sophon, at seven, was more worldly wise. “You can shake hands too. No one here will mind.”
Then they had smothered him in sunscreen and bug repellent, handed him a bottle of water, and led him out to find their dad, and into a whole new world.
Sean was a conservationist, and animal behaviour specialist, and at only twenty-nine, a renowned world-wide expert in elephant rehabilitation.
And this sanctuary was home to some of the most beautiful, awe inspiring, and wise creatures that Aydin had ever had the privilege to know.
Sadly, this (currently) twenty two strong herd, or as the keepers and Sean said, family. (Although the closest Aydin managed sounded like ‘crackcrewah’, and sent anyone nearby into hysterics.) Was made up of elephants who had all suffered injuries and/or trauma and could never live free.
Dealing with the traumatised animals was Sean’s speciality, as well as giving them the best possible quality of life experience. Which meant re-creating as close to the wild as possible, while keeping them, and the humans around them, safe.
All were female. Their behaviour was too unpredictable due to their histories, to risk breeding or mixing. The matriarch (Sundara), was forty years old, and Sean said the wisest soul he had ever met. The two of them and his head keeper, Dusit, had developed together the centre to make it the best it could possibly be.
Watching Sundara, Sean, and Dusit together (they had a meeting every morning), Aydin was in no doubt that real communication was taking place.
Dusit, via Sophon as he spoke no English, told him of their creation of ponds around the reserve, where the elephants would take daily walks. They had, what Aydin thought of as pop-up ponds, at different areas at different times of year.
Within two years, Sundara had realized what was happening, and now, despite the fact they didn’t have seasons such as Aydin knew seasons, she always changed their route when needed to go past the correct pond. And was teaching the younger ones.
Sean, amused, had admitted that he was sure Sundara had his number, but she appreciated being able to bring natural skills to the younger elephants she considered under her care.
After a day under Dusit’s tutorage. Being taught how to behave around the large animals. (Sundara and the other fully mature ladies were pushing three tons. Not that Aydin would be rude enough to mention it.)
And drilled on emergency situations. Learning the Thai word for hold. Which meant he was to stand very still. Aydin just always thought of it as ‘freeze’ and had to resist putting his hands in the air.
Out. Which was when you ignored everything but getting out of the enclosure as fast as possible. Sophon, on behalf of a stern Dusit, had made it very clear that you did not look around to check what anyone else was doing. And Dusit, via Sophon, had deadpanned that he would be outside already. Allowing a smile when Aydin sniggered.
And Aydin’s personal favourite. Hide. Or as he thought of it, bomb shelter. As all of the enclosures had a couple of small covered gully’s where you could take shelter from rampaging feet.
They wouldn’t protect you from an elephant intent on doing you harm, but would be okay for an accidental trampling.
Once Aydin was allowed to get going, cleaning the bomb shelters was one of his jobs. Due to the girls spooking so easily, they apparently got regular use. And no one wanted to dive to safety only to land on top of a venomous spider!
Nine days in, Aydin was very much lulled into a false sense of security.
He’d had yesterday off, and been taken to a beautiful waterfall and lagoon. They had gone swimming, eaten wonderful food prepared by Mai. And approximately every twenty minutes, Beam, who was very protective, attacked both him and her dad with the slippery sun screen and bug spray.
Sean had apologized that they couldn’t do relaxing, touristy things every day, but Aydin reassured him that he was loving the experience.
And indeed he was.
Aydin was tall, a fraction under six foot, but he often forgot to eat when not at work and knew he often slid towards skinny. Although to be fair, it was more slender right now, as Luc’s grandma had semi adopted him and was feeding him up.
Maybe for some sort of sacrifice, he wasn’t sure. But he had joked to Luc that he would be avoiding her around Halloween, just in case. (Luc had actually snorted Pepsi out of his nose. It was awesome!)
But he was strong, which often people assumed he was not.
Here, surrounded by mostly Thai’s, who also tended towards the slender. Possibly due to working so hard. But they just assumed he could do it, instead of worrying they were asking too much.
It had made a refreshing change.
He probably wouldn’t want to do it as a forever job though.
Take today. He was in the section of enclosure allocated to a lovely lady called, Lawan.
The design of the enclosures, where everyone hung out when not out in the reserve, was such that elephants such as Lawan had their own space if needed, but were always within sight of their family.
There were a few in the group that really did need to be able to retreat to their private area. Other’s lived in small groups. The enclosures all fed into a central space, where even before the keepers had opened everything up in the morning, the elephants could put their trunks through and touch.
So they were separate for safety, but not apart.
report Touch was very important to elephants. Which Aydin kinda knew already, but Sean (the bastard) had not prepared him for how very curious they would be.
It was good job he wasn’t shy, easily offended, or particularly ticklish, as there was not an inch of him that hadn’t been explored. Well, let’s call it what it is — fondled, by a seeking truck.
He leaned on his broom and smiled.
Lawan, he was super fond of. She was nineteen, and had terrible scars from whips and bullets, that made his heart weep.
She also had the sweetest habit of trotting over (all nearly two tonnes of her), flapping her ears with excitement and wrapping her trunk around his waist to give him a hug. She did it to everyone she knew, and liked it when you hugged and stroked her truck in return.
She would make deep grumbling noises which Dusit said was pleasure and happiness.
Aydin was always paired with Dusit, and once his safety lectures were over, he had proven to be a kind and good humoured man.
Today had been typical.
The elephants had mostly been gathered around the centre. Exchanging news, and gentle touches. Then the keepers had opened up and Lawan, after giving Dusit and Aydin her morning hug, had wandered into an adjoining enclosure for a lazy game of football with three other elephants.
There were about five balls and no apparent rules, but they seemed to enjoy it.
Dusit and Aydin had scooped poop. Which with elephants required a large wheelbarrow, shovels, and several trips. Swept and hosed down the enclosure, with particular attention to the three bomb shelters.
Changed the water and re-filled the cradle with grasses, hay, and other vegetation and goodies.