Back to the Wild

So as many of you know I am an avid supporter of the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust! Yep it's all about the Ellie's for me (or lack there of unfortunately). And in order to do my bit in a few weeks I will be casually running around Clapham Common dressed as one! Yep it's come around that quickly!!! 

Cheeky......

Anyway my tragic choices aside, I thought it would be interesting for you guys to know what happens to these guys when they leave their nursery.

Don't Mind me...... 

Recently some of my family took some time off to go and help with releasing some of the elephants who were ready to leave their enclosures and take on the wild. Unfortunately poaching is getting to be more and more of a real issue and because of that I will not say they name of the place where this happens. 

The reason I am writing this update now as opposed to earlier on in my elephant diaries series is because Faraja, the elephant who I sponsor is in the process of being released back to the wild! This is done by slowly introducing the elephant to a wild family in the hope that they will take the newcomer under their wing and show them the ways of being a wild elephant. 

That is the one thing that always amazes me during this process - how receptive the wild elephant herds are. The matriarchs of the herds often adopt young and unknown elephants and look after them as if they were their own - it's such a welcoming and protective community and many of the herds will take in more than one youngster and teach them the ways of the wild. 

I often hear stories form The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust on elephants being adopted, learning to live in the wild yet still recognising their keepers years later and often adopting their own youngsters. The elephant community never ceases to amazing me which is why I have joined the fight against poaching and I hope you will too. 

So here is my fine print - my plea for help. These guys need all the help that they can get, it's not the easiest job in the world looking after elephants - I mean look at their size for a start! So I will put my heart on my sleeve and humbly ask you please donate to help the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust can continue the work that they are doing. If you have anything even if it's just £1 please send it along here and do your bit against poaching!

My run is in less than three weeks and yes I am a little worried, but hey it's all for a good cause!!