A SANCTUARY OF HOPE FOR LOKIMALA AND FRIENDS

By Ravichandran D.J.Paul

KARAK (Malaysia), July 8 (Bernama) -- Lokimala, followed by Myanthonpyan
proudly rose on their two feet and nodded their heads when their names were
called.

Both stood out from the rest of their counterparts due to their sheer size
and their loud clarion call when their names were mentioned.

Lokimala and Myanthonpyan are inmates at a centre of a different kind, the
Kuala Gandah Elephant Conservation Centre in Lancang, in the state of Pahang.

The sight of these two Indian elephants standing in a row with their local
juniors awed the visitors, locals and foreigners.

At the centre, many of the visitors for the first time come up close and
personal with the elephants as they are allowed to feed them, listen to their
rumbling growls and trumpet calls from near, and watch them bathe in the river.

The centre provides a remarkable spectacle of how humankind and the biggest
land mammal have cast aside their fears and suspicion to learn more of each
other.


A SANCTUARY OF HOPE

Lokimala, a septuagenarian, and Myanthonpyan, a tricenarian are among the
seniors at the centre that also serves as an orphanage for the disabled and
displaced elephants.

Norain Saudi, an officer with the centre, who introduced the elephants, said
Lokimala from Assam, India, and Myanthonpyan from Myanmar were brought here to
help with the wild elephant relocation programme. Lokimala who arrived here in
the early 1970s still plays a role in the relocation exercise.

Apart from these expatriate pachyderms, there also indigenous elephants who
have made the conservation centre as their home.

Among them is the less fortunate mammoths like Selendang that lost part of
her front left leg to a poacher's wire trap while Sanum lost part of her tail to
a tiger.

Due to these physical deformities, their chances of survival in their
natural habitat is slim and thus the conservation centre provides them refuge.

Then there is Abot a 15-year old bull and Mawar a 10-year old cow, both from
Johor, who were relocated after they encroached plantations and human
settlements. An eight-year old cow, Chery, from Perak also ended up here after
wandering into human settlement.

Their fate is a grim reminder of the conflict between elephant and mankind.
Nevertheless, Abot, Mawar and Chery are lucky to end up at the centre instead of
being shot or poisoned.


BRIDGING THE CHASM

Here at the conservation centre, the 21 resident elephants not only keep
visitors preoccupied with activities but also help in relocating wild elephants.

The centre also highlights their plight and teaches the public that these
gentle giants had to be treated with respect if they are to be saved from
extinction.

More than anything else, the centre helps humans to create bond with nature.
This helps create greater awareness and appreciation not only for elephants but
for all life forms.

In bringing humans closer to elephants, two-year old Pandan and three
year-old Langsat are at the centre of attraction. Visitors to the centre are
encouraged to feed both calf in the open with sugarcane provided by the mahouts.
Apart from the duo, the eight-month old Tapis who drinks milk from a big bottle
is also a star attraction.

Children quickly get attached to these three youngsters and this helps
create greater appreciation for elephants from young.

Elephants and humankind have come a long way together but sadly it is only
recently that humankind is learning to appreciate them. Lokimala, Myanthonpyan,
Selendang, Sanum, Abot, Mawar, Chery, Pandan, Langsat, Tapis and the rest at the
elephant conservation centre are the bastion of hope for the country's dwindling
elephant population.
-- BERNAMA