COLD DARK ROOM

kirsty Johnston

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Yes, i worked with elephants in Thailand, and witnessed this often.
I even had my own elephant for eighteen months, but he was a big chap and had outgrown this.
Most mammals do this, it's a reflex that is important for encouraging them to suckle.
Of course, I still suck my thumb as i'm falling asleep!
:eek: you never told me that!!! My best friend is currently touring Asia and visited an elephant sanctuary in Thailand :)
My personal dream is to go to Africa and volunteer at a wildlife sanctuaries but it seems a world away. I hope I will at least get to visit one
 

Tidgy's Dad

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:eek: you never told me that!!! My best friend is currently touring Asia and visited an elephant sanctuary in Thailand :)
My personal dream is to go to Africa and volunteer at a wildlife sanctuaries but it seems a world away. I hope I will at least get to visit one
I hope your dream comes true.
I have visited many sanctuaries in Africa, but didn't work at any of them, just touristy stuff.
Still wonderful, though!:)
 

kirsty Johnston

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I hope your dream comes true.
I have visited many sanctuaries in Africa, but didn't work at any of them, just touristy stuff.
Still wonderful, though!:)
It's in chiang Mai the elephant sanctuary my friend visited earlier in the week.:)
I would love to see the lions and rhinos and elephants and giraffes and all wild African animals in their natural habitats it just sounds like a dream to me. I'm so jealous that you have done it - do you recommend any if I ever get round to it?
 

Tidgy's Dad

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It's in chiang Mai the elephant sanctuary my friend visited earlier in the week.:)
I would love to see the lions and rhinos and elephants and giraffes and all wild African animals in their natural habitats it just sounds like a dream to me. I'm so jealous that you have done it - do you recommend any if I ever get round to it?
Yes, i was based at Chiang Mai National Park for quite a while and know the elephant sanctuary.
Great place, lots of good work is done there with protection, breeding, rehabilitation etc.
I believe you can still volunteer there as well.
 

kirsty Johnston

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Yes, i was based at Chiang Mai National Park for quite a while and know the elephant sanctuary.
Great place, lots of good work is done there with protection, breeding, rehabilitation etc.
I believe you can still volunteer there as well.
She posted pictures of her on their backs in the water it looked amazing. A lot of them were missing their tusks though - is that because of poachers?
 

Tidgy's Dad

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She posted pictures of her on their backs in the water it looked amazing. A lot of them were missing their tusks though - is that because of poachers?
No, poachers kill them and cut off the tusks, it's easier.
Even babies for a few inches of ivory.
I once came across the carcass of an elephant rotting in the rainforest it's tusks cut out with the baby still running around it's dead mother.
That baby somehow escaped slaughter and was rescued.
I understand now, that they cut off the tusks of some elephants to deter poachers, but an elephant becomes very miserable without them.
Didn't do it in my day.
 

kirsty Johnston

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No, poachers kill them and cut off the tusks, it's easier.
Even babies for a few inches of ivory.
I once came across the carcass of an elephant rotting in the rainforest it's tusks cut out with the baby still running around it's dead mother.
That baby somehow escaped slaughter and was rescued.
I understand now, that they cut off the tusks of some elephants to deter poachers, but an elephant becomes very miserable without them.
Didn't do it in my day.
that must have been a horrible thing to see :( it's barbaric! But on the same note who is really to blame? The poacher or the person looking for the Ivory. I watched a programme about the rhinos as well being on the edge of extinction due to this as well it's really sad for the animals. I personally have much more time for animals than people - they don't judge :)
 

Tidgy's Dad

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that must have been a horrible thing to see :( it's barbaric! But on the same note who is really to blame? The poacher or the person looking for the Ivory. I watched a programme about the rhinos as well being on the edge of extinction due to this as well it's really sad for the animals. I personally have much more time for animals than people - they don't judge :)
There's good people about, more than you'd think, it's just the nasty ones who make themselves heard and grab all the headlines.
But i agree, most of the poachers were uneducated peasants who got paid a pittance for bringing the ivory to the smugglers who made the real money almost risk free.
 

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