Figure from Pastorini et al. 2010 - A 'rare' daytime visit to a reservoir by a male elephant.
Water is something that all living things require, to varying degrees. Elephants require a great deal. Researchers in Southern Sri Lanka from the Center for Conservation Research have recently found that this dependence on water may be the key to determining whether elephants inhabit an area [1].
Recent events, including some news I got just this morning, was the inspiration for this post. It’s dedicated to the elephant few people are fortunate to to see. I don’t mean any particular elephant – not a tusker, or some performer of odd tricks. I mean the elephant who is not raiding a crop. The elephant who is not injured by a train. The elephant who is not being shot at, or bombarded with flames. The elephant who is not charging, or fleeing, in terror. The elephant who is not trying to hide in the bushes at the first scent of humans. The elephant who is not grieving its lost calf. In short, I mean the elephant at peace. That elephant.
In Uda Walawe, as in few other places, the Asian elephant can be seen at peace. A herd drifts by in the tall grass, rustling and rippling in the breeze, as they glide smoothly like a small convoy of ships. An ear flaps with the thud of a sail unfurling. There is nothing but the sound of the wind, the birds, and the munching of many mouths.
I did not get a chance to set eyes on the iconic Galagamuwa tusker, nor will I ever be able to. In the wake of the flurry of emails, news articles, blogs, and facebook posts that have followed this tragedy however, it is easy to get so overwhelmed by frustration that we seek out someone to blame – anyone. It would be easy to blame the vets, to blame the Department of Wildlife Conservation, to blame the villagers etc. and the list goes on. But that would be a mistake and a greater tragedy. Let this death bring about changes in the way that HEC is dealt with at its most fundamental level, not simply a witch-hunt. To that end, I’m posting information to correct some of the misinformation out there, and thoughts on where this is all going.
Maximus 