My
mission is special.
It is to love wild Elephants & other animals, make
them love you.
When
people ask me what I am doing regarding wild elephants, I answer
that I am doing 'research on wild elephants' This is because,
they will not understand if I say I am after wild elephants
because I love them deeply.
The
Research or findings is secondary for me, when compared to my
love for them.
I also do interact with them in different ways. It will also
help to remove the unwanted fear & misconceptions that ordinary
people have about Wild Elephants.
I
feel that Elephants are grossly misunderstood & widely harassed.
I don't see any sincere efforts to understand them. What I see
around is that, people [especially "scientists"! &
experts trying to fit wild Elephants into their own shoes, not
understanding properly, what this magnificent animal is; its
character, Psychology, needs etc. In the process, they may end
up doing more harm than good to these poor creatures.
What
I am trying to do is to understand them, understand their needs,
its character, Psychology etc., and above all Love them. I consider
them as my children & try to make friends out of them.
I
play with them. I interact with them.
Many
caution me that it is highly dangerous to play with them. I
am fully aware of the danger. I am also aware that the danger
has increased manifold now due to various reasons, including
encroachment of their habitats by human animals; unnecessarily
throwing stones and other harassments.
When
I go very near them, I do that not without understanding the
danger in doing so. Nor not without the understanding that they
could turn against me within a fraction of a second, or that
as they could reach me within one or two seconds, it is impossible
to out-run them or escape them.
Very
occasionally, as an experiment or to understand certain things,
I may provoke them. But in the end, I make sure to soothe their
ego.
Many
times, I had made them obey me.
I
am, so to say, trying to open a new chapter on the relationship
between man & other animals.
I
am trying to reveal to mankind the secrets regarding the extraordinary
abilities & Atheendiya Jnana [Sixth sense] capabilities
of wild elephants..
All the above will lead to better understanding & that in
turn will lead to better conservation of the wild Elephants.
As
I am also studying the Behavior & Psychological aspects
of Wild Elephants; the knowledge gained can be used to bring
down man - Elephant conflicts.
It
will also help to bring down the sufferings of these magnificent
wild creatures.
Dijo
Thomas - Wildlife Enthusiast, Conservationalist, Researcher
& Mystic Philosopher |