Andrea Turkalo
\nhad this feeling
\nabout forest Elephants
\nand how they live
\nhow they came to Dzanga Bai
\na clearing
\nand in fact just why
\na clearing in a forest
\nmakes them vulnerable for they
\nare open to the poachers
\nwho certainly make them pay<\/p>\n
Forest Elephants are MUCH smaller
\nwith tusks of a pinkish hue
\nthey know about wild alchemy
\nand what minerals do
\nand in these pools and in this mud
\nthe minerals are there
\nand so they come to root them out
\nfor of course they are aware<\/p>\n
the toxins in some of the food they
\nforage on, contains
\nchemicals that upset them
\ncertain specific strains
\nthey can cause poor digestion
\nwell these elephants they know
\nthat by drinking mineral water
\nthe symptoms tend to go<\/p>\n
and so mostly at night they come
\nfrom all around the place
\nfamilies a sort of get together
\nits something that they face
\noff against each other
\na kind of meeting place
\nwhere relatives can socialize
\nand vocalize and chase<\/p>\n
for 20 years this women
\nhas watched them every day
\nlistening to their varied sounds
\nand observing what they say
\nshe identifies them easily and knows
\ntheir voices too
\nthis is dedication
\nand great love from her to do<\/p>\n
this kind of dedication to a task
\nwhich is beyond
\nmost of us, but clearly
\nshe is very very fond
\nof elephants and how they tick
\nand has built her library
\nits practical its personal
\nits wonderful to see<\/p>\n
their secret lives are special
\nand the Ba Aka pygmies do
\nhelp her with her studies
\nthough they are clueless too
\nbut as for the surrounding habitat
\nthey have knowledge they do share
\nwhich really holds her in good stead
\nand probably why
\nshe is still there<\/p>\n
For when she first came over
\nshe was dead scared of the dark
\nand wasn’t keen on insects
\nin the forest it is stark
\nno natural light to speak of
\nand a great spectrum of sound
\nbut she has got use to it all
\nand now appears spellbound<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Andrea Turkalo had this feeling about forest Elephants and how they live how they came to Dzanga Bai a clearing and in fact just why a clearing in a forest makes them vulnerable for they are open to the poachers … Continue reading