Last days at WFFT

Final days at WFFT....

Well, four more work days and it's back to freezing Strasbourg....and it's a good thing I have the next volunteer project to look forward to or I think I would be quite depressed!

The past few days have been much busier than I expected them to be. I mentioned in my previous posting that working with elephants was much easier than working with wildlife, the pace was slower and all that...delusion, delusion...that was until I went harvesting! That day was an easy harvest: banana trees. We didn't actually have to chop them down, the mahouts took care of that. But we did have to strip off the bark and carry them to the truck through mud and ants. And this for over 2 hours, or 2 truck loads worth. I was already rather pleased with myself for having withstood the physical effort of all this work for the past 6 weeks but that was the icing on the cake, as it were. I have never carried anything remotely as heavy as banana trees before, now I have :-) Will the next one be corn? I hear that one is lethal!

Today was my day off so I went around the centre in a leisurely manner to have a look at all the animals once more as I may not have the time to do it again before leaving in a few days. I realize how much I loved being here and how attached to the animals I have become. I also took our little resident golden retriever Winnie on a nice long walk outside the centre and that was special. We went before the sun got too hot and I let Winnie off her leash and just watched her run and bounce happily along, free of all constraints, a happy dog. And I thought to myself, I would like all the animals to be that way and not in cages or behind bars. But at least here they are safe from human predators.

Before coming here to volunteer, I knew nothing of all this world of animals and volunteering. I have learned a lot in these 6 weeks and now know that there is a whole world out there of people and centres trying their best to help all these animals. And I have decided that I definitely want to take an active part in this world. I'm not sure in what way as yet but am giving it a long, hard think and gathering information here and there. Unexpectedly, I have fallen in love with the bears and am looking to volunteering in a centre sponsored by Free the Bears fund in Cambodia, where they care for 110 bears. As soon as I get back, I will also be looking into Veterinary Assistant online courses and possible employment in the field. It's a daunting thought to change careers in such an extreme way but it is an exciting prospect and for once, age doesn't seem to be an issue. If I do decide to go that way, it will take quite of bit of planning, organizing, but I feel it will be a worthwhile endeavor which I could pursue for a long time. Food for thought: in any case I have decided to go about it in a slow and methodical manner, gathering experience and knowledge as I go along before doing anything rash. I intend to get more experience volunteering, earning references along the way. We'll see where that takes me.

My next posting will be from South Africa in about 2 weeks time, so I will say 'lah gorn' (goodbye) for now and talk to you soon.

Cheers

A 'rear-view' picture of yours truly between the old ladies Bua Ngun and June.As you can see, they are very used to humans.

Bringing banana tree refuse to compost. Did I ever suspect before doing this that elephants eat SO MUCH? Unbelievable how much we clean up all day, all for the good cause though.

 June being showered down before her veterinary treatment.

 The beautiful Dao, a baby gibbon

Khan Kluey (left) and Somboon

Bears are so funny! They're like giant teddy bears but one must never forget they are wild animals even if they look so cuddly....

 This is how we looked before harvesting.....

during......

.....and after.....considerably dirtier and very tired!

A well deserved stop in the nearby river before going back to the centre for lunch

 My favourite sweety pie...Jojo