The Trumpet

Dear Members

Merry Christmas from

MEF! As usual it’s

been an eventful few

months, there was

flooding in mid

November and the

volunteers worked hard

clearing the mud and

debris that was left

behind after the river

burst its banks.

Thankfully it wasn’t as

bad as 2009 when the

water rose half way up

the museum and the

damage was minimal

although part of the

Mahout’s wall fell down

but it was swiftly rebuilt

the following day.

We also welcomed a

film crew and

representative from i-to

-i, a gap year

organization, who

came to find out about

everything MEF has to

offer and interviewed

the volunteers about

their experiences at

MEF. The video

documentary will be

posted on the i-to-i

website within the next

couple of months.

In this issue you can

also find ele-facts, a

volunteers experience

of weighing an

elephant, our first ever

volunteer wedding and

an update on Sumana

the elephant and her

development since

arriving at MEF in

2008, so please read

on.

As ever, none of MEF's

work would be possible

without the unending

support of our

members who

contribute so

generously throughout

the year. We are

constantly looking for

ways to be more

environmentally

friendly as well as

reduce our outgoings

so that as much of our

precious funds as

possible can be spent

on the care of our

elephants. So if you do

not currently receive

this newsletter by email

but would like to,

please contact us at

the email address

below so that we can

add you to our

electronic mailing list.

On behalf of everyone

at MEF, we thank you

all for your continued

support and hope that

you enjoy this latest

issue.

Happy New Year!

Millennium Elephant

Foundation

Randeniya

Hiriwadunna

Kegalle, Sri Lanka

Web:

www.millenniumelephan

tfoundation.com

Email:

volunteer@millenniumel

ephantfoundation.com

Editorial

Millennium Elephant Foundation

October-December 2010

Elephant Facts:

A male elephant can go into Musth for up to 6 months once, or sometimes twice a year.

Each elephant at MEF eats 200kg of food every day

An elephant’s trunk contains about 100,000 different muscles

Elephants can use low frequency sound waves for communication. These sounds can carry for distances of up to 10 miles

Inside this issue:

How to Weigh an Elephant

2

Our First Volunteer Wedding!

3

Elephant Focus: Sumana

4

Adoption Form 5

Rani enjoys a mid morning snack

When you volunteer at the M i l l e n n i u m E l e p h a n t F o u n d a t i o n s i n g u l a r opportunities may come your way. Indeed this was the case for me and fellow volunteer Caroline. We had just returned to the MEF office after a tasty breakfast at Club Concept, when Mo (MEF's volunteer co-ordinator) asked if two volunteers would like to go and look on as an elephant was weighed. Curious as to how this task was done, up

went my hand.

Caroline and I jumped into the back seat of the waiting Toyota 4WD ute and proceeded to introduce ourselves to the gentlemen sitting in the front. First, Sunel Rambukpotha from the sacred Temple of the Tooth in Kandy - he is extremely knowledgeable and conversant with all things ELEPHANT. Next, the man behind the wheel, Wijemohan, -it was his assignment we were going to witness. Wije is doing his PhD at the Peradeniya University and is sponsored by Ringling Bros. in the USA and is preparing his thesis o n W e i g h t s a n d Measurements of Captive Elephants (see the previous issue of The Trumpet for more informat ion on Wijemohan!).

Our hour and a bit journey takes us

along curved roads (I think they were left from when

the British ruled), past thick jungle and some spectacular views. We arrive in Ruwanwella and the estate o f M r s . S u n e t h r a Mapaitigama, who is the owner of the elephant we need to see. Unfortunately the property is locked up! Turning the vehicle around, Wije heads off to the home of the mahout. We are in luck - the elephant, Kaanthi is here.

We are greeted warm ly. W i j e begins to set up

his equipment, as he winches the scales from the tray of the ute, Sunel enlightens us to the fact that Wije is very innovative and actually designed the scales. A cable attached to the base is then connected to a digital screen which sits on the ground a couple of metres away and displays the numbers to be documented. Caroline and I both tested the apparatus for its accuracy and for my part I have to divulge it was precise.

Looking down the side of the house we saw Kaanthi

approaching. Phenomenal, she looked magnificent and her manner so relaxed following the mahout’s commands. As she came up to the scales she stopped, not sure of what was in front of her. The mahout spoke and she put her foot over the scales, it hovered and then she took it away. This was repeated a couple of times so the mahout changed tactics; he moved her away and turned

her around, then instructing her again she reversed on to the scales worry free. It was nothing short of brilliant to watch. After her magic numbers were recorded, Kaanthi was then moved into an open space where her mahout assisted Wije. Using a tape measure they noted her dimensions (height, girth, neck, feet) and

she even had a pinch test.

All finished, she grabbed a snack of leaves and as she was swinging past the porch, her sense of smell kicked in and she came over to me for some bananas. It is astonishing how gentle such a large animal can be. The scales were winched back

on to the ute and after viewing some very old photos we ventured back to MEF. Thank you for allowing me to be a witness and best wishes to Wije for the PhD!

Kim Costa, Volunteer (Australia)

October-December 2010 How to Weigh an Elephant

Page 2

Here comes the subject

Hurry up I don’t want to be on here!

Looking for banana rewards after weighing, and she found

them!

October-December 2010 Our First Volunteer Wedding!

Page 3

Earlier this year I had a booking for volunteer placements in November from Carol Donnelly, Elaine Taylor and Paul Deddon from the UK. This was followed in July by an announcement from Carol that she had just become engaged to her Sri Lankan boyfriend, Sampath, and that the wedding was scheduled during her time at MEF!!

When Carol and her friends arrived in Sri Lanka their first stop was Beruwala – south of Colombo – to meet with Sampath and his family to finalise arrangements for the big day. I then went down to meet them in Colombo on 31 October for the journey back to MEF. Carol and the others then spent the next 2 weeks immersed in the volunteer programme (but not without the odd phone call to Carol with last-minute plans for the wedding!).

Carol, Elaine and Paul soon fitted into the MEF routine – mornings filled with elephant cleaning, vet round and organic gardening and

afternoons with office work and teaching but the time passed quickly and they soon had to depart southwards for Carol’s wedding on 13 November. I had been lucky enough to be invited to the wedding while Carol was still in the UK, but she got on so well with all our other volunteers that everyone was invited down for the event!

We set off on Friday 12th for

the journey down (about 4.5 hours by road) and an overnight stay close to the wedding venue. Carol and Sampath had decided on a t r a d i t i o n a l B u d d h i s t ceremony and I for one was looking forward to that – although I had been to several homecomings, I had never been at the formal service. I was also extremely honoured to be asked to act as one of Carol and Sampath’s witnesses.

Sampath’s sisters spent a long time on the afternoon of the 13

th dressing Carol in the

most beautiful white wedding sari – she looked absolutely stunning. Following that, a

long session with the photographers took place – both in the hotel and the adjoining beach.

From the beach, we went in convoy to the Wedding Hall where the happy couple was greeted in traditional style by Kandyan dancers and drummers. The wedding c e r em on y wa s t h e n conducted – firstly, by the signing of the wedding register (the Registrar giving both English and Sinhala translations) then the formal Buddhist service which included tying the couple’s little fingers together as a sign of their union. And then – more photographs!!

The evening was rounded off by a lovely meal and dancing into the small hours to a disco combining western and local music.

I know that all of us present had the most wonderful day and everyone at MEF wishes Carol and Sampath a long and happy married life together.

Mo Rendall, Volunteer Coordinator

Fingers tied together as part of the Buddhist

service

Photos on the beach

The blushing bride

October-December 2010 Elephant Focus: Sumana

Page 4

Sumana is 75 years old

and came to MEF from

the Temple of the

Tooth. Prior to that she

was used for safari

rides for tourists in

Habarana. She was

worked very hard

during her life and when

she arrived She arrived

at MEF in September

2008 requiring

treatment for numerous

sores and wounds.

Every day since she

arrived Sumana's

mahout, Sunil treats her

wounds and cleans

them with iodine. She

receives an antibiotic

injection every 3-4 days

as well as a range of

supplements fed to her

(along with some

bananas) in dough balls

every day and her

condition has improved

greatly. Her big wounds

on her hips are

healing well, with one

side almost

completely better,

while the other

continues to improve,

however it may be a

long time before it is

completely better.

Sumana is not able

to lie down at night

due to her big sores

on her hips therefore,

she is taken down to

the river

every

day to

lie down

and rest

in the

cool

water for

a few

hours.

The

water

keeps her cool and

relieves the pressure on

her sores. Sumana is a sweet

elephant and never

causes a fuss no matter

how often she is

treated. Due to her age

and condition Sumana

does not participate in

the elephant safaris but

she enjoys giving

visitors a shower in the

river.

Sumana’s right side is almost completely healed

Relaxing in the river

Volunteer Neyome gives Sumana her antibiotic injection

Going down to the river with Sunil

Adopt an elephant for a friend!

Thank you for your support

Adopting an elephant for a friend makes a great and unique gift. If you would like to give the gift of membership please complete the

appropriate information below and a membership pack will be sent directly to your friend. The membership fee directly

contributes to the elephant’s daily upkeep and welfare. The cost of caring for a domesticated elephant is on average $US 15.00 per

day. Without your generous support it would be difficult for the MEF to continue its essential work.

I WOULD LIKE TO ADOPT THE FOLLOWING ELEPHANT FOR A FRIEND (TICK BOX):

Sumana—an ex safari elephant enjoying her twilight years

Raja—a magnificent tusker, the pride of our herd

Lakshmi—a 30-something with a taste for fizzy drinks

Rani—a 20-something female and one of our tallest elephants

Pooja—the first elephant born in captivity in Sri Lanka, who has a lovely wiggly tail

Types of membership and their price:

Adult: Rs3500/US$35/£20 (inc. P&P) - adopts one elephant for one year

Junior: Rs2500/US$25/£15 (inc. P&P) - adopts one elephant for one year

Life: RS25500/US$250/£140 (inc. P&P) - adopts an elephant for life

Your Personal Details: Your Friend’s Personal Details:

Name: __________________________________________ Name: ______________________________________

Address: ________________________________________ Address: ____________________________________

________________________________________________ ____________________________________________

Postcode: _______________________________________ Postcode: ___________________________________

Country: ________________________________________ Country: ____________________________________

Email: __________________________________________ Email: ______________________________________

Tel: ____________________________________________ Tel: ________________________________________

Please pay by telegraphic transfer (TT) to the account of the Millennium Elephant Foundation, account number 121 000 8801 at the

Commercial Bank of Ceylon Ltd, Kegalle Branch. In case you need the swift code, quote CCEYLKLX. Thank you! Please send this

form to: Millennium Elephant Foundation, Randeniya, Hiriwadunna, Kegalle, Sri Lanka.

Tel: (+94)(0) 35 226 5377 Fax: (+94)(0) 35 226 6572

Email: info@millenniumelephantfoundation.org

*CASH PAYMENTS: PLEASE OBTAIN RECEIPT*