We recently received some photos of little Bona, the orphan elephant calf in Sumatra, that we would like to share with you. Aswita, an adult female elephant, has become Bona’s adopted mom and does a great job looking after her.
School days: As Bona approaches her second birthday, it is also time for her to start school. Aswita is a very good teacher and Bona has been busy learning how to use her trunk to find natural elephant food. She has also been learning behaviors that will assure safer and less stressful exams when the veterinarian comes to visit, as well as behaviors that will help her in her daily life with the members of her four and two-legged family. Learning at Aswita’s side and with lots of verbal praise and food rewards makes school time fun for Bona.
A sincere thank you: Bona is blossoming into a robust little girl and we would be terribly remiss if, in addition to Dr. Stremme and the full crew who are a part of Bona’s life, we didn’t also give a nod and very sincere thank you to Murray Munro, from Australia. He and a cadre of his friends have become collaborators and team players on Bona’s behalf. For the last six months they have taken over the funding of the supplemental feeding that is still so important for Bona as well as having one of them in camp to observe and help with her feeding schedule. This significant support and sincere concern for Bona has also enabled AES and Vesswic to be able to redirect their funds to other needs. We appreciate ‘Murray & Crew’ very much! There are no bounds to what we can accomplish when we roll up our sleeves and work together….and Bona thinks she probably has also expressed her thanks simply by being so darn cute!