Maktao- The orphan Elephant

A conversation with Angela Sheldrick encouraged me to adopt an orphan elephant. Offering life and hope to an animal in need is what we do when we adopt them. Once they are grown up and healthy they are led back to the forest to live the life they were meant to live in the wilderness.
And that is how I met the perky little Maktao. He was rescued when he was 3 months old. He was dehydrated and searching for his mother and needed urgent care and attention. Slowly it became evident that this little guy had a perky nature and big attitude. Now he is 2 years old and has deep bonds with the elephants around him. To say that I fell in love with him is not enough to express how I genuinely felt.
He was initially shy but, in a little while he warmed up to me. He was a toddler in the real sense. He pulled a scarf I had tied around my neck with his little trunk and then proceeded to put it inside his mouth. I laughed and took it away from him and told him not to eat it. In a microsecond, he pulled my scarf again and attempted to stuff it in his mouth. He was playful and we had a good time.
I wanted to spend more time with him and henceforth, I decided to spend the rest of my three days in Kenya with my toddler elephant. He is a playful and loving 2-year old who wants a ton of attention and loves playing. I wanted to shower him with love and form a sacred bond and meaningful connection with him that will forever linger in our hearts and minds.
On the second day, Maktao was moody as his friend outgrew his old accommodation and was hence shifted to a more spacious accommodation which meant he had some adjusting to do. Maktao heard his buddy crying and resisting the needed change and this made my little dude very moody. The employees there told me how Maktao had made a deep connection with his buddy and being moved away from each other was not acceptable for these two. I went with the scarf to play with him but, my little dude was not really in the mood. He tried to please me by engaging in a little play but it was obvious that his heart was not in our little games. I felt so proud of him that despite his weariness over the separation from his friend he still played with me because he cared about me. My little dude surely has a very big heart. I just tried to soothe him and remained grateful for the precious moments.
"There is mystery behind that masked gray visage, and ancient life force, delicate and mighty, awesome and enchanted, commanding the silence ordinarily reserved for mountain peaks, great fires, and the sea.” This is a Peter Matthiessen quote about Elephants from The Tree Where Man Was Born. It resonated so much with me when I looked into the eyes of Maktao who comes from an ancient life force yet he is delicate.
The third day was the final day I visited him before leaving Kenya and he was back to being his jolly self. When I told him I will be leaving Kenya, he wrapped his trunk around my neck and showed me his affection. He filled my heart with unconditional love and gratitude and I hope my love for him brightens his days even though I am far away from him.
I was given his adoption certificate and enclosed in it was a beautiful painting of my perky little 2-year old Maktao. I will frame it and look at my little dude who loves too much and cares too much and in three days owned my entire heart. Once he is grown he will go back to the wild and I know that he will remember me and share his memories with his elephant family.
“Until one has loved an animal, part of one’s soul remains unawakened.”
-Anatole France

[@ys1281]

Lovely baby elephant maktao🐘🙏❤️

[@ХлояХлоя-д9д]

Прекрасные нежные невинные создания ❤❤❤ малыши сироты😢😢😢

[@dianemorris5816]

These must be the David Sheldrik foundation in Kenya for baby orphans...one of the very best in the world.

[@paradiseplanetearth3153]

Yes, it is