After Jim & Sara Orvick and I took Gabi to the Elephant Sanctuary on Tuesday afternoon, we're all wondering if Gabi's next question will be, "Mommy, can I have an elephant for a pet?"
It was quite a time we had after driving out the east-west highway 1 1/2 hours from Kuala Lumpur and arriving at the center shortly after 2:00 p.m. First there was the chance to feed the elephants -- mostly bananas, papaya and watermelon, but then we all lined-up to get short elephant rides.
"The Elephants at Kuala Gandah" definitely rate in the "top 10" places to take kids in the KL area, at least according to the recent book by Lorien Holland and Kate Phillips, KL for Kids. Malaysia's Wildlife & National Parks Dep't. started its elephant relocation program back in 1974 by moving wild elephants away from angry farmers and "rehabilitating them" by using domesticated elephants. (So far over 500 elephants have been relocated.) It would have been nice to stay around to view a 30-minute video that tells the complete story of the center; however, time was limited, and we needed to return to KL before the dinner hour.
O yes, Jim Orvick did have to get into the act and demonstrate his "Madison, WI zoo skills" in handling elephants!
2 comments:
Oh my goodness, that is one lucky girl -- that Gabriella Woodward! She sure had a great time -- and thankfully, no elephants have come to live in Bukit Antarabangsa -- at least not yet. . .
i expect to see the pet elephant upon my arrival. in fact, I will only come if there is a pet elephant in bukit antarabangsaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
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