Parsalo’s’ death…How am I going to tell Lentokunye… ‘The Elephant’

Parsalo’s’ death…How am I going to tell Lentokunye… ‘The Elephant’

Category: elephants | Date: Oct 27 2008 | By: milgistrust

After the rescue of Lesanju in October 2006 and the terrible things that the Samburu children did to her ears, ‘The Milgis Trust’ decided to name each scout after an animal… so that they could learn all about their respective animal, and then on their travels throughout, while on patrol, to teach every one that they meet, and any one that would listen, especially at all the schools, more about the animals… The reason why is these children cut her ears, was to mark her, when they saw her further down in life..They would recognise her… Little did they know that after she had been given cows milk, and that treatment to her ears, she did not have many hours to live… BUT thanks once again to DSWT , after a big battle, she lived… Her ear was so infected, and parts of it kept on dieing, and of course the stomach problems… But heres a picture of her below!!!

.. Lesanju two years after her rescue from the Milgis… Note how damaged her ear is…remember the elephant need their ears for cooling…

On the 12 September, when Lentokunye, ‘our elephant’ heard that there was a baby elephant in trouble, he ran many miles to take charge of the situation… No cows milk allowed, don’t do any thing until I get there… He fell in love with this little elephant, he tried to sleep with him under the same blanket!, but he would not keep still!, so they spent the night wondering around together…He was heart broken when the helicopter arrived to take him away… Little parsaloi died of pneumonia, on the 21st October.. He was just over two month old… Its taken me until today to get used to the idea… And I will be seeing Lentokunye, on the 29th… I know he will cry… Its not much that will bring tears to a Samburus eye, but having worked with this incredibly dedicated man… I know he’s going to take this to be VERY, VERY sad news…

Once again I apologise for the lack of pictures… I try and try, and only half of them go… lets hope this one shows up…

5 Responses to “Parsalo’s’ death…How am I going to tell Lentokunye… ‘The Elephant’”

sheryl, washington, dc, on 27 Oct 2008

Helen, please extend my sincere sympathies to Lentokunye. I didn’t get to meet “Barseloi,” as he was called by the DSWT, but he was my adopted baby ele and I loved him. My heart is still broken and I cried a lot of tears when I learned of his death.

BTW, you need some help with your blog and I’m willing to lend a hand. I’m already helping out Simon Thomsett and I’m very familiar with Wordpress. Let Paula know if you need a “virtual” volunteer!

Anna M, on 27 Oct 2008

Such sad news Helen, has been a though month for DSWT, pass on our gratitude and thoughts to Lentokunye and let him know we share his and everyone else loss even if it from far a field… The rescue of this little one did involve so many people and such a huge effort that despite the outcome was always going to be worth it…

sheryl, washington, dc, on 27 Oct 2008

Well said, Anna M. So many of Barseloi’s rescuers and adoptive “parents” are heartbroken at his death, but he died in his stall with his human keepers comforting him, instead of abandoned in a well.

TheTeach, on 27 Oct 2008

We were very disheartened to hear of Barseloi’s passing. My wife and I had adopted him as one of the babies we were fostering at DSWT. One of his nursery mates, Kungu, also died that same week. So it has been a tough week for us and elephant conservation. We were so moved by everyone’s whole-hearted effort on behalf of Barseloi at Milgis Trust and beyond. It’s always worth the investment of care to do the right thing. Please offer the comfort to Lentokunye, of knowing that his efforts were not in vain and that the process he began, many (including my wife and I) invested to build on. Now, we all share in his and everyone’s feelings of loss. Barseloi’s and Kungu’s stories and all who were involved, will be a permanant part of our family’s conservation scrap book, and thus never forgotten in our household. No doubt, Lentokunye will never forget his night with the little, grey guy who wouldn’t settle down to sleep. Bless you all. Stay strong and continue the efforts on behalf of the still living and future threatened wild things. Best Wishes

John Romano (mamba guy), on 02 Nov 2008

We got to meet Barseloi before we headed back to the States, he was a lively little fellow. It was heartbreaking to hear of his passing.

Here is a picture(hopefully) of him at the DSWT on October 10th.

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