it's in your nature
Saying goodbye to a friend - Wonky
Pieter and Lieschen found out on the AM drive that Wonky had passed.
You are free to post your memories, thoughts, feelings, photos and videos in this thread.
Alternatively, you can also visit Wonky's Facebook page and post your memories there as well:
http://www.new.facebook.com/pages/Wonky-the-Elephant/69048920707?re...
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Blümchen66 on -
Als ich das erstemal hier von dem alten Elefantenbullen Wonky hörte wollte ich dich unbedingt auch sehen und saß jeden Tag viele Stunden vor dem PC und wartete auf dich.Dann endlich nach ca. 3 Wochen warst du mit einem freund am wasserloch.Ich wußte sofort welcher von den beiden du bist,ich fühlte mich so tief mit dir verbunden,fing vor freude an zu weinen.
Tage später erfuhr ich das du es wirklich warst und ich freute mich jedes mal dich zu sehen,bekam schmetterlinge im bauch und redete mit dir.Ich liebe dich so sehr,werde dich nie in meinem leben vergessen.Du bist und bleibst mein absoluter lieblings Elefant!!! Ich kann im Moment gar nicht aufhören zu weinen,du fehlst mir so sehr.
Ich fühlte mich so sehr zu dir hingezogen,weil ich auch ein verkrüpeltes linkes bein habe und ich liebe elefanten seit fast 40j.
Ruhe in Frieden mein großer Freund,wir sehen uns bestimmt
Grüße vom Blümchen Rebecca
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Permalink Reply by Margo (kiotewoman) on -
Vaya con Dios Wonky my gentle friend. You will never leave my heart.
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Permalink Reply by Simon Dilts on -
R.I.P Wonky thanks for the many memories. May your spirit live on
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Permalink Reply by Fabby on -
Rest in peace Wonky, you will be missed. Every one at WE, my thoughts are with you, especially Pieter and Lieschen.
Once again you are giving us a unique experience; sharing your grief over this magnificent elephant. You are truly special people.
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Permalink Reply by Nancy on -
Wonky - You were my most favorite siting. Everytime I saw you, I was glued to my computer screen. You will be forever in my heart. I will miss you.
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Permalink Reply by Angela on -
I have so much sadness in my heart over this news. Wonky was the first ellie that I saw when I found WE and like so many others he instantly became my favorite. My heart goes out to Pieter, Lieschen and all of WE staff who had such a special bond with him; I know how you are feeling to loose a something so close to you; but know that our Wonky is having a grand time in ellie heaven with all the other ellies of time past. I can see you now with your tusks, long and grand free from any limp running in the fields full of life. God give you peace my beloved friend :(
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Permalink Reply by Jersey Girl on -
It has taken me almost 2 days to absorb the news that we have lost our friend Wonky.
I have always loved and admired elephants and after I found WE - seeing Wonky almost every day at the pond confirmed all of my thoughts that they are really a treasure! For me - Wonky was the official Mascot of the WE Family. Loved and adored by everyone who got a peek at his handsome head. After a few minutes of watching you were also clued into his fantastic spirit and character! I have so many "favorite" memories of Wonky (either alone or with Pieter, Rex and gang). I loved how he hogged the water pipe at the pond, you could see him sometimes actually trying to pull the pipe up - using his trunk!
Pieter, Rexon, Lieschen, Graham, Emily and the entire crew - thank you for bringing this wonderful creature into my life and sharing your knowledge and hearts with all of us "strangers" - you each have been wonderful and you are all in my thoughts and prayers.
Good-bye Wonky you gentle soul.......
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Permalink Reply by MOTHERNATURE on -
WONKY IT HAS BEEN ONE WEEK AGO TODAY SINCE WE GOT THE NEWS ON OUR AM DRIVE AND WHAT TERRIBLE NEWS IT WAS. INSTANTLY MY HEART WAS BROKEN WHEN PIETER TURNED TO US AND SAID "WONKY IS DEAD." MY VERY FIRST THOUGHT WAS ...... NO PIETER DID NOT JUST SAY THAT, THEN THE TEARS BEGAN TO FLOW. I STILL CRY FOR YOUR LOSS, EVERY TIME I READ OR HEAR OR WATCH A VIDEO THAT IS MEANT FOR YOUR HONOR! YOU WERE A TRUE GENTLE GIANT, WITH HUNDREDS OF ADORING WONKY FANS....I AM ONE OF THEM, I LOVE YOU AND WILL MISS YOU!!!
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UK tour raises some great questions
Some great questions have been raised by University students during my recent lecture tour in the UK, which have focused our thoughts on the direction of the ILP for the next years. Sure, we’re growing rapidly but it’s important to ensure that we focus on our core aims first and foremost. The object of our research is to gather data on the density and behaviour of leopards (and other carnivores) outside of formally protected areas. And why? Well it is in these areas (the largest land mass of South Africa) that leopards are in conflict with humans and in these areas where they are the last of the big five remaining truly wild.
So how can we conserve the dwindling leopard population. As said, first we need data, but also we need to develop wildlife management methods and techniques. Within this we need to become more than a pure research project and tackle some of the other issues. Education is undoubtedly a major factor. We need to get the message across in the right way. But we also need to develop and employ pragmatic management solutions. We will need a holding facility to temporarily detain problem animals, sufficient to give us time to ensure that any relocation does not compromise the genetic dynamics of an area and importantly that we do not create a problem in that area. Whether that be with local livestock, people, or other leopards.
All of this will mean we need more staff. Dedicated people who have a passion for wildlife conservation. We’ll also need more funding. But here is where we can offer something a little different. We want to create an ILP membership scheme (say$8 annual fee). However rather then just ask for a membership fee, in return we want to offer something more than a badge or membership card. Membership will then entitle folks to a 10% discount off an African Conservation Safari. As with everything we do, we look to our friends to give us their input and feedback, so if you have any thoughts on this concept then I'd love to hear from you.
Written by Will Fox
Honey Badgers - You have to love them
Finally we have some news on our Honey Badger project. As you may know we have been holding two troublesome honey badgers, that were killing Geese on a farm and removed before they could get into even deeper trouble. Of-course we have been waiting for permits but (in this case), that is no bad thing. It has provided time for the badgers to loose their homing instinct to that farm (otherwise they would just head home and into more trouble). It's also given us time to arrange for tracking equipment. In this regard, we took lots of advice from badger specialists before deciding on a two pronged approach to tracking these animals that roam in very large areas.
Firstly, one of the badgers had a radio transceiver implant yesterday (unobtrusive low range device placed under the skin by a vet), and second they will each be given VHF collars before release. Of-course with such tenacious animals the collars won't last long before the badgers have destroyed and discarded them, but by that time we hope to have logged their new home range and have an idea of where to find them. Thereafter the implant (which has only a small range) will help us to monitor the badgers for the next year or so and gather much needed data on Honey Badgers living outside of formally protected area's. You've heard it before, but these are the area's where all carnivores at the biggest and imminent risk from human conflict. So we very much hope that these two will be only the first of many, so that our study results can hep formulate pragmatic conservation policies.
For now, the badgers will be monitored at Moholoholo wildlife rehabilitation centre for another twelve days and then we'll release them into a wild area. Where we hope they'll stay out of trouble. Yea I know, fat chance of that. Badgers just seem to look for trouble. I have to be honest, it's why I love them.
Written by Will Fox
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