June 15, 2010– I just found this video (dated March 27, 2008) from the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) of Deepak and Baba, two orphaned Asian elephant calves who got a second chance to live freely in India. Rescued when they were just a few months old, the two endangered elephants were hand-raised in IFAW’s rehabilitation center in the outskirts of Kaziranga National Park. After successful rehabilitation, Deepak and Baba were relocated to Manas National Park and join 6 other rehabilitated elephants. This is only the second time that endangered Asian elephants have been rehabilitated and released to the wild in India.
On May 11, 2009, Baba was caught on tape walking among a wild herd of elephants in Manas National Park, India.
This video footage is proof that when local citizens and governments are involved and view their native species as social and economic benefits–not problems or obstacles to progress–elephant reintroductions can be successful. For more information please visit: www.ifaw.org
-Windy Borman
Director & Producer, “The Eyes of Thailand”
