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In the treehouse

Day 7: BLES – at the treehouse

We spent most of the day in a literal treehouse watching all 12 elephants at BLES. We were up two or three stories as the they came by to the river for a water and mud bath and especially a scratch on the trees.

Our view front the treehouse
Siri hanging out with Katherine Connor – BLES founder and her trusty dog pancake – who unfortunately was hit by a car just 6 weeks ago and is recovering.

We start each day having a full vegetarian breakfast at the rainbow pavilion and then head up to the medical tent for daily treatments.  Right now there are 2 elephants that need daily foot care. One stepped on a land mine and has permanent nd one that needs extra vitamins.  We chop up a box of apples which is the treat they receive as they are getting their feet done.

After foot care we are off to observe elephants.  No one thought she would be financially successful having tourists pay to just watch elephants.  18 years later she has proven them wrong.

Each morning we pass the pond and the markers to honor  the elephants that have died over the years – most due to old age
We are greeted each morning by a pack of friendly dogs and the rainbow shelter
Our typical breakfast
Chopping the tasty apples for their treats
Siri prepares the special vitamin balls made of sticky rice, tamarind seeds, vitamin B and Vitamin C all rolled together in Himalayan sea salt – yum!
Before foot care today, we get to feed the one crocodile on the campus a whole – dead – chicken.  She
And the alligator – ‘donated’ by a villager who couldn’t take care of him anymore and there was no one else to take him – so she took him in
Kate is working on one elephant who stepped on a land mine and needs daily care.  The mahout is giving apples to keep the elephant in place.  Another has an abscess which currently needs care.
Washing down the elderly bull elephant who gets the sticky rice vitamin balls since his teeth are bad – they get six sets which change every 10 years, so after 60, they have a much harder time eating
In the treehouse
Coffee and tea in the treehouse – check out the homemade bamboo mugs
The treehouse
The elephants check out the other treehouse with the mahouts
A trio of elephants come to scratch themselves on the tree and the stairs
After a full afternoon – we head back – and follow the elephants home
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sirianddavid

Siri and David live in Redmond, Washington, and enjoy living, traveling, and learning about different cultures.

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