Sirjana Kali

I am Srijana Kali. I was born on 1982, April 3rd. I don’t know the meaning of my name and why I was given this specific name, but living with humans thought me the meaning of Srijana : to develop something new! Maybe that’s why I gave birth to a child and started a new life. I am very happy and proud to be a mother of such a wonderful child. I want to share with you the story of his birth. One day an old friend came from far away to visit me at the place I live in. We had a special bond: since childhood we were friends, we lived and played together. Both our mom were wild elephants. But later when I grew up I was captured and domesticated by people, trained by them for carrying people on my back and taking them on long safariwalks. My friend on the other hand was wild living freely in jungle.

Then, many years later, when he came to visit me, we were very happy and excited to see each other after such a long time. We hung out for a couple of days, and I got to carry his baby. After a while my friend left me as he was enjoying the wild life more than staying with humans. But since I was domesticated I returned home to my owner to continue my daily work.

Days passed by and after 16 months of my pregnancy, I couldn’t carry people for safari anymore. My owner then sold me to a new place. And that was Sapana Village Lodge. I was very worried and stressed about what would happen to me, whether I would live or die. I didn’t even know what they bought me for. They gave me a new shelter. That day they feed me tasty foods but I refused to eat anything because even though my last place was miserable it was my home and I missed the days I spent at my old place. That whole night I couldn’t sleep as I only was thinking of my old home.

Next day I really wanted to know where I was so, I began exploring here and there. I tried to feel the energy of the environment and it felt positive to me. I found this place to be the best one for me and my coming child.

Do you know we giants hold the baby for 2 years on our womb before we give birth to our child? As days went by I was already pregnant for 23 months. Finally I was able to bring new life to this world. When I was in labor many people surrounded me and I wasn’t feeling comfortable during that time. One day my little one became very ill. You can read about this in his story, the one about Samrat Gaj. Luckily, he was cured due to the care of my new human friends and caretakers. Day by day my baby grew bigger and bigger. With my love and care he grew very well. In Sapana Village Lodge I met many people who loved and cared for me. The person who brought me to Sapana Village Lodge was actually the founder of the lodge himself, Mr Dhruba Giri. Everyday he came to my shelter to look after me and my baby.

One day Dhruba met Donna Marshall. They decided to team up and together they made a plan to take care of all the domesticated elephants in our area. They planned to make our life even better and thanks to them we have been living a luxurious life ever since. I am thankful to them for giving me and my baby such a wonderful life.