31 Mar 2021

Securing a job as an elephant handler has changed Ms Asale Mokgadi’s perception that the job is one of those reserved for the brave especially men. 

The 26-year-old Maun resident applied for the job as an elephant handler at Elephant Havens, after knocking on many doors seeking employement. 

Even as she tried her luck, Ms Mokgadi said she was clueless that her job would entail interacting closely with one of Africa’s big fives. 

As one of the first females to work in a male-dominated field at Elephant Havens, Ms Mokgadi said she had come to realise that even women could excel in the same field with the necessary support, mentoring and career development opportunities.  

Elephant Havens is an elephant orphanage centre situated on the outskirts of Maun. 

It opened gates in 2018 with the aim to become a leading voice in wildlife conservation and awareness.

The Baisago University graduate who obtained a degree in Commerce and Entrepreneurship in 2019, said she applied for the post after seeing the organisation’s advertisement that sought women who wanted to break into the elephant mothering employment.

Ms Mokgadi has been doing her job for seven months now which entails caring, feeding, bathing and ensuring the general health and welfare of elephant orphans.

She said her passion for wildlife and conservation has made it easier for her to do the job. 

She has been able to develop a close bond with the elephants and interacts with animals as if she has been doing the job her whole life.

Even though she revealed that it was not easy when she started her job because of fear and anxiety, she had been able to adapt easily to the environment thanks to her male colleagues who provided support and mentoring.

She said the organisation had opened her eyes to the reality about elephants, which she described as the calmest and friendly animals.

She explained that when new youngsters are rescued, they are kept in quarantines to help them with habituation to their new safe place.

“Once they are comfortable around the handlers, the elephants finally resist their instinct to be aggressive to humans,” she said. 

Ms Mokgadi revealed that baby elephants were extremely vulnerable and emotional animals that required special and significant care. 

When they arrived at the centre, she said, some were in critical conditions and needed a dedicated team of experts to provide care.

The vibrant and energetic, Ms Mokgadi is proud to be an elephant handler. 

She stated that people who visited the centre enjoyed being guided by women.

“I really enjoy my job dearly and when I am off I do miss it because it is refreshing. I can confirm that elephants are friendly animals that need to be loved and cared for.” 

She said they work on a rotational basis so that the elephants do not get attached to one person.

As the proverb states, ‘it takes a village to raise a child, she said the same also holds true for elephant calves stating that people could contribute to ensure the success of the elephants’ rehabilitation and placement back into the jungle. 

Individuals, she said could pay a donation fee of P250 towards the centre, noting that the proceeds did not only benefit the centre but it also assisted the community in which the organisation operated.

She cited that Gabamochaa and Xanana community were enjoying access to potable water thanks to the organisation, which assisted with the equipping of boreholes. 

In addition, the organisation purchased a school bus for  Gabamochaa children who travelled 15km to access education at Shorobe village. Ends