Amos, Mishak and Edwin

I only recently stumbled upon a facebook page that totally inspired me, moved me and motivated me. This page belonged to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust  https://www.facebook.com/thedswt 

Totally absorbed and fascinated,  I soon headed for their official website address which offered far more information.   http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/  

The DSWT was founded by Dr Dame Daphne Sheldrick in Kenya in 1977, in memory of her late husband, David Sheldrick, the naturalist and founder warden of Kenya’s Tsavo National Park. The trust embraces David’s vision for the protection of wildlife and habitats and undertakes a variety of projects aimed at ensuring a viable future for animals and people, where they might live in harmony.

Best known for the  hand-rearing of orphaned elephants that are rehabilitated back into the wild  when grown;  the trust does so much more than this  -  managing anti-poaching teams, mobile veterinary units and community outreach programs. I urge you to visit this website and read about the incredible work they do.  You will laugh and smile; and be moved to  tears by their amazing work with these 'human' animals.

Inspired by this dedicated team of workers and keepers,  I have named my three new creations after some of  the elephant's keepers.

Amos and Edwin

Amos and Edwin are made from a soft dove-grey velvet, whilst Mishak is a slightly darker charcoal-grey.  Their inner ears and footpads are fashioned from soft Ultrasuedes of pale pink and grey.

Mishak is very cosy there!

Standing only 1,5 inches high but 2,5 inches from trunk to tail; they are tiny.

Their bodies are string-jointed allowing for movement and their heads are cotter-pin jointed enabling them to move from side to side.

They all have small onyx eyes which have been hand-shaded to provide character

 

Thick trunks, 'up'-trunks, 'down' trunks.......all different. 

 
 Needlesculpting technique used to create the appearance of wrinkles

Today, in fact, just a short while ago, I signed up to foster an orphaned baby elephant at the DSWT. His name is  Barsilinga.