Three elephant keepers from Taronga Western Plains Zoo will be going on the trek-of-a-lifetime next year, all to raise money for conservation.
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Glenn Sullivan, Brooke Bishop and Bobby-Jo Vial will be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Money raised from the trek will be donated to The Askari Project and Kope Lion.
The trek will be held in August and Mr Sullivan – the elephant supervisor at Taronga Western Plains Zoo – said it would be his first time in Africa. As part of the trip Mr Sullivan will also be spending a month touring.
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“I’ve worked with elephants all my life so it’s prudent for me to go there and see them in their natural habitat,” Mr Sullivan said.
“It’s really seeing animals doing what they naturally do and in their natural environment. But also just being able to see it, feel it, smell it, immerse all your senses in it. I’ve seen African elephants, I’ve seen lions, I’ve seen a lot of antelope but I haven’t seen how it all plays out, because obviously we keep them here in captivity and not all living together.”
We’ll be smiling at the top, I guess – or puffing.
- Glenn Sullivan
Mr Sullivan, who has worked with elephants for more than 30 years, said seeing the animals in the wild was something he had wanted to do “since he was knee high to a grasshopper”.
“My story started about 8 or 9 years ago. My wife’s cousin said he was always keen to do something like this. I said 'when you organise it I’ll come’, but it’s been the other way around. I’ve organised it and he’s coming with us on this trip. But I’ve always wanted to go to Africa since I was really quite young,” he said.
Mr Sullivan said his day job had provided a unique way to get ready for the trek.
“I walk my dogs. And looking after elephants we probably pick up the most manure in the whole zoo. People probably pick up us much as we do in a day in a year,” he said.
“We’ll be smiling at the top, I guess – or puffing.”
The trek will be undertaken through Ms Vial’s company with Bradd Johnston, Duma Safaris.
“If there’s anyone else who’s keen to participate with us there’s still quite a few spots left open. We’re more than happy to have you along, it’ll be a bash,” Mr Sullivan said.
The Askari Project works to monitor the big tuskers of Africa and keep them protected from poachers, while Kope Lion hires former lion hunters to protect the population and reduce lion/human conflict.