Revered 49-year-old forest ranger, Titus Onyenwe, identified far and huge because the “Elephant Whisperer,” has spent 30 years forging a bond with the majestic inhabitants of the sprawling Omo Forest. He takes Dayo Oyewo on a outstanding journey into when he first ventured into the dense, shadowy forest in 1990, nights of silent vigils and affected person remark and the way he grew to become a cherished companion to the ‘gentle’ giants
Nestled deep inside the dense Omo Forest within the Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State lies a narrative as outdated as time itself – a story of profound connection and mutual respect between man and beast.
This forest, a sanctuary of historic timber towering like sentinels over the land, harbours inside its depths a bond that transcends the spoken phrase and a friendship that has been quietly nurtured for many years.
At the guts of this story is Titus Onyenwe, a 49-year-old forest ranger, whose life has been intricately woven into the material of Omo Forest.
His journey started in 1990, when the thick cover of Omo Forest first forged its shadow over him.
Brought to this untamed wilderness by a white man, who had partnered with the then Nigerian forest elephants, Onyenwe was tasked with a frightening mission to observe the elephants that roamed the huge lush lands.
Omo Forest, a sprawling labyrinth of life, is dwelling to the majestic forest elephants.
The forest, situated about 135 kilometres from the bustling metropolis of Lagos, is a world unto itself.
It boasts of over 200 kinds of timber, their canopies forming a pure cathedral below which life thrives.
No fewer than 125 species of birds add their songs to the refrain of the forest, whereas a number of mammals make their houses within the undergrowth, transferring by way of the foliage with the grace of those that have identified these woods for generations.
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Yet, this paradise is below risk. Over the years, unlawful poaching, logging, and farming have encroached upon the sanctuary of the forest elephants, turning what was as soon as a protected haven right into a battleground for survival.
The timber which have stood for hundreds of years now face the sharp blades of axes, the birds’ songs typically interrupted by the roar of chainsaws, and the elephants—smart, mild giants—discover their paths more and more obstructed by the advance of human exercise.
It was into this fraught surroundings that Onyenwe was thrust, a younger man from Orita, a group near the forest, with roots within the southeastern area.
Although his household’s heritage lay elsewhere, his future was undeniably tied to the Omo Forest. Alongside a pal, Onyenwe started his work, establishing a camp in what would later be often called Erin Camp, or Elephant Camp.
For two lengthy years, Onyenwe toiled within the camp, his senses ever alert, his spirit ever affected person.
The forest, with its dense undergrowth and towering timber, appeared to carry its breath, preserving its secrets and techniques shut.
The elephants remained elusive, shadows within the mist, their presence felt however by no means seen. Many would have misplaced hope, however not Onyenwe.
He understood that the forest and its inhabitants moved to a rhythm all on their very own—a rhythm that required persistence, respect, and above all, time.
Then, in the future, because the solar filtered by way of the leaves, casting dappled mild onto the forest ground, the second got here. Onyenwe, going about his duties, caught sight of them—his first glimpse of the magnificent creatures he had come to know solely by way of tales and indicators.
It was as if the forest had determined he was prepared; that he had earned the belief not simply of the land, however of the elephants themselves.
From that day ahead, Onyenwe’s life modified. The connection he solid with the elephants was not simply born out of remark however from a deep, virtually non secular understanding.
He discovered to talk their language and interpret the refined nuances of their sounds and actions.
The forest, as soon as silent and impenetrable, now revealed its secrets and techniques to him, whispering them on the wind, by way of the rustle of leaves, and within the quiet, highly effective presence of the elephants.
Omo Forest, with all its magnificence and peril, had change into greater than only a administrative center for Onyenwe—it was his dwelling, his life, and his best instructor.
And the elephants, with whom he had as soon as solely hoped to share house, had change into his companions.
Speaking to our correspondent throughout a reporting journey to the forest, sponsored by Wild Africa Fund on July 31, 2024, Onyenwe revealed {that a} white man, who partnered the then ‘Nigeria Forest Elephant’ introduced him and his pal to J4 Forest in 1990, to observe the elephants.
He mentioned, “There had been elephants there at the moment, however we didn’t see them till after two years. I labored within the camp for 5 years earlier than one other individual was employed.
“The means of my contact with elephants began the day I noticed them whereas working within the camp. It was that day that I began trailing them. During that interval, I’d comply with them wherever they went from morning until night time. Once it was darkish, I’d sleep on the location I ended following them and continued the subsequent day.
“There was a time they charged at me after noticing I had been following them. That day, one of them started to trumpet and charge towards me; it went back and did the same five times. Throughout that time, I did not leave the spot I was in. And by the time the elephant realised that I did not move, it went its way and left me unharmed.”
This dedication and persistence paid off when the elephants started to just accept Onyenwe’s presence. He discovered to recognise their completely different sounds, from the snapping of wooden whereas consuming, to the distinctive rumble after they wished to relaxation.
Onyenwe might sense their feelings, understanding after they had been calm or agitated.
He additionally discovered to talk to them in his native language, and they’d pay attention. If he wanted them to comply with him, they might obey. His reference to the animals deepened, and he grew to become often called the “Elephant Whisperer of Erin Camp.”
Onyenwe mentioned, “From that day on, I adopted them and learnt about their methods and the right way to talk with them. I by no means learnt this anyplace however right here at Erin Camp. No matter how far or close to an elephant is, as soon as it makes a noise, I’ll know it’s there.
“They don’t simply make a sound anyhow. If they’re consuming now, they’ll break some wooden; the noise will likely be completely different at that time. If they need to relaxation, in addition they make a unique sound; nobody can simply perceive this, however I do.
“If I see an elephant contained in the thick forest and it is available in my route, whereas others run away, I’ll wait. And if it makes an attempt to assault anybody, I’ll converse a sure language to it or beat my arms twice and it’ll pay attention.
“Over the years, I also tried to speak to elephants in my native Igbo language and they now listen. I also speak to them in different languages. If I tell an elephant that I want it to follow me somewhere, it will follow me.”
However, one unforgettable encounter stood out in Onyenwe’s thoughts. He mentioned he was accompanying his employer’s spouse within the Pio Forest after they stumbled upon an elephant.
He mentioned as she took photos, the flash attracted the animal, and it started to cost in direction of them.
The forest ranger mentioned he instinctively informed her to not run, and to her shock, the elephant approached, positioned its trunk on her physique, after which retreated.
“Although I never knew the implication of what I said because it was my first time, it worked. So, the elephant moved close to her and placed its trunk on her body, and that was how it went back and left. That was when I began to learn more about elephants and started to communicate with them,” he added.
The Programme Manager of the Forest Elephant Initiative, which entails the Nigeria Conservation Foundation, Wild Planet Trust, Whitney Wildlife Conservation Trust, and the Ogun State Ministry of Forestry, Emmanuel Olabode, described Onyenwe as an asset, who might move what he had acquired on to the subsequent era.
While corroborating Onyenwe’s claims, mentioned only some folks on the earth had such a present.
Olabode mentioned, “It is just not that he was taught all this. He simply had a number of encounters with them. These are issues you’ll be able to’t see on the pages of a e book. He is an asset as a result of he has what he can move on to the subsequent era; he was there on their own among the many elephants, after they had been very younger, and he was capable of survive.
“He has been a blessing to this project and he has a wealth of experience. He has been here for a very long time and that means a lot. The story that he shared with us is not what we can learn from a textbook. You have to be in the forest and wilderness to have that experience. Few people in the world have that gift.”
Speaking about his encounter, Olabode mentioned he thought Onyenwe was fabricating issues when he first informed him he might talk with an elephant.
He mentioned he had his first-hand expertise when forest farmers and unlawful loggers invaded the elephants’ habitats, forcing the elephants emigrate to a close-by village referred to as Itashi.
Olabode mentioned, “The Itashi expertise concerned the 2 of us. We had been making an attempt to ask folks to maneuver away from the elephant. It was near me, and by the point I turned again, I used to be face-to-face with the elephant. At this level, the elephant was making an attempt to cost at me, and I didn’t need that to occur.
“I don’t know how he did it; he was clapping his hands and the elephant turned back and went to him, and the elephant was just right in front of him.”
According to him, he was shocked to see how the elephants obeyed Onyenwe, and he led them into the forest and out of sight.
In recognition of his dedication and dedication to the reason for wildlife, notably elephants within the Omo Forest, Onyenwe was given an award through the World Rangers Day campfire night time held within the forest on July 31.
Human-elephant conflicts
Meanwhile, human encroachment into the Omo Forest Reserve habitat of elephants has led to frequent encounters between people and elephants, leading to conflicts.
Wildlife additionally wants house and respect to thrive, however financial actions within the space are mentioned to be disrupting this.
According to Olabode, that is additionally a thorny challenge in Omo Forest Reserve due to forest dwellers dwelling inside the forest the place the elephants reside.
“During the second tenure of the fast previous President, Muhammadu Buhari, folks had been inspired to enter agriculture; there was a variety of speak about agriculture on the radio, however the authorities didn’t present agricultural lands.
“So folks got here in as a result of they didn’t know what a forest reserve was. To them, a forest is only a forest. Many folks got here in from Ondo and Osun states to farm right here, and it was simply the 2 of us right here then.
“So we couldn’t transfer across the complete house to cease them. They opened up the core of the elephants’ habitats. They set fireplace to destroy the timber for farming.
Olabode added that farmers’ crops had been destroyed by elephants which provoked them into attacking the animals.
Olabode, who famous that there’s a want for habitat administration and land use administration, famous that it won’t be perfect to say that your entire habitat ought to be vacated due to the elephants, however a bit may very well be well-preserved and carved out for conservation functions.
“I am aware that the government is already working on that, and I hope it comes to fruition soon,” he added.
Olabode, who decried the challenges of getting to confront some recalcitrant dwellers, who had retained among the areas as their farmland, mentioned this may proceed to happen till the forest was declared a wildlife sanctuary.
- This article was partly funded by a grant from the United States Department of State by way of Wild Africa. The opinions, findings and conclusions said herein are these of the writer[s] and don’t essentially replicate these of the United States Department of State.