A HERD OF ORPHANS coming to the Nolan Center

By Caleb Vierkant
Courtesy of the Wrangell Sentinel

Southeast Alaska is well known for its wildlife: Bears, moose, salmon and eagles. The Tongass National Forest is home to a wide variety of creatures. One species that is absent is elephants. Luckily, a Petersburg filmmaker has decided to bring the elephants to Alaska in the form of a new documentary, “A Herd of Orphans.”

Kelly Bakos has a background of doing film work for conservation organizations. In 2008, the nonprofit organization Game Rangers International opened up a new “elephant orphanage,” where they take in and care for baby elephants who have lost their families. Currently, she said in an email, the orphanage is caring for 18 orphaned elephants. The documentary is her way of helping out.

“What I concentrate on in the film is the herd and the interactions in the herd,” Bakos said. “The point of even doing this film is to connect people with the elephants.”

The elephants that come to the orphanage are young and usually quite traumatized. They have lost their parents, more often than not, to poachers. With her documentary, Bakos said she wanted to show people how intelligent the elephants really are, and what poaching has done to them. She also wanted to show how putting these orphans together has helped the elephants learn to take on roles in a herd, and hopefully prepare them for release back into the wild when they are old enough.

“Until you actually get to know an elephant personally, it’s difficult to know how personable and emotional they are,” she said.

“A Herd of Orphans” has been screened at film festivals around the globe, according to an email from Bakos, and has won several awards for its awareness-raising message. Recently, the film was shown in Petersburg.

Wrangell residents can view the documentary at the Nolan Center next week, March 26 at 6 p.m. Bakos will be coming to Wrangell for the screening, as well. The film is free to watch, she said, but they will be taking voluntary donations for the orphanage, and will also have shirts, hats, and other items for sale. Bakos added that while the film does touch on the subject of poaching, the film is very family-friendly.

“I’m just thrilled the message is getting out there. There are plenty of films out there already that show the absolute horror of poaching and the ivory trade. My film touches upon anti-poaching efforts, but the story is really about the elephants and their journey growing up in an unusual herd,” Bakos said by email.