Sunday Apr 13, 2025
Sunday Apr 13, 2025
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Saha
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| Dunja |
In a bid to raise consciousness for a peaceful and harmonious existence of planet earth and all its beings, the Harmony page was created in 2019; to focus on a range of integrated knowledge spheres often missed in conventional journalism. Having featured diverse topics connected with peacebuilding between humans, we today focus on peacebuilding between animals and humans.
We thereby feature an ancient skill; interspecies communication, practiced by very few in the modern world, such as South African conservationist and animal communicator Anna Breytenbach. Anna best known for the YouTube documented evidence of her communication with a highly dangerous formerly abused panther, now known as Spirit changed how the world sees animals. Spirit, after being rescued from abuse and placed in an ethical animal sanctuary had refused to leave his night shelter for six months, snarling at everyone who came close to the protective mesh; until he saw Anna.
Proof of the communication between them was when he communicated telepathically to Anna to check on the whereabouts and wellbeing of two leopard cubs that had been at his earlier location. Anna had no idea that Spirit had shared a habitat with two leopard cubs. Immediately the truth of what was conversed between human and panther was certified by the animal rescuer concerned who acknowledged that indeed there were two leopard cubs in the previous place that this animal lived.
Ensuing visual documentation showed scientists being speechless at the continued telepathic conversation between Spirit and Anna, and how their communication changed the relationship between the animal carers and the once feared panther whose personality underwent a major and almost unrecognisable shift.
These above facts were mentioned to create some insight in the minds of the reader as we move to present our story for this week.
We today feature Saha and Dunja, based in Sri Lanka who mediate between humans and animals. They currently focus on communication with elephants, having selected the Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC) as their primary purpose. Saha is Sri Lankan by birth and Dunja is German.
The human conflict with elephants is one of Sri Lanka’s most pressing conservation challenges and with human expansion into elephant habitats, conflicts have escalated resulting in loss of life, crop destruction, habitat fragmentation, and retaliatory killings.
Interspecies communication, a vital tool
Dunja and Saha believe that interspecies communication offers a vital tool: not as a replacement for ongoing efforts concerning the human-elephant conflict, but as a means to refine, expand, and unify them.
They point out that by integrating direct communication with elephants, humans can better utilise existing mitigation strategies by understanding how elephants perceive them.
They point out that when humans understand the Oneness that links all beings by the strand of consciousness which is proved through interspecies communication that it will shape new perceptions that move beyond conflict-driven narratives.
“Our goal is to unify the collective desire for coexistence by fostering understanding and actual dialog between species and making humans see for themselves the results as they observe the behaviour of the animals during the ‘conversations’ Dunja has with them and their manner thereafter. Many times the mahouts used to laugh at us when we started to communicate with captive elephants but when these animals started revealing information that only the mahout and them know, it dawned that what was happening was not a farce,” shares Saha.
Rather than imposing solutions based solely on our human knowledge, science, convenience, and perspectives, interspecies communication invites elephants into the conversation, offering deeper insights that lead to more sustainable and consciousness-driven resolutions, points out Dunja who spends much time cultivating inner silence and has worked worldwide with horses and other animals, including dogs and cats.
“For the first time, we have the opportunity to recognise that man can and will be able to solve these challenges through dialogue with another highly intelligent species,” emphasis Saha and Dunja who often work together in their efforts to create awareness on the wide realm of consciousness between humans and animals.
Dunja and Saha began their initiative to talk with elephants around 2023.
From childhood, Dunja’s world was filled with unspoken conversations with animals. Her intuitive connection to their emotions and thoughts led her to dedicate her life to interspecies communication.
Through Pet Talks, she has helped countless pet owners truly understand their animal companions. As the founder of Animal Assisted Intuitive Transformation (AAIT), she has worked extensively with horses in Germany and wild horses in Australia, witnessing the profound healing power of interspecies connection.
Telepathic call from Sri Lanka’s elephants
But she points out that nothing prepared her for the telepathic call from Sri Lanka’s elephants—a message so clear and urgent that she journeyed across the world to listen. Their grief, wisdom, and longing for understanding that was communicated to her left her no choice but to answer their call.
She now works to bridge the gap between humans and elephants to transform conflict into kinship.
For Saha, healing is an alchemy of energy, frequency, and vibration, guided by pure intention. As a Quantum Healing Hypnosis Technique (QHHT) practitioner, trained in the method of Dolores Cannon, he helps people find peace in the present by healing the past. Under the somnambulistic state of hypnosis, clients examine deep memories, transmute trauma, and reclaim wisdom buried within the subconscious, he explains.
“Quantum relates to energy frequencies held by all living beings,” he notes.
His work as a Reconnective Healing facilitator, trained by Dr. Eric Pearl, has helped individuals and animals, including elephants, horses, dogs, and cats, experience profound healing in both in-person and distant sessions.
Beyond healing, Saha is a branding consultant shaping metaphysical narratives that align with soul purpose and expansion of consciousness. His healing work in nonphysical realms led to a natural extension of helping elephants after he began collaborating with Dunja.
Together, Saha and Dunja attempt to understand Complex Elephant Communication.
Sophisticated communication system
They point out that elephants possess a sophisticated communication system that reflects their high intelligence and complex social structures. Recent research has shed light on various modalities they employ such as seismic Infrasound Communication where elephants can communicate over considerable distances via seismic waves.
Saha and Dunja explain how Katy Payne, a bioacoustics researcher and co-founder of the Elephant Listening Project at Cornell University, discovered that elephants produce infrasonic calls: sounds below the range of human hearing that can travel up to 10 kilometres. These calls are essential for coordinating movements, sharing information, and maintaining social bonds within herds.
Dunja and Saha also note the following based on their work and research:
They also point out the ability of elephants to sense disasters and refer to notable observations suggesting that elephants exhibited unusual behaviours preceding the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
Below are some recorded examples of how elephants reacted ahead of the disaster.
Sri Lanka:
Yala National Park: Reports indicate that elephants moved to higher ground before the tsunami’s arrival, potentially sensing impending danger.
Thailand:
Khao Lak: Eyewitnesses observed elephants breaking their chains and moving to higher terrain before the tsunami struck, suggesting an acute awareness of the imminent danger.
Indonesia:
Sumatra: Similar to observations in Sri Lanka, elephants were reported to have moved to higher ground before the tsunami’s impact, indicating a possible detection of environmental cues associated with such events.
These accounts highlight elephants’ sensitivity to environmental changes preceding natural disasters. While research continues it is hypothesised that elephants’ sensitivity to seismic vibrations and possibly infrasonic sounds enables them to perceive environmental disturbances before they become apparent to humans.
Can elephants sense human intentions?
The below points are emphasised by Dunja and Saha:
“The question of whether elephants can sense human intentions delves into the realm of animal cognition, empathy, and metaphysics. While academic interest in this topic is increasing, anecdotal accounts and ongoing research show elephants react differently to various human behaviours, possibly discerning between threatening and non-threatening actions.”
“Their complex social structures indicate a high level of emotional intelligence, which could extend to interpreting human intentions. Elephants exhibit remarkable cognitive abilities, enabling them to distinguish between human groups and to respond accordingly.”
A study conducted in Kenya’s Amboseli National Park revealed that African elephants can discern subtle differences in human voices, allowing them to assess potential threats accurately. Researchers played recorded phrases from Maasai men, Maasai women, Maasai boys, and Kamba men to various elephant families. The findings were striking:
Maasai men are known for hunting elephants as part of their traditional rites, and the elephants exhibited strong defensive behaviours upon hearing Maasai men’s voices, such as bunching together and smelling the air.
Maasai women and boys do not pose a threat to elephants, and the animals remained calm when exposed to their voices.
Kamba men are primarily farmers who rarely interact with elephants and their voices elicited minimal reactions from the elephants.
Based on her extensive work with elephants Dunja has documented the sophisticated ability of elephants to distinguish between human languages, genders, and ages associated with varying levels of danger.
Elephants’ profound capacity for empathy
“Elephants mourning Lawrence Anthony is probably the most heart-touching story that unequivocally shows the power, potential, and truth of interspecies communication,” explains Saha.
Lawrence Anthony, a renowned South African conservationist often called “The Elephant Whisperer,” developed deep bonds with wild elephants. Following his death in March 2012, a remarkable event occurred.
Two days after Anthony’s passing, two separate herds of wild elephants arrived at his residence in the Thula Thula game reserve. They had travelled over 12 hours from distant locations to reach his home.
The elephants exhibited behaviours akin to mourning, remaining at the house for about two days before dispersing back into the wilderness.
“This incident highlights elephants’ profound capacity for empathy and their deep connections to individuals who have shown them compassion,” notes Saha and Dunja.
They point out that it illustrates the depth of elephants’ intelligence and emotional sensitivity, in interactions with humans.
Dunja and Saha state that while some may dismiss interspecies communication as fantasy, science and lived experience say otherwise.
Anna Breytenbach, an acclaimed animal communicator, has demonstrated telepathic conversations with wild animals that reveal deep emotions and environmental awareness.
Rupert Sheldrake has conducted scientific studies proving telepathic connections between humans and animals.
Indigenous wisdom worldwide recognises animals as conscious, sentient beings with whom humans have always communicated. Quantum physics now offers explanations for these connections, giving interspecies communication the credibility it deserves and the impetus for its adoption, says Saha.
Dunja and Saha have conducted interspecies communication sessions with both captive and wild elephants in Sri Lanka, uncovering insights into their trauma, memories, likes, dislikes, perspectives, and grievances. They have directly interacted with wild elephants to hear their perspectives on the Human Elephant Conflict (HEC) and followed up with collaborative solutions.
What some captive elephants had communicated
Below are excerpts of what some captive elephants had communicated as documented by Dunja and Saha.
“I am 58 years old. The mahout and owner do not know about my time in the wild before I was captured.”
“My favourite snack is carrot.”
“I love the colour red.”
“The wound in my back left leg is not healing for 4 months because I am tied in one place and I stand on my urine.”
“I had 2 miscarriages. That trauma still hurts the left side of my body. I am still very sad about that loss.”
“I need to walk. I do not like to be tied down like this. Tell the humans to separate this area for us to walk.”
“I am ok to interact with humans at this place. I am also ok to interact with other elephants here. But I also want to be by myself, and I do not wish to interact with humans or other elephants. I want my time to be by myself.”
“I am worried about my mahout. I know when he comes in a bad mood. He is into drugs and alcohol because his wife ran away with another man.”
“We will have our moments as elephants showing our strengths, authority, and dominance to one another. You must allow it to happen. Humans can’t stop that.”
“My name is not Bandara. I do not like that name. I am king. Call me king. I must be treated as a king.”
“I am a king. I don’t want to be told what to do. I do things in my time and my pace.”
“The mahout is violent and abusive when he is alone with me and when no one can see. His life is in danger if he doesn’t reform.”
“In a drunken state, he threw a bottle at me. If he does it again, I will get rid of him just like the humans I have gotten rid of in the past.”
“Why am tied like this? I know I can be a bit clumsy at times, but why am tied like this? What did I do? I feel so lonely here. I love it when you two come to see me and spend time with me.”
These messages humanise elephants in ways that science alone cannot. They reveal trauma, intelligence, and autonomy—demanding a new way forward.
An elephant never forgets
Dunja and Saha point out that the phrase ‘an elephant never forgets’ carries with it a wealth of anecdotal evidence from around the world. They emphasise that in the lived in world of humans and elephants that there are stories of recognition and remembrance for reciprocity of love as well as revenge and retribution.
Research from Professor George Wittemyer of Colorado State University proves that elephants store memories of their habitats and resources, which contributes to their survival in challenging environments.
Through high-resolution tracking data, Professor Wittemyer and his team have discovered that elephants have detailed knowledge of their landscapes and an intricate understanding of their spatial context, which serve as cognitive abilities in their decision-making.
Dunja and Saha point out the fact that in the Human Elephant Conflict (HEC), trauma exists on both sides.
Humans have suffered crop losses, property destruction, and fatalities, leading to fear and hostility toward elephants.
Elephants who have witnessed their families killed, habitats lost, and herds displaced, in turn develop fear and aggression toward humans.
But trauma, explains Saha, does more than create fear: it reshapes behaviour. He points to evidence from across the world which shows that when elephants experience prolonged stress, habitat destruction, and the breakdown of natural herd structures, they develop deviant and hyper-aggressive behaviours that were never part of their original way of life.
In the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, India – Young bulls began killing other elephants after older males were poached, removing natural herd structures.
In Mozambique’s Gorongosa National Park, elephants who survived decades of civil war became hyperaggressive, passing learned hostility to future generations.
In South Africa’s Pilanesberg National Park – Young orphaned male elephants, raised without elders, killed over 50 rhinoceroses – behaviour never seen in stable elephant societies.
These cases prove a crucial truth, explains Dunja and Saha. “Elephants do not act violently without reason. Their aggression is often a learned response to human interference.”
Energetic web
Saha notes as follows:
“The work I do is connected to the Quantum Field. Everything is connected in an energetic web where thoughts, emotions, and information travel beyond physical space.”
“Quantum Entanglement – Explains how two connected entities remain in sync regardless of distance—just like interspecies communication.
Entrainment is when humans align their energy with an elephant’s, and silent communication becomes natural.”
In this backdrop Dunja and Saha point out that with pure intention and attunement consciousness influences reality.
“When we listen without imposing, animals respond. Working specifically with elephants in Sri Lanka, we know this is true,” they note.
Listening to elephants is the missing key in handling the human-elephant conflict, states Saha.
“So far, HEC has been approached purely from the one-sided and convenient human perspective. Through interspecies communication, we can understand their grievances and what their concerns are as a species, herds, and individuals.”
They emphasise that it is time to ‘listen’ to elephants and recognise them as sentient partners in conservation.
They note that resolving HEC requires more than just funds, science, and technology. “It requires a significant change in attitude at all levels and a paradigm shift in our consciousness.”
This, stresses Saha, is the collective mission of Dunja and himself, in Sri Lanka and the world at large.
