Free A Giant Rescue by Bindi Irwin

‘Almost there, Robert,’ encouraged Bindi, from high up on the watchtower.
    Her brother, Robert, climbed the last two ladder rungs and stepped up onto the top of the tower. ‘Wow, I feel like a giant!’ he cried indelight, surveying the surrounding landscape.
    Bindi laughed. ‘Yep, it’s pretty amazing, isn’t it?’ Whichever way they turned, the Irwins had a great view of the tropical rainforest sprinkled across the Cardamom Mountains. This part of Cambodia was lush and green – the land was very fertile. Dotted in among the forest hills were neatly planted crop farms, with local farmers working in rows as they tended to their crops.
    â€˜Maybe that’s why they call it an elephant tower, because you feel like one when you’re up here looking down!’ suggested Bindi.
    Robert shook his head in doubt,a serious expression on his face. ‘No, silly. It’s called an elephant tower so we can spot the elephants coming near the farms and trying to eat the crops!’
    Bindi chuckled. ‘Thanks for the heads-up, little buddy.’ She leaned over the edge to call down to her mum, Terri, who was standing at the base of the tower. ‘Do you think we’ll see any elephants today?’
    It was Kate Watson, Terri’s friend and colleague, who answered. ‘Sorry Bindi, they rarely visit this area anymore.’
    Terri put an arm around Kate’s shoulder. ‘You’ve achieved amazing results here, Kate. I can hardlyrecognise the place from our first trip a few years ago. Good on you!’
    Kate ran a hand through her long dark hair and smiled. ‘Well thanks, Terri. It’s been a very rewarding project to be involved in. Not only are the elephants thriving, but the crops are too. It’s a win–win situation!’
    Terri felt really proud of what the Cambodian Elephant Conservation Foundation had achieved over the last few years. Elephant deaths through human conflict had all but stopped. Cambodia was home to two of the largest Asian elephant habitats left in Asia – the Cardamom Mountains in the south-west of the country and Mondulkiri Provincein the east. Here in the Cardamoms, the elephants had caused problems for farmers by raiding the banana and sugarcane crops. The farmers needed these crops to survive and attacked the elephants in order to protect their livelihood. Kate had come on board as group leader to help the local community to deter the elephants using nonviolent methods.
    Terri hoped very much that they would be able to have some impact on the future of the endangered Asian elephant population in Cambodia. If this project worked, then perhaps humans and elephants would be able to live alongside each other in peace.
    â€˜Awesome, Kate!’ cried Bindi. ‘It must feel great to have a happy ending.’
    Kate nodded. ‘It definitely does, Bindi.’
    Bindi stifled a yawn that then set Robert off. It had been a long journey from Australia to reach the project in the mountains, and they had only been in the area for a few hours. The kids were starting to feel the jet lag. Kate noticed Terri also looked a little tired.
    â€˜Keeping you up, are we?’ Kate asked. ‘Let’s get you guys to your accommodation so you can have a rest. Come on, kids!’ Kate and Terri waited at the bottom of thewooden ladder for Bindi and Robert to clamber down.
    Just then Kate’s mobile rang. She pulled it from her jeans pocket. ‘Excuse me a minute.’
    As Kate talked into the phone, the three Irwins looked out over the fields. Cambodia was humid and tropical, and they were beginning to droop as the heat of the day intensified.
    Kate finished the call. She looked worried.
    â€˜Everything okay?’ enquired Terri.
    Kate looked thoughtful before replying. ‘That was a call from a volunteer in Mondulkiri. There have been reports of elephantsraiding crops and the locals aren’t happy.’
    â€˜Sounds