What is it about elephants that makes us humans love them so much? I don’t think I have ever met a person who doesn’t adore these gentle giants.
A story that caught my eye this week was that 18 elephants are due to be flown by jumbo jet from Swaziland to the US because of a severe drought in their national park.
I can’t help imagining these elephants enjoying a bit of service in first class as they are flown to their new home!
The 18 elephants were due to be culled due to fears for the survival of other wildlife in the national park – such as endangered rhinos.
Sedgwick county zoo in Kansas is one of the zoos involved in the rescue project. A spokeswoman told The Guardian newspaper: “As drought conditions throughout Swaziland worsen and food sources become scarcer, the zoos are eager to relocate these animals to provide them a healthy life in a safe home.”
There’s something about an elephant’s huge, lumbering and silent way that makes them seem wise and almost emotionally intelligent. As humans we may also relate to them as they have a similar life span as us and a similar trait of family loyalty and bringing up their young.
On the surface they seem like an unlikely animal for people to feel an affinity to – they are hardly small, cute and fluffy and you can’t hold them or in most cases get close to them at all. But something about the elephant exudes a kindness and calmness even though they are actually a dangerous animal.
Elephants are also reported to be sensitive, to cry and to have incredible memories.
Let’s hope these 18 elephants can be saved from the drought and given a new home that is safe and happy for them. If only they could talk……