From the Dust
Another trip to the zoo on another beautiful summer day. We brought a picnic and decided to sit on the bench outside the elephant enclosure to enjoy our lunch. As luck would have it there were two elephants in the yard and we were watching them interact with each other. There was no keeper or anyone else around and we had a clear view, which was a bit unusual, but I was really glad. I am often better around animals than people.
Suddenly for no apparent reason the elephants began running around their pen in distress. I had never seen them move so fast and could not understand their sudden panic, with all the trumpeting and stomping. But Patrick pointed out the mouse that was also running around the pen in close proximity to the elephants. It seemed unnatural that one so large could be so frightened of one so small, but they most definitely were afraid of this mouse.
Of course it comes to mind the image of frightened people climbing on a chair with a broom in hand when a mouse puts in an appearance. We are also much bigger than a mouse, but still we tend to lose our wits when the little fellas are around. I suppose at least for the elephants, the sudden unpredictable movements of the mouse could be unsettling.
It was really hard not to laugh as we observed this crazy dance. However once I realized fear was causing this display, I wanted hold their head in my hands and calm them down. Everyone has experienced fear at some point and it really isn’t something to laugh at, especially if we do not understand the fear. For many the smallest of problems can overwhelm us when we cannot clear our thoughts enough to see the solution.
Elephants are intelligent, caring and I daresay emotional beings. They have great strength, yet show amazing tenderness as well. Their trunks are so sensitive they can pick up a peanut or gently touch the side of your face to show affection. It is a hope of mine we will finally see the value of their life rather than the monetary gain from killing them and keeping them in zoos.
In the wild elephants are under constant threat because of the value placed on their tusks. How many have been slaughtered in the most inhuman way? Yet elephants are not the only beings treated in this insensitive and brutal fashion.
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