Yet another learning message from our animal kingdom.
As I wrote in Monday’s post, this week I was going to “Enjoy the beauty of the world around me and offer a few essays on the meaning of life.”
Hopefully the subsequent essays on Carl Sagan and how our beautiful planet can change our consciousness, under the title of To see is to understand, have partly achieved that aim.
We hear so much that is unsettling that it is easy to lose sight of the core qualities of a sustainable society. And one of the most fundamental requirements is that of trust.
A loving dog owner will most likely take their dog’s trust for granted.
However, think of the incredible differences, at so many levels, between man and dog. Then reflect on how a dog learns to trust a human.
This picture is of Dhalia taken less than a couple of months ago. She was found by Jean in 2005 running wild in the Mexican desert with a companion dog. As Jean explains,
With friend, Suzann, I was driving out to a fishing village to medicate and feed the many starving dogs. The two dogs were in a very desolate part of the desert prowling the roadside for road-kill. We stopped to feed them and give them water. One of the dogs ran off but as I put down food, I saw the smaller brown dog walking slowly towards me.
She was emaciated and full of mange. She looked up at me, ignoring the food. I reached out with my hand and she gently nudged it with her nose.
The food was irrelevant to her at this moment. She just seemed to know that I was there to help. I scooped her up and took her home, curled up in my arms as we drove away.
No better example of a dog instinctively trusting a human, almost immediately.
OK, from dogs to elephants.
I recently became aware of Lawrence Anthony. Here’s a brief extract from WikiPedia:
Lawrence Anthony (17 September 1950 – 7 March 2012) was an international conservationist, environmentalist, explorer, and bestselling author.
He was the long-standing head of conservation at the Thula Thula game reserve in Zululand, South Africa and the Founder of The Earth Organization, a privately registered, independent, international conservation and environmental group with a strong scientific orientation. He was an international member of the esteemed Explorers Club of New York and a member of the National Council of the Southern Africa Association for the Advancement of Science, South Africa’s oldest scientific association.
Anthony had a reputation for bold conservation initiatives, including the rescue of the Baghdad zoo at the height of the US lead Coalition 2003 invasion of Iraq, and negotiations with the infamous Lord’s Resistance rebel army in Southern Sudan, to raise awareness of the environment and protect endangered species, including the last of the Northern White Rhinoceros.
Lawrence Anthony died of a heart attack at the young age of 62. In just a short time that will be a year ago.
In doing research for today’s post, I quickly came across this story.
Lawrence Anthony, a legend in South Africa and author of 3 books including the bestseller The Elephant Whisperer, bravely rescued wildlife and rehabilitated elephants all over the globe from human atrocities, including the courageous rescue of Baghdad Zoo animals during the US invasion in 2003.
On March 7, 2012 Lawrence Anthony died. He is remembered and missed by his wife, 2 sons, 2 grandsons and numerous elephants.
Two days after his passing, a remarkable thing happened! The wild elephants showed up at his home led by two large matriarchs. Separate wild herds arrived in droves to say ”goodbye” to their beloved man-friend. A total of 20 elephants had patiently walked over 12 miles to get to his South African house. [my emphasis.]
Was this true? A quick web search came across this video, (overlook the last few seconds!)
Françoise Malby-Anthony, wife of the late Lawrence Anthony, talks about the entire herd of elephants returning to the main house to pay their respects to their rescuer and friend ‘The Elephant Whisperer’.
oooOOOooo
We humans have so much to learn from our animals.
Learning from Dogs 
Yes Paul I am always in awe at our animal kingdom and their instinctive knowing and trusting. A lovely read in my break. Thank you. 🙂 and I am certain that many animals also give their love and thanks to all you and Jean for all you do. 🙂 — Sue.
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Dear Sue. As always, very kind thoughts. P.
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I admire Elephants…they are majestic, gracious, loyal, courageous, caring. Yet they aren’t shy to attack for their own defence. In India elephants are revered and worshiped in form of Lord Ganesh. To get inspiration from Elephants behaviour.
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That I didn’t know. About Lord Ganesh. Thanks for your comment.
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Those who seem to have a connection with animals seem to earn the title of “whisperers”. Elephants are intelligent animals with empathy.
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At the risk of being a tad ‘anal’, I might argue that the list of animals that offer intelligence with empathy is long. The stories of dolphins coming to the aid of humans who have fallen off yachts and the like comes to mind.
Not to speak of the numerous examples of dogs instinctively knowing when a human is seriously ill.
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Did so enjoy this post Paul. It makes it all the more important that we must live up to their trust.
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Thank you, Ruth. And good luck with your new website. Paul
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Paul, thank you for sharing this. I was not surprised by what those elephants did -it never ceases to amaze me how animals are often so ready and willing to bond with human beings.
I remember very well watching two dogs mourn together for one of their pups who died after only a few days of life. I will never forget the look on their faces as they sat infront of this little body and looked out into the distance. It was an experience I will take with me to the grave.
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That’s a lovely recollection. One of our dogs here, Lupe, has dementia and all the other dogs seem to understand what she is dealing with. best wishes, Paul
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In animal world, things are much simpler. Everything is done for the sake of survival. But in human world, even if there is no threat to survival, human beings still do many harmful things. We will never learn. Maybe we ought to be severely punished for our sins through the forces of nature! Love that dog!
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Dhalia is resting beside me as I write this reply!
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Hi Paul! Dhalia is a pretty name and she is beautiful! She reminds me of my Ruthie Mae.
Ruthie had been abused and was the only dog not barking at me while I walked past the cages at the shelter. I wouldn’t have noticed her without my friend who said, “Oh. Look at this one. Her name is Ruthie.”
Ruthie put her beautiful little paw to the cage and I touched it. The woman taking us on the tour became a little upset because she said I could pass diseases from the contact, but I knew in my heart she would be the only dog I touched after that.
She was so scared of the world. She was scared of people, esp., men and toddlers. Honestly, she is still a very sensitive dog and gets scared if things aren’t calm.
Knowing her and remembering the first day we met; how she jumped in my car and smiled at me; how excited she was to be inside my home, all the while she had many reasons to fear humans. So much fear and yet, so much trust, together, has always made her a special dog.
This past weekend I watched a good show on PBS about the elephants and Ivory. My heart strings were pulled hard watching the elephants in fear of humans, but I was glad they aired the show. I hope more and more people will begin to feel. I hope more heart strings will be pulled.
Like dogs, humans would do well to trust more and fear less, or rather, get it straight as to what or who we ought to fear and trust.
Wishing you and yours all the best,
Michelle (and Ruthie).
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Michelle, that is a very beautiful reminiscence. Thank you for sharing it. We humans have so much to learn from the animal kingdom.
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