We were discussing the new elephant herd that had come into the plantations the week before. It was a small herd. There were three females, one bulkier than the other two, and a young male. They had been feeding in the forests above the highest teafield, and at night they would descend on to the winding roads to cross safely into the valley for water and fresh grass.
Mid week, the bulky female gave birth to a tiny calf. We spotted it at the mothers side.
The pluckers gave them a wide berth, and the herd remained unharmed. We knew the elephants would stay in the forest, till the calf was able to stand and move on its wobbly legs. That usually happened within a few hours. This herd stayed on.
Sadly, the night before, the calf had died. It had been weak and did not survive the cold nights and biting rain. Sad news throughout the plantation. Everyone was sorry to hear about the tragedy.
The reaction of the elephant herd shook us most,however. For the next seven days,they went into mourning. With lumps in our throats, we watched the mother nudge the still calf over and over again, trying to lift it up, cajoling, and caressing with her trunk. The herd stood silently by; they ventured into the forest to eat, but as the mother stood sentinel over her dead baby, the rest would return, and stand by too. They stayed there all week, and we did not disturb them. It was almost as if we were intruding on their private mourning.
Finally on the seventh day, we found the herd had vanished. The calf had, too.
They say elephants dispose of their dead in a secret place, and no one ever finds the dead body.
I wonder if anyone has stumbled onto this elephant secret............?
Mid week, the bulky female gave birth to a tiny calf. We spotted it at the mothers side.
The pluckers gave them a wide berth, and the herd remained unharmed. We knew the elephants would stay in the forest, till the calf was able to stand and move on its wobbly legs. That usually happened within a few hours. This herd stayed on.
Sadly, the night before, the calf had died. It had been weak and did not survive the cold nights and biting rain. Sad news throughout the plantation. Everyone was sorry to hear about the tragedy.
The reaction of the elephant herd shook us most,however. For the next seven days,they went into mourning. With lumps in our throats, we watched the mother nudge the still calf over and over again, trying to lift it up, cajoling, and caressing with her trunk. The herd stood silently by; they ventured into the forest to eat, but as the mother stood sentinel over her dead baby, the rest would return, and stand by too. They stayed there all week, and we did not disturb them. It was almost as if we were intruding on their private mourning.
Finally on the seventh day, we found the herd had vanished. The calf had, too.
They say elephants dispose of their dead in a secret place, and no one ever finds the dead body.
I wonder if anyone has stumbled onto this elephant secret............?
Comments