Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2007 11:11:08 GMT -5
Do elephants really have memories?
I don't usually like these heartwarming stories, but this one is truly
interesting...
In 1986, Mike Hogan was on holiday in Kenya after graduating from Northwestern
University. On a hike through the bush, he came across a young bull elephant
standing with one leg raised in the air. The elephant seemed distressed, so Mike
approached it very carefully. He got down on one knee and inspected the
elephant's foot and found a large piece of wood deeply embedded in it.
As carefully and as gently as he could, Mike worked the wood out with his
hunting knife, after which the elephant gingerly put down its foot.
The elephant turned to face the man, and with a rather curious look on its
face, stared at him for several tense moments. Mike stood frozen, thinking of
nothing else but being trampled. Eventually the elephant trumpeted loudly, turned, and walked away.
Mike never forgot that elephant or the events of that day.
Twenty years later, Mike was walking through the Chicago Zoo with his teenage
son. As they approached the elephant enclosure, one of the creatures turned and
walked over to near where Mike and his son Owen were standing. The large bull
elephant stared at Mike, lifted its front foot off the ground, then put it down.
The elephant did that several times then trumpeted loudly, all the while staring
at the man.
Remembering the encounter in 1986, Mike couldn't help wondering if this was the
same elephant.
Mike summoned up his courage, climbed over the railing and made his way into
the enclosure. He walked right up to the elephant and stared back in wonder.
The elephant trumpeted again, wrapped its trunk around one of Mike's legs and
slammed him against the railing, killing him instantly.
Probably wasn't the same elephant.
I don't usually like these heartwarming stories, but this one is truly
interesting...
In 1986, Mike Hogan was on holiday in Kenya after graduating from Northwestern
University. On a hike through the bush, he came across a young bull elephant
standing with one leg raised in the air. The elephant seemed distressed, so Mike
approached it very carefully. He got down on one knee and inspected the
elephant's foot and found a large piece of wood deeply embedded in it.
As carefully and as gently as he could, Mike worked the wood out with his
hunting knife, after which the elephant gingerly put down its foot.
The elephant turned to face the man, and with a rather curious look on its
face, stared at him for several tense moments. Mike stood frozen, thinking of
nothing else but being trampled. Eventually the elephant trumpeted loudly, turned, and walked away.
Mike never forgot that elephant or the events of that day.
Twenty years later, Mike was walking through the Chicago Zoo with his teenage
son. As they approached the elephant enclosure, one of the creatures turned and
walked over to near where Mike and his son Owen were standing. The large bull
elephant stared at Mike, lifted its front foot off the ground, then put it down.
The elephant did that several times then trumpeted loudly, all the while staring
at the man.
Remembering the encounter in 1986, Mike couldn't help wondering if this was the
same elephant.
Mike summoned up his courage, climbed over the railing and made his way into
the enclosure. He walked right up to the elephant and stared back in wonder.
The elephant trumpeted again, wrapped its trunk around one of Mike's legs and
slammed him against the railing, killing him instantly.
Probably wasn't the same elephant.
