She Liked Carrots And Now She’s Dead
I’m absolutely devistated today. Hansa, the little baby elephant and the pride of the Woodland Park zoo, is dead.
Hansa was 6 years old. She was found dead this morning. She had been exhibiting a loss of appetite and was less active than normal, and was being watched by zoo keepers. But they didn’t know what was wrong with her.
Elephants are the most sensative animals on the plant. We are cold, unfeeling assholes by comparison, and not just because some of us are hunting them into extinction. They are simply better beings than we. Make friends with an elephant, and they will remember you for life. They mourn their dead, and their children can’t survive being seperated from their mothers. It is said that if a young elephant witnesses her mother’s death (as often happens with the poaching epidemic in Africa), she isn’t likely to survive the next 48 hours. Because it’s true, elephants don’t forget, can’t.
The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee, a refuge for elephants who are too old or sick for zoos or have been rescued or “retired” (my attempt at fucking P.C.) from the circus, is one of the happiest places on Earth. I used to go there on breaks from school, a pit stop to the Smokies. As important as zoos are to the preservation of the elephant, the minds of these gentle beasts are taxed by such captivity.
In honor of little baby Hansa, who could have just as easily died from a mental or physical ailment. Visit www.elephants.com, and sponsor an elephant today for as little as $30. All donations go to this magical place, the place I hope to retire to someday, in fact. I dare you to visit the site, watch the Ele-cam and not cry.
Because a world without elephants, is just not a world in which I want to live. Now I’m going to go eat some carrots (Hansa’s favorite) with peanut butter and remember my Sunday morning visits to Woodland Park Zoo, when they bathe the elephants.
June 8th, 2007 at 11:19 am
This made me cry….twice. I don’t know what to say. Did you see the piece on 60 minutes about elephant resuers in Africa?? I tear up just thinkng about it.
I had no idea there was a sanctuary here. I’m going to go donate right now.
June 8th, 2007 at 12:16 pm
“the place I hope to retire some day” “because I world without elephants is just not a world in which I want to live”
Is it insider baseball to say I know you want to go non-profit, but I honestly didn’t think you could pull it off. But then I got to thinking that you’re so angry and passionate you will absolutely pull it off. Because I know you wouldn’t advocate anything half asses.
Those elephants are lucky, as our your other recipients.
June 8th, 2007 at 2:05 pm
is it better than us or than we?
June 8th, 2007 at 3:37 pm
Glad to know I’m not the only one who’s been blubbering about this all day.
June 8th, 2007 at 3:42 pm
That 60 Minutes piece wrecked me, and I think I’ve cried at least a dozen times. I cry when it matters GG. And sadly, in my world animals matter more than most people. And GG–Wish you wouldn’t talk about you-know-what, but thanks.
Gabba–you’re a dick.
August 26th, 2007 at 2:58 pm
Have you spoken to an elephant keepers about this spot in Te.? Sanctuary?
author’s note: I’ve BEEN there. And I trust those people with elephants far more than any zoo. It takes a lot to manage a couple thousand pound animal, true, but some behavior modification is just unacceptable.