Hello fellow trumpeters!
Today I will start at the top of the alphabet, and explore an amazing animal behaviour exhibited by these majestic creatures known as :
ALTRUISM
In biological terms, altruism is a behaviour by which an animal decreases its own fitness and may put itself into danger in order to benefit the fitness and well-being of another animal, which we can also understand as selflessness (Bell 2008). Elephants are incredible in that they can show altruism, and not only to other elephants and other animals, but to human beings as well (elephantsforever.co.za).
Joyce Poole (1996) shares such a story of altruistic behaviour shown towards humans. In Kenya, on Kuki Gallman's Laikipia Ranch, a ranch herder was charged by the matriarch of an elephant herd he happened to stumble upon. The matriarch unfortunately hurt the poor herder and broke his leg. When he did not return that evening, a search party was sent out to find him. He was found, and extraordinarily an elephant is seen with him, somewhat protecting him. When the search party fire shots into the air to scare off the elephant, the herder informs them of how amazing the elephant had behaved. He said she would gently touch him with his trunk and pick him to help him into the shade when she observed that he could not walk.
Many people view elephants as dangerous creatures, especially due to their incredible size and strength. Approaching an unaware, or suddenly startled elephant is definitely not something people should do, especially if you approach a male in musth (when males are ready to mate) because testosterone is definitely dancing on high levels, or if you approach an elephant herd led by a matriarch. She is extremely protective of her herd and will see you as a threat to the safety of her herd.
A wonderful example of altruistic behaviour shown towards other animals is the story of how the elephant helped the baby rhino (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/echo-an-elephant-to-remember/elephant-emotions/4489/).
A little rhino was stuck in the mud, and an adult elephant wanted to help and attempted to save the baby rhino by trying to pull it out. The mother of the calf was completely distressed, as one can imagine, and kept charging at the elephant. The elephant, however, did not stop trying to save the little rhino even though it was putting itself in danger.
Incredible, hey? Definitely makes my heart melt with crazy love and admiration for these magical creatures!
Keep tuned for 'B' blog and more wonderful elephant stories!
Till then,
Keep trumpeting!
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Two aunts helping a newborn to its feet.
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References:
Bell, G. 2008. Selection: The Mechanism of Evolution. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 367–368.
ISBN 0-19-856972-6.
www.elephantsforever.co.za
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/echo-an-elephant-to-remember/elephant-emotions/4489/
Poole, J. 1996. Coming of Age with Elephants. Chicago, Illinois: Trafalgar Square. pp. 131–133, 143–144, 155–157. ISBN 0-340-59179-X.
