Sanctuary for hope

In Siebert’s essay, he talks about rehabilitations for elephants that have been successful. Siebert states: “ A number of them have periodically returned to the sanctuary with their own wild-born calves in order to re-unite them with their human allomothers and to introduce their offspring to what-out on this uncharted frontier of the new ‘trans-species psyche” (540). The sanctuary or rehab was another chance for the elephants. According to OED, sanctuary is an area of land within which (wild) animals or plants are protected and encouraged to breed or grow. This place was created for the elephants to calm down and loosen up. The elephants were then able to connect with the humans, creating a special bond. With this bond the elephants felt close enough and had the insurance that they would be able to show their children to these humans they now consider one of themselves.
Siebert used the phrase “trans-species psyche” to describe the connection between the elephants. The OED defines psyche as “the whole conscious mind when viewed as deciding or determining motivation, emotional response and other psychological characteristics”. In the sanctuary, the elephants were able to get to the stage where they were confident and had that motivation to show their children to their protectors. The sanctuary created this new link between the elephants and humans which creates a sense that wild animals can live together with humans. It gives wild animals another chance in life.