There are not many animals in the wild that have a reason to visit humans. The Sheldrick trust, however, has successfully given some elephants a reason to do just that. After the rehabilitation and reintroduction into the wild of over sixty elephants, engrained in their memory are the caring humans that helped them in their time of need. After being released, they have come back with children to introduce to their allomothers. Even further than this, a new sub-species known as “allograndmothers” has earned a place in the pachyderm’s society.
This means that not only are the original patients at this elephant sanctuary grateful to those who cared for them, but they consider them a long-term part of their families. In the passage they mention the “trans-species psyche”. The author uses this to give the sense that in a way, the elephants, as well as their caregivers, have a bond that can be only felt by the two parties involved. The fact that these people have seen the grandchildren of these elephants is truly remarkable. The elephants must have a way of communicating and letting each other know what humans did for them. A complex way of speaking such as this shows us just how intelligent these animals are and just how much of a long term impact we can have on them.
Reading Closely, Reading Widely: A blog for students of Expos 101
That was a great reminder at the end that elephants are smart and have great communication, like humans. All the more reason for us to be elephants!
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