Close Reading Assignment 1

Siebert points out that the elephant-human relationship is effectively being rebuilt by recent efforts from both sides due to an acceptance of each other in recent times. The human side has greatly helped the elephants by “[actively participating] in the healings of both themselves and non-human animals.” Humans have been recognized by elephants as a “human allomother”, a pseudo-mother, allowing for such centers like the Sheldrick Trust to successfully exist. Humans and elephants have therefore created a “mutually benefiting interspecies culture.” The success is only proven by periodic visits from the elephants released into the wild to the sanctuary where they were raised; some elephants towing their offspring to introduce to their “human allograndmothers”. The creation of these centers has greatly helped repair the relationship that is currently soured. However, what these centers have accomplished is hoped to only be a small fraction of what we will achieve in the future.