This is one of my favorite blogs, I check it every morning, and while I usually appreciate it for the political and anti-religious content, the video on elephants reminded me of one of the best articles I've ever read. The article goes into greater detail on elephant aggression, noting that most of the Rhino rapes are from elephants who watched their mother be poached.

It also discusses the emotional nature of elephants in more detail. For example, they return to visit graves of their family members, etc.

Thanks again!

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/08/magazine/08elephant.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ei=5087&em&en=17a965f053ff1803&ex=1160625600

If a dog mauled a person then they'd be put down immediately...why not shot the elephant for his crime! The keepers should stop pretending that they "understand" elephants and just let them live without any human interaction/interference?

Why do we have to "diagnose" everything..."post traumatic stress disorder"...what a wank! Elephants are wild animals and if you piss them off enough of course they'll retaliate. Evolution has made them that big for a reason! What's next...are they gonna prescribe them some Valium!

I also kind of got the feeling that what these people were saying about the animals' "stress disorders", knowing their emotions, and "connectivity" to their surroundings was a bit daffy.

The man who spoke came off to me as a sort of pet psychic, claiming to read elephant emotions from facial contortions and posture. It's difficult enough to read human emotions even with direct verbal communication, and easy enough to project your own emotions onto another living or even inanimate thing.

I must admit, though, that I have never tried being so close to one of the more intelligent animal species for an extended amount of time, so I could be wrong.

"I must admit, though, that I have never tried being so close to one of the more intelligent animal species for an extended amount of time, so I could be wrong."

Or you could be right. People who love their cats to death and are around them all the time attribute all kinds of deep human emotions to them. Most of it is utter hogwash. Cats like to be rubbed and scratched and fed and sheltered; it's doesn't mean they "love" you in any way that's remotely like human love. As for the idea that an elephant understands the English language and responds to someone's name by feeling a deep sense of "responsibility" for that person's death? That strikes me as complete tripe. It reminds me of Terri Shaivo's parents, who, tragically and heartbreakingly, "knew" that their daughter had some kind of inner reflective life that she absolutely did not have anymore.

However, it's still the case that animals can suffer, and it is sad to hear about so many of them suffering and, because they are wild and under stress, causing many innocent human beings to suffer as well.

As I starting watching this, I thought that it was admirable that these folks were seeking to "give elephants a place where they could be elephants" or whatever he said. I was curious to see if, indeed, that's what they were doing, or if there was a more human agenda involved. Didn't take long to answer that question. Trying to interact with them so closely, attempting to communicate with them, etc., seems very human, but not the ideal here -- because it is human. If the goal is to give them a break from the encroachment and annoyance of humankind, why not just give them the space, whatever food they need that they can't get for themselves and stay away from them as much as possible?

What in the fuck was that girl doing messing around near maladjusted elephants? Why don´t they ship the elephants back to where they belong...in the wild.

And I thought it was only theists who were so homosapiencentric. Most of you people must think the universe revolves around YOU! You are such an insensitive and dumb bunch of arrogant assholes!

It would too much trouble for you to read a few pages, wouldn't it?

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/08/magazine/08elephant.html?_r=1&pagewanted=1&ei=5070&en=877ba39c74c19871&ex=1160971200&emc=eta1&oref=slogin

It might spoil your fun of playing 'god.'

-atheist duppers

Human emotions or no, abused and stressed animals act out in some way; just ask those who take in rescue animals. These animals can be brought around from their problems. If you haven't witnessed it, it may be harder to believe.

There may be more to the connection between mammals - or indeed animals - than we would care to believe - and there may not be - but rehab works for all life forms.

"...elephant raping and killing rhinoceros..."

This is a mental image that I did not need, and now can not escape.

-TH

Human emotions or no, abused and stressed animals act out in some way; just ask those who take in rescue animals. These animals can be brought around from their problems. If you haven't witnessed it, it may be harder to believe.

Yes. Well Stated.

Hoarse whisperer:

""...elephant raping and killing rhinoceros..."

This is a mental image that I did not need, and now can not escape."

Sorry to go all goober-smug, but...Tunnelhead, you obviously have never lived on a farm (actually, alot of, like, "the Valley", in L.A., is still so zoned, human as livestock, that is the image I could do without,...South Central? More like gigantic megalopolitan feedlots).