A captivating and unique occurrence takes place on the Uganda Kenya border involving elephants. At Kitum Cave, “one of five named ‘elephant caves‘ of Mount Elgon” elephants have, “for centuries,” been discovered deep inside. On a mission, they work hard, scratching the walls of the cave with their tusks (“tusk art“) effectively “mining” the salt they so love … Continue reading »
AISHA Perhaps the most famous little elephant that stole Dame Daphne Sheldrick’s heart was this tiny calf. “She was the smallest elephant I had ever seen – still covered in the soft fuzz of elephant infancy, her tiny trunk tinged with pink, toenails of pale yellow – soft and brand new.” (p.229) Prophetically, the chapter … Continue reading »
It may take longer than an afternoon of ceremony to burn an elephant tusk to a crisp (actually the process of destroying ivory involves many days of exposure to intense temperatures in furnaces designed to withstand such heat). Even still the embers remain and serve as a fervent reminder of just how incensed the public has become … Continue reading »