I Love Elephant Ears
“We need a lot more wonder in our lives.”
—Mr. Rogers
I confess, I am in love with elephant ears—the real ones. Although, as I write this, I realize one of my favourite pastries as a child was elephant ears so perhaps, I was destined to love elephant ears. I love elephants too, most of you know that, but, those ears—amazing! I remember the day I was hooked. Rufus, my Kenyan guide in the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, veered quickly away from an approaching family of elephants. I was rocketed back in my seat as he raced down the hill in front of them, me clutching my camera to my chest with one hand and hanging onto the vertical support of the land cruiser with the other. I had no time to question what was happening, letting go of my excitement of seeing a family of elephants coming our way and shifting my attention to not getting jolted out of the truck.
Rufus came to an abrupt stop; tawny grasses waved in wind front of us at the base of the empty hill. Then, with a grand entrance centre stage, the elephants appeared over the lip of the hill heading straight for us, their ears catching the wind like massive sails.
Their ears kept time with each foreleg accompanied by a slight swing of the head. Shaped like the African continent, the ears worked like huge fans cooling the elephants’ bodies under the heat of the midmorning sun.
I scrambled to catch the moment like you might try to capture your child’s first step or an intimate look between a bride and groom at the altar. As a photographer it all depends on your readiness whether you get these images or not. Whatever the result, if the heart is smitten the picture is forever seared in the imagination.
This year I was more prepared to examine those ears every chance I had from every possible angle. The elephants of Amboseli were happy to show off for an appreciative audience of one.
As I lay on the floor of the truck, my camera pointing out on the savannah, hundreds of elephants marched straight for me. It was an extraordinary experience (more on that in other stories such as The Pace of an Elephant) that included a Rhapsody of the Ears.
I became entranced with timing my shutter finger to the rhythm of the elephants’ steps and the accompanying wave of their huge ears. Like human ears, each pair is unique. Some implied stories of past encounters showing holes and tears in their huge leathery masses. I came to recognize some of the bulls by their ears. Famous Tim’s had soft edges that fluttered like ostrich feathers as he walked.
Ganesh, the eldest of the Big Tuskers, has ears like butterfly wings. I was thrilled when he waved those giant, delicate wings at me.
And the babies? OMG the babies’ personalities shine thanks to their ears.
When I visit the DSWT elephant orphanage in Nairobi I’m able to get really close to the youngsters. The backs of their ears are like a topographical map of Africa. The veins stand out like rivers with deltas along the edges. The skin is soft and smooth unlike the rest of their bodies.
In utero their big ears are plastered tight against their head. Similar to newborn humans whose limbs easily curl into the fetal position after birth, elephant ears fold naturally back into the prenatal position like a snug fitting bonnet.
My heart fills with wonder when I think of wild places and animals. Love is in the details. Like Mr. Rogers, I believe we need a lot more wonder in our lives—it’s good medicine for the soul and an antidote to despair. Mr. Rogers said, if you want to feel better imagine someone who was kind to you. Our thoughts can impact our bodies and our bodies can impact our thoughts. When we feel loving, we are more inclined to care and when we care we are more inclined to protect.
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