Curiosity: A skill for connection and learning
Can you hear and do you care
And can’t you see
We must be free
To teach your children
What you believe in,
Make a world that we can live in?
From Teach Your Children
—Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
When our grandson adopted a rhino for his birthday he explained his choice because “they have a really cool way to poop!” He’s absolutely right, they do. A male rhino poops in one spot creating big pile of dung, known as a midden. This marks his territory and acts as a warning to those who might trespass.
I had a hunch, however, that my grandson was actually referring to hippos. I didn’t want to spoil the moment—his enthusiasm was gold to me. Plus, I understand that a hippo might be confused with a rhino. They are both big, grey, strange looking beasts from Africa. So, let’s give a cheer for hippos. They really do have an unusual way to poop—they use their tails like propellers and spray their feces in a wide radius. I think any 8-year-old boy would be interested in that!
Scatology is a great science—we can learn a lot about the natural world by paying attention to poop. Did you know that elephants are known as the Gardeners of Eden? A grown elephant eats 150-200kg of food daily and produces 100 kg of dung a day. That’s a lot of poop! Each lump of elephant feces contains seeds, nutrients, and moisture to support plant growth. Up to 12,000 acacia seeds have been counted in just one ball of elephant manure. An elephant walks about 25kms a day but can cover up to 195 kms, transporting seeds and planting trees across the landscape.
I am fascinated by the ground speed of these massive animals. I’ve learned I just have to wait when I see them approaching on the horizon. They arrive in no time and keep on going.
Where there is dung there is the also the dung beetle. This is a mighty insect that most young scatologists would find intriguing. Dung beetles dive into piles of elephant manure and roll the poop away standing on their heads. The dung ball becomes a home for their larvae and food supply for the family thanks to all the undigested seeds and larvae that survive an elephant’s digestive system. Nature has a throng of four-legged and six- legged farmers planting, harvesting and rotating crops.
Dung beetle standing on its head rolling away a new home and larder
Any way we can engage children in the natural world opens the door to curiosity. A curious mind, no matter what age, keeps a person inquisitive and receptive to learning.
Blue-spotted salamander
An inquiring mind is more likely to be flexible and open-hearted. I hope my stories entertain and encourage your curiosity during this time of sheltering at home. The global pandemic provides an opportunity for us to pause and consider our impact on the world and how we can make better choices so there is a healthier future for our children and the planet.
Thank you for reading. Support conservation efforts by owning this print of an elephant and her calf or with every purchase in my full store. A percentage of all online sales goes to charitable organizations doing valuable conservation work across the planet.