The Littlest Elephant

 

The Littlest Elephant

“Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. “Pooh!” he whispered.
”Yes, Piglet?”
”Nothing,” said Piglet, taking Pooh’s paw. “I just wanted to be sure of you.”

— A. A. Milne

How many of us have tried to console a toddler’s separation anxiety? “Look she’s right there. She’ll be back soon.” This was the scene we came upon on a narrow causeway between two sections of the Amboseli marsh. A tiny baby elephant, days, weeks old at most, stood anxiously at the edge of the road waving its tiny trunk for mom who was out of reach and up to her elbows in water!

Reassured her mother wasn’t going far, The Littlest Elephant began to explore. Curious, she tottered up to our front fender and gave the truck a good sniff with her tiny trunk. None of us made a move. We didn’t want to scare her or alarm her mother.

Mom kept a watchful eye while continuing to feed. The current drought in Amboseli forces elephants to make a daily trek across the dusty bare savannah to access food and water in the marsh. The tough swamp grass is not their favourite, but it must do for now.

After drinking and grazing the elephants retreat to the hills for the night. An adult elephant consumes 100 – 1000 lbs. of vegetation and drinks 50 gallons (200 litres) of water a day. Because of the drought food and water sources are often kilometers apart. The elephants are forced to walk long distances to survive. Despite their small size calves have no choice but to make the journey with their families. It’s amazing to witness the stamina of these little ones as they faithfully follow their mothers to the marsh and back to the hills every day.

Sporting dark wet leggings where she’d stood in the water, Mama climbed out of the marsh to check on her baby. The little elephant snuggled up to suckle.

Sated and comforted, The Littlest Elephant now felt safe enough to explore and play, trusting Mama would not abandon her.

There’s no helicopter parenting in elephant society. Mothers are protective and attentive, but they also expect their calves to walk long distances and keep up with the herd. This is an important early developmental lesson in stamina and trust. Across the road another youngster swam out to be near its mother. Based on the waterline on his body he must have used his trunk as a snorkel in the deep water!

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Here’s what readers are saying:

 In addition to her deeply beautiful and evocative photographs of the elephants of Amboseli, Kathy’s book is one of big heart, big life lessons shared bravely and naturally.  She invites us to her safari, to her pilgrimage, so that we, too, can feel, see, and hear the gifts these elephants bestowed on her in the tender days after her mother’s passing—so that we, too, can taste their wisdom.

Mary Ann Burris, Founder of the Trust for Indigenous Culture and Health, Nairobi, Kenya

The Wisdom of Elephants intertwines spectacular photography, the challenges of wildlife conservation, and the importance of storytelling, to raise awareness of the numerous concerns surrounding Africa’s gentle giants.  As one turns the pages and begins to identify with the individual elephants, it is clear that Kathy Karn’s career working with trauma survivors has set her up well to understand the plight of elephants as they lose their relatives and territory. Kathy’s stunning images of Africa’s last remaining tuskers are an enduring inspiration to those who care about them, and to those who work for their conservation.  

Ryan Snider, Ph.D. Director, Socially Responsible Safaris

 Kathy Karn's photography and reflections in The Wisdom of Elephants bring the sacred into our hearts. This beautiful book has magic in its ability to guide us to deepen our connections to ourselves, elephants, and nature.

Zainab Salbi, author and co-founder of Daughters for Earth and Women for Women International.


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