The Majestic Saga of Elephants
Delve into the Fascinating World of Elephants: Wisdom, Compassion, and Unforgettable Bonds
The Story of the Elephant
Elephants are considered a symbol of wisdom, luck, loyalty and strength. Of all animals, their behavioural patterns are maybe the closest to the human species, especially when dealing with grief, loss and communication of emotions.
They show immense compassion towards other species and have the capacity to perform sacred rituals similar to humankind. They weigh a ton or more, yet move about quietly in nature, their rumbling tummies communicate across miles and even though they seem heavy and slow, they can run like the wind.
If you would like to learn more about Elephants, we would like to recommend a book by Jodi Picoult, called “Leaving Time”. A perfect holiday read with so much more than just a good storyline.
Here is an extract from a conversation with Jodi about “LeavingTime”:
“I started to write Leaving Time when I was in the process of becoming an empty-nester. My daughter Sammy was headed off to school. 1 I was thinking a lot of how we humans raise our kids to be self sufficient enough to leave us — and how depressing it was for those who were left behind.
That theme — of what happens to the people who are left behind — became what I wanted to write about.Then, I was reading something and learned that in the wild, an elephant mother and daughter stay together their whole lives until one of them dies.
Given my frame of mind, it seemed so much more pleasant to do things the way elephants do. I began to dig a bit more about elephants, and their reaction to death, and what I uncovered became a metaphor for the novel:”
In her Author’s Note of September 2013, Jodi’s ending remarks read as follows: “There were many moments during the writing of this book when I thought that elephants maybe even more evolved than humans — when I studied their grieving habits, their motoring skills, and their memories.
If you take away anything from this novel, I hope it is an awareness of the cognitive and emotional intelligence of these beautiful animals — and the understanding that it is up to all of us to protect them.” (Leaving Time, Jodi Picoult -Author’s Note)
The story of Alice, Jenna and the elephants is the perfect accompaniment to your African holiday. It is so much more than just a story. It sets the scene for a better understanding of these formidable animals.
lt will give you insight into their behavioural patterns and it will deepen your respect for these gentle giants that seem to have a human soul, especially when it comes to saying goodbye to those they love. After reading “Leaving Time”, you will never look at an elephant quite the same way again!
