  Ever since I saw a wildlife special on the Discovery Channel with Goldie Hawn hosting called "Asian Elephants," and one on A&E called "Why Dogs Laugh & Chimpanzees Cry" (or something like that) and that included a piece about elephants, these gentle giants have totally won my heart. And when I saw this picture it reminded me of the A&E special I mentioned. Basically, this special was made because FINALLY!
scientists have decided that animals have emotions & feel joy & pain & love, just like us. (Their next big breakthrough will be when they finally admit that babies can & do feel pain and that when in doubt as to a babies' sexual identity it is NOT permissible when they are two days old to surgically choose their gender FOR them.
But I digress. ) These "brilliant" scientists very kindly explained to all of us half-wits (who of course, knew this all along) how they had arrived at this decision, then set about illustrating this with footage of various animals. So anyway, some scientist-dude had (for one reason or another) decided to follow a herd of African elephants that included a very pregnant female who went into labour. The baby was so sweet, but unusually large for a newborn ... and in fact had been so squished in the womb that his front legs were stuck in a bent position for much of the pregnancy.
Because of this, when he was born his front legs wouldn't straighten. All through his first day & night mommy and his aunty encouraged and nuzzled and caressed him with their trunks, but to no avail, he just couldn't do it. Finally, with the rest of the herd in desperate need of water, they started to leave. They called very gently to mommy & aunty, seeming to encourage them to leave this baby that seemed to have no chance for survival and come to water with them and save themselves, but they weren't hearing any of it. The herd finally left, regretfully and lingeringly with many long backward glances. Scientist dude at this point was basically shocked & puzzled that they hadn't left the baby, and then started basically writing the eulogy of all three. Then, to his surprise, baby started walking ... his back feet propelling him forward inch by painful inch, his front legs balancing on his knees.
Mommy & aunty rejoiced at his progress and encouraged him on. He couldn't go very long distances & stopped frequently to rest, but all through that night they continued their slow and painful journey toward water. After each rest stop baby would try two or three times to stand up straight, always failing, but never giving up. Again, S.D. seemed way surprised that the adults didn't finally just give up & leave the baby, but I could tell just by looking at their loving & gentle faces that that was one option they would never consider.
Finally, near dawn of his second day on earth and at the end of their rest stop, he tried for (what seemed like) the millionth time to stand up straight ... and on the third try, SUCCESS! All three of them rejoiced together, and near midmorning on that day, reached life-giving water. How awesome is that? Anyway, I gotta run, so have a great weekend all :-) 
