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Originally posted by LightSpeedDriver
reply to post by sugarcookie1
The most intelligent and loving large land animal that exists. My absolute all time favourite and I met a wild one on holiday once, it was scary. He was an angry bull but did nothing more than look at me before wrecking a tree or two. Lucky me!
I got to see a skull lying in the middle of the Okavango Delta. Sad, but poignant. They teach each other the grazing and migration routes and are just so clever it's almost human like. Oh yes, they can emit sounds that are detectable miles away and are generally quite peaceful animals until you get too close to angry bulls or moms with calves. I love Heffalumps!
ETA Aww, I hadn't even watched the video on my first comment, as soon as I press play my eyes get all moist! I've seen elephant painting before but this is cuuuute!
OMFG! This elephant is unbelievable! S n F!. He's drawing an elephant! Holy Moley! This is simply amazing! Sentient being or dumb animal? I rest my case...
edit on 31/1/12 by LightSpeedDriver because: ETA
Originally posted by Amanda5
Beautiful! At last a story about kindness while working with animals as opposed to keeping them in laboratories and doing unimaginable cruelty - in the name of science.
Very uplifting to see such a graceful large animal engaged in a peaceful activity - as long as only voice prompts and elephant treats were used I can live with that.
Art - let's give everyone paper and paint and pencils!
Much Peace...
Originally posted by chrismicha77
Yet they're being poached right out of existence....very very sad!
Originally posted by ladyteeny
that was just awe inspiring and humbling. thank you
Originally posted by RenegadeScholar
Very cool and skillful, but was this freeform? If so, then this video is mind blowing in terms of how we underestimate the intelligence of animals.
But I have a feeling the elephant is just repeating an image it has practiced doing over and over, probably traced. I would be very happy if anybody could prove this statement wrong!
Originally posted by RenegadeScholar
Also... cave paintings actually done by mammoths? lolol
I know this because I live and work with elephants here in Thailand. No elephant in the world teaches themselves to paint. Every elephant here paints the same pictures. They're all the same because they are forced to do it. I've seen the training myself. A brush is taped to the trunk and they are guided over about 1 month to paint a specific picture. They are hit with a bull hook to the back of the head if they make a mistake. Sorry to spoil your illusions but trust me it's the truth, I seen it.
The elephant with the injured front leg was from a landmine in an illegal logging operation on the Burmese border. Basically every elephant you see painting, in a trekking camp or doing circus tricks has been pajaan trained. They are put in a wooden crate and brutally beaten for up to 1 week in order to break their spirit. Every elephant that paints has been through this. Please be responsible and do not buy products from Thailand that ridicule and cause harm to our national symbol.
Originally posted by LightSpeedDriver
reply to post by chrismicha77
Unfortunately, it is the white man that is responsible for the state Africa is in today and no one else.