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BOOK Elephant tales A new book recounts the intimate experiences of prominent writers with elephants. Exclusive excerpts Much like humans — MICHELLE HENLEY THE SIMILARITIES between elephants and humans are far reaching and call for an attitude of human-elephant coexistence. We, in the absence of medical advances, share a similar lifespan of around 60-70 years. Like humans, their mammary glands are located between the forelegs which enable the nursing young to be constantly reassured by the prehensile trunk. As a mother can stroke or even groom her suckling baby in a dexterous way, elephant cows ensure strong bonds with their infants right from the start by making extensive use of their tactile and flexible trunks. At birth, an elephant’s brain is 35 per cent of the adult weight which is comparable to 26 per cent in man as opposed to 90 per cent of the adult weight in most other mammals. Hence eleph- ants and humans both share a prolonged period of learning and flexibility in behaviour as they slowly develop into adulthood. Elephants’brains have a relatively large hippocampus (a comp- onent of the brain that is involved in storing memory) compared to primates which may explain their long social and chemical memories. Consequently they keep track spatially of where other individuals are relative to themselves, and it has even been shown that elephants can recognise groups of humans that pose different degrees of danger. e author co-founded the Transboundary Elephant Research Programme Thread of emotions — HAMISH JOHN APPLEBY ELEPHANTS ARE known to be “hypersensitive”, being able to pick up, feel and react to a broader range of stimuli than we can. Sadly, this state of “hypersensitivity” is often negatively perceived and even described as “abnormal” or excessive in its psychological or physical response— particularly in societies that regard reason and logic as the fundamental ways to apprehend life. However, I would argue that the idea of hypersensitivity should be regarded as a positive state, enabling living beings to pick up on and respond to one another’s emotions with greater sensitivity, from which there could be so many benefits. For example, a heightened sense of sensitivity and self and others would allow us to be aware of how we affect one another, and how we feel about situations as they unfold. is has the potential to reduce conflicts and help us to lead richer and more connected lives. e author is a freelance photographer studying in Germany Elephants' brains have large storing capacity Their `hypersensitivity' is often negatively perceived and even described as `abnormal' Sound of mourning — RAJEEV K SRIVASTAVA MY STAFF wanted to finish all the formalities of postmortem but I stopped them. I sat on a boulder, as a helpless soul for hours, also mourning, letting the elephants alone. But my responsibilities were to lead a team and establish facts, as per the law. e Range Officer and staff tried different methods to chase the mother away by making noise and creating smoke, but in vain. She turned frantic and chased the staff. Suddenly she looked around and saw a pine tree that was leaning across the road. She placed her feet gently on the leaning pine tree and pushed it in front of her baby. After forming this barricade she stopped for a few minutes in silence, to give a last look sadly at her dead child and then quietly left the place.e veterinary doctor conducted the postmortem and gave a report that the calf died by asphyxiation due to a fire set a few days ago. e author is additional principal conservator of forests, Tamil Nadu Forest Department She placed her feet gently on the leaning pine and pushed it in front of her baby GIANT HEARTS: TRAVELS IN THE WORLD OF ELEPHANTS Edited by Jean-Philippe Puyravaud and Priya Davidar Rupa Publications, India | 236 pages | ` 786 48 DOWN TO EARTH 1-15 OCTOBER 2015 48-50Book.indd 48 24/09/15 10:56 am
