Posted on 07/02/2006 4:22:53 PM PDT by jwalburg
ZAGREB (AFP) - Suma, a 45-year-old elephant and long-time resident of the Zagreb Zoo, was bereaved and inconsolable after her pachyderm partner of tens years died of cancer.
Until she heard Mozart.
"Suma became very depressed after her roomie Patna died in early May," head of Zagreb Zoo Mladen Anic told AFP on Thursday.
"She was refusing to eat, became uncommunicative, showed all the signs of a serious depression."
Then, by sheer accident, Suma's keepers discovered that the healing power of Mozart extends to the animal kingdom too.
Earlier this month, the zoo the zoo organized a concert of classical music just opposite Suma's dwelling, Anic explained.
At the sight of five musicians preparing themselves to start a concert, Suma became very nervous and aggressive, peppering the intruders with little stones that she blew out of her trunk.
"But as soon as the concert started what we saw was really fascinating. Suma leaned against the fence, closed her eyes and listened without moving the entire concert," he said. Besides Mozart, she took in pieces by Vivaldi and Schubert too.
When zoo authorities realized that classical music seemed to help Suma cope with her grief, they bought a stereo and installed it so she could get a daily dose of music therapy.
The elephant especially adores Mozart, Anic said, but is also partial to the strains of Vivaldi and Bach.
"We are so glad that we can provide -- at what is a rather advanced age for elephants -- things that Suma really enjoys," Anic said.
ping
A little Metallica would probably liven her up more.
Contemporary "music" is to be prohibited within 2 miles from the zoo, and 4 miles upwind. It would drive the elephants into rabid frenzy, and that would be plain dangerous.
Brings to mind the saying, " Music soothes the savage beast."
This is the only news story I've read today that made me smile:)
Thank you!
I would have used Henry Mancini.
You gotta have a break every once in a while. But really, when you think about it, the libs are much more depressed right now. They think Karl Rove has taken over the world and are simply dismayed.
I try not to think about their state of mind too often...it can get me dizzy.
This was a lovely story.
That'd be too much for her advanced years. A little jazz from Chuck Mangione might do the trick.
Actually..I did see that story a couple of days back...and thank you for the reminder:) Now I've got a big grin!!
Dear Evening Star,
Thanks for the ping!
I think we already pinged this story:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1658270/posts
sitetest
Duh. Sorry.
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