Posted on 01/22/2013 5:33:02 AM PST by NYer
THE ELEPHANT'S JOURNEY TO PAY RESPECT, BUT HOW DID THEY KNOW?
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Lawrence Anthony, a legend in South Africa and author of 3 books including the bestseller The Elephant Whisperer, bravely rescued wildlife and rehabilitated elephants all over the globe from human atrocities, including the courageous rescue of Baghdad Zoo animals during US invasion in 2003.
Anthony, Nana and calf (Photo courtesy of the Anthony family) |
On March 7, 2012 Lawrence Anthony died.
He is remembered and missed by his wife, 2 sons, 2 grandsons and numerous elephants.
Two days after his passing, the wild elephants showed up at his home led by two large matriarchs.
Separate wild herds arrived in droves to say goodbye to their beloved man-friend.
A total of 31 elephants had patiently walked over 12 miles to get to his South African House.
Witnessing this spectacle, humans were obviously in awe not only because of the supreme intelligence and precise timing that these elephants sensed about Lawrence's passing, but also because of the profound memory and emotion the beloved animals evoked in such an organized way:
Walking slowly - for days - Making their way in a solemn one-by-one queue from their habitat to his house.
Elephants gathering at the Anthony home (Photo courtesy of the Anthony family)
So, how after Anthony’s death, did the reserve’s elephants — grazing miles away in distant parts of the park — know? “A good man died suddenly,” says Rabbi Leila Gal Berner, Ph.D., “and from miles and miles away, two herds of elephants, sensing that they had lost a beloved human friend, moved in a solemn, almost ‘funereal’ procession to make a call on the bereaved family at the deceased man’s home.”
“If there ever were a time, when we can truly sense the wondrous ‘interconnectedness of all beings,’ it is when we reflect on the elephants of Thula Thula. A man’s heart’s stops, and hundreds of elephants’ hearts are grieving. This man’s oh-so-abundantly loving heart offered healing to these elephants, and now, they came to pay loving homage to their friend.”
Lawrence's wife, Francoise, was especially touched, knowing that the elephants had not been to his house prior to that day for well over 3 years!
But yet they knew where they were going.
The elephants obviously wanted to pay their deep respects, honoring their friend who'd saved their lives - so much respect that they stayed for 2 days 2 nights without eating anything.
Then one morning, they left, making their long journey back!
Just wanted to share this amazing story with all of you.
Weird
All Republicans too!
Wow... if true, that IS an amazing story.
That is really interesting!
Sometimes animals are more human than people.
Sometimes animals are more human than people.
Interesting. The leftist monsters at Snopes list it only as Undetermined, with research allegedly in progress for the last several months.
For some reason, my screen is all blurry.
Thanks, nice to see first thing in the morning
Awesome.
Thanks ‘NY’ ...Sometimes it seems God says ‘ Ha.. watch this you unbelievers’......in the last days there will be signs and wonders
Indeed. Not a single donkey bothered to show up. Typical...
I remember reading somewhere that the Romans would butcher just about anything in the arena but killing elephants really upset them. There was something human like and an intelligence that made them different from the other animals they slaughtered. I would not be surprised that they sensed a disturbance within the force.
Thank you SO much for sharing this. I didn’t see the story when it came out. I know Elephants are incredibly important for the health of the planet, but their impact on the health of the human soul and psyche are even more profound. I burst into happy, happy tears reading this. I hope that I am lucky enough to have them greet me when it is my time to move on to the other side.
thank you, thank you, thank you. from the bottom of my deeply moved heart.
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