Over the past ten
years, Camembert (see Blogs 5 and 16) and I have logged many hours together,
and I usually make a point of talking to her when spending time with her
family. Thus, I strongly suspected that
she recognized my voice and was comfortable with my presence. I also hoped that, on some level, I had
earned her trust.
However, I was in
no way prepared for the extraordinary moment when Camembert showed me the
extent of that trust. With one simple gesture,
she redefined our relationship forever.
On that day, I was
taking a guest on a morning game drive, introducing her to the many elephant
families here on Lewa. We were having good
luck and had spent time watching the Currency family as they drank, bathed and gave
themselves a thorough mud bath. We also had
come across the Liquer family, with its many new babies, in the Lewa swamp.
As we were winding
our way around the swamp, I noticed that the Cheese family was walking along
the river and was about to cross the road in front of us. So, I switched off the car to wait and began
to tell my guest about the family and its latest addition – Camembert’s new baby
boy, Gorgonzola.
As Camembert
started to cross the road, I began, as usual, to talk to her. When she heard my voice, she turned to face
the car – unexpectedly, she then changed direction and began to walk down the
road toward us. To my utter amazement
and delight, she stopped next to the car and urged her baby toward my
window. Little Gorgonzola came over to the
car by himself, putting his trunk up to the window to get my scent. We all froze – utterly spell bound.
After a few
minutes, Camembert put her trunk over Gorgonzola’s back and gently pulled him back
to her side. Then, as though this
introduction was to be expected, the family quietly proceeded on their way to
the swamp.
 |
| MY FRIEND -- CAMEMBERT |
It was a moment
that I shall never forget -- one that demonstrated, once again, just how
emotional and intelligent elephant truly are.
Camembert was
proud of her precious new baby and wanted to show him off to her friend. How lucky and honoured am I to be that
friend!
