Elephants and their memory.

In 1986, Peter Davies was on holiday in Kenya after graduating from Northwestern University . On a hike through the bush, he came across a young bull elephant standing with one leg raised in the air. The elephant seemed distressed, so Peter approached it very carefully.

He got down on one knee, inspected the elephants foot, and found a large piece of wood deeply embedded in it. As carefully and as gently as he could, Peter worked the wood out with his knife, after which the elephant gingerly put down its foot. The elephant turned to face the man, and with a rather curious look on its face, stared at him for several tense moments. Peter stood frozen, thinking of nothing else but being trampled. Eventually the elephant trumpeted loudly, turned, and walked away. Peter never forgot that elephant or the events of that day.

Twenty years later, Peter was walking through the Chicago Zoo with his teenaged son. As they approached the elephant enclosure, one of the creatures turned and walked over to near where Peter and his son Cameron were standing. The large bull elephant stared at Peter, lifted its front foot off the ground, then put it down. The elephant did that several times then trumpeted loudly, all the while staring at the man.

Remembering the encounter in 1986, Peter could not help wondering if this was the same elephant. Peter summoned up his courage, climbed over the railing, and made his way into the enclosure. He walked right up to the elephant and stared back in wonder. The elephant trumpeted again, wrapped its trunk around one of Peter legs and slammed him against the railing, killing him instantly.

Probably wasn't the same elephant.

This is for everyone who sends those heart-warming bullshit stories.



trisreal's picture




Unovegan's picture

That is such a heartfelt

That is such a heartfelt story. I'm all weepy. Thank you for that. I feel like my life's just a little better because of it. You know how to touch us. More so than some of mine such as Patrick Swayze and whatnot. BUT, i've got a slew that now that things are cooling i'm going to amp up. but they will not be nearly so sweet as this Hallmark story. If only there were hallmark short stories on tv still. This would be a perfect one. Nice job.

trisreal's picture

I eagerly await your

I eagerly await your stories.

chunky_chicken's picture

i love elephants. and this

i love elephants. and this story made me laugh. i'm in need of a laugh right now. thanks!

Paxananda's picture

Damn...why you playing my

Damn...why you playing my emotions like?
haha

I wonder if this is really true. Dont know what he was thinking by climbing the rail if so.

phactorri's picture

i dont believe an elephant

i dont believe an elephant can attack someone in such a manner.

trisreal's picture

Snopes says no.

Snopes says no.

http://www.snopes.com/critters/malice/elephant.asp

I love that website. If they go to the extent to verify crap like this email forward, you gotta trust that they verify the stuff that "matters" pretty thoroughly too!

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