More Elephant Sanctuary

 

I really dislike having the last picture chosen from the files - be the first one in print!  Oh well - there must be a way to change that and I don't know it!  This is a fun picture - the young couple holding the elephants tusks got engaged just after doing this.  All the rest of our group were guided to the education plaza - and a guide stayed with them. Our guide told us that they were getting engaged and we all clapped when they joined us - she showed us all her ring!  The other couple to the far right live in Joberg - he read my name tag and said - "A Mormon - I've always wanted to meet one of those!"  I told him there were eight of us there and we would love to answer his questions!  He did ask me if we were Christian - I said definitely - that Christ was the head of our Church - we didn't have much time during the event, but he gave me his email and we will keep in touch! 

This is the spot in the forest that both elephants stopped and the handlers had each person in our group come up and 'touch'.  The guides were busy taking pictures!

Amazing experience!  They are huge and quiet!  

The guide would have the elephant open it's mouth - so we could see the teeth.  They have only four molars and they grow new ones 4 - 5 times in their lifetime.  They live to be 70 years old!  These elephants were rescued from a game farm - where they are shot in hunting siutations.

Touching the belly, we already did the front elbow - hard skin!

Touching the trunk - Timba was this male elephant's name - the female in the background was Rondum or something like that.

The elephant handlers bring up the elephants after we fed them.  The handlers had bags of grass pellets and they elephants really liked them.  The handlers were always between us and the animals, or very close when we were touching.

Feeding this 25 year old male - one tusk had been broken off - and he is too young to mate - not ready until 30 - 35 years old!

This is our first encounter - elephants were behind a fence.  The guide said to put the food in their trunk and then stand back because they may want more and 'nudge' you for it!  Their little nudge, would be a big push and you would land on the ground!

It was a beautiful day - sunny and warm.  Even Elder Smith took off his jacket!  We have had rain and cool weather lately so this was a real treat!