The English language never ceases to amaze me. Colloquialisms, while wacky, can be explained in most cases. The names given to groups of animals and other living things? Not so much. Seriously.
The following list isn’t exhaustive, but it includes some of the more interesting names for groups of living things. If your squad wanted a mascot, which would you take for a name?
For the record, I asked my boss at the day-job if our team could take pandas as our mascot. When he found out what a group of pandas is called, he wasn’t thrilled with the suggestion…for some reason. 😂
October 4th 2013 marked the first International March for Elephants. On October 3rd and 4th 2015, the march continues.
Thousands of people around the world are marching to raise awareness about the devastating impact of the ivory trade. Unchecked it will wipe out the wild elephant populations by 2025.
Every 15 Minutes an elephant is killed for its ivory…
The International March for Elephants was organized by The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (DSWT) through their iworry campaign, taking place around the globe. If you are unable to join the march, there are other ways you can make a difference. Every day of the year. [image from DSWT iworry program]
Launched in September 2012, the iworry campaign has attracted worldwide backing calling for a complete ban on the ivory trade.
It’s simple. When the market for ivory disappears, the killing for it will stop.
Recently, the United States and China laid the groundwork for a ban on all ivory trade. Some states, such as California, have also enacted bans on importing ivory. Progress is being made, but there’s still a long way to go if we are to save these majestic creatures from extinction.
You CAN Make a Difference!
It’s easy to think, “What can I do? I’m just one person.”
The truth is, each of us can make a difference. Supporting an organization that is actively engaged in preventing poaching — one that also rescues orphaned elephant calves that are victims of poaching — is a way those of us who are continents away can make a significant positive impact.
The The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (DSWT) has been rescuing, rehabilitating, and returning orphaned elephants to the wild since 1977. The organization grew out of the family’s passion for Kenya and its wilderness. Today, the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is the most successful orphan-elephant rescue and rehabilitation program in the world. It is also pioneering conservation for wildlife and habitat protection in East Africa.
Image of 1 day-old KAMOK ~ September 2013 ~ David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick D.B.E founded the organization in 1977 to honour the memory of her late husband, David Leslie William Sheldrick MBE, the founding Warden of Tsavo East National Park. Since then, the lives they’ve saved is nothing short of astounding.
Backing Words with Action
It’s one thing to bang out a blog post, but my words won’t mean a thing unless I back them with action. I am happy to be fostering KAMOK and SIMOTUA, orphaned baby elephants at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. Fostering is only $50.00 US dollars a year. I know people who spend more than that in a month at Starbucks. It’s rewarding to know that you’re making a difference in a huge way…in the life of an individual elephant, as well as the protection species as a whole.
The following video of Kamok’s rescue demonstrates the level of care this organization extends to each and every animal in its care.
For information on how you can foster an orphaned elephant or rhino at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, go here.
You can also help in the following ways:
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Baby elephants pretty much rock my world any day. But flaunting this little guy’s awesomeness is especially appropriate on Earth Day.
His Singing in the Rain soft-shoe has the entire jungle in awe. So it’s not just me. I’m sure Gene Kelly would be feeling the envy. And with that trunk, he’d probably put Sinatra’s crooning to shame too.
No, this is not a joke. There is actually an orchestra in Northern Thailand near Lampang that is made up of sixteen Asian elephants who have three music CDs under their trunks. Their first CD is predominantly improvisations, but on the second CD they play Beethoven and Hank Williams.
Of course, the elephants had a little help in the production department. Elephant conservationist Richard Lair and of the National Elephant Institute (formerly the Thai Elephant Conservation Center) and the American musical artist and neuroscientistDave Soldier built their instruments and worked with them through every note. You can watch a documentary here.
I wasn’t surprised when I first heard about the Thai Elephant Orchestra. After all, I’d attended a full-contact elephant handling school at Riddle’s Elephant and Wildlife Sanctuary in Arkansas, where I learned first-hand just how scary-smart elephants can be. But I certainly was intrigued that these elephants enjoyed playing music. Their performances were more than animals trained to do tricks. Watch the following video clip and see for yourself.
Thai Elephant Orchestra Takes the Stage
My direct experience working with elephants (though brief) proved to me that elephants are as aware as we are. Combine that with an intelligence equal to that of a five year-old human child, and you can begin to comprehend the depth of feeling and the extent of their creative potential.
I am not embarrassed to admit that I was amazed (and delighted) by the moving account of world-renowned cellist, Jami Sieber, playing music with the Thai Elephant Orchestra. A while back I wrote a post on the mystical power of music. The following video proves that music is a universal language. It spans species, as well as the entire human race.
Though, a dancing elephant pretty much rocks my world any day of the week! Looking down a long holiday weekend or not.
But I may be prejudiced in that department, elephants being one of my favorite animals and all. Still, this little guy’s Singing in the Rain dance-out has the entire jungle in awe. So it can’t be just me.
In my humble opinion… “The Glee! team won’t shoot to Hollywood super-stardom without this guy.” Seriously. The little pachyderm has a soft shoe Gene Kelly would have envied. And with a trunk like that, he’s got to have a voice with more reach than Rachel’s. I’m just saying… But you decide.
What about you?
What makes your heart sing … in the rain or otherwise?
Elizabeth Fais 