Thursday, July 8, 2010

A Touched Story

I was sent this story a little while back. And while I did forward it on to a handful of people, I felt it needed to be shared with the world. And really? What better forum than on the Pleasantly Disturbed carnival?

Photobucket


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 elephant’s 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, and 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...


10 comments:

Duane Scott said...

I remember this. SO DISTURBING!

Here. This is for you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtY4U4waKNU

Wendy said...

Duane, that video is just all kindsa wrong. Poor dog.

Helen said...

I love this story so much, I am going to put it on facebook!

HisFireFly said...

Thought it was going to be the sotry of the elephand and the laxatives.. now that was TRULY disturbing...

Wendy said...

HisFireFly - Okay, you got me curious and I had to look that one up. And yes, it truly was disturbing.

http://www.darwinawards.com/legends/legends1998-09.html

Read at your own peril.

jasonS said...

Disturbed is a great description, but it totally fits with me so you know I love it...

~Brenda said...

Uhmm ... where is that elephant NOW?

Anonymous said...

the right choice for pdt.

Robin Arnold said...

Everywhere you look, elephants.

Sandra Heska King said...

Grooooan!!