Don’t Miss this!!
Dear Friends,
This is something you have to read. The pictures you have to see. And the story you have to understand. Finally you have to share with others. It is something that hurts us but at the same time touches us. It makes us think deeper, contemplate what our lives are about and why someone like Anthony can do so much for others. Please make sure young people see this and share it with as many as you can. Please help the celebrate the elephants and the many who did so much for them. I would very much appreciate this.
There are many extraordinary people out there who are willing to devote their entire lives to helping others. Mother Teresa, Aung San Suu Kyi and Jill Robinson are some of those people that I have previously blogged about before.
A few days ago, I read somewhere on Facebook about a herd of wild elephants in Zululand, South Africa. They had been taken care of by a South African conservationist named Lawrence Anthony.
Lawrence Anthony is the founder of The Earth Organization. He has been dubbed as ‘The Elephant Whisperer’, as earlier in his life he accepted a herd of “rogue” wild elephants on his Thula Thula game reserve in Zululand… because he accepted those elephants, he saved a whole herd of elephants from being killed by poachers.
On the 2nd of March 2012, he passed away. The elephants had not visited his house for 1.5 years… but when he passed away two herds of elephants made a 12 hour journey to his house and stayed for 2 days, before heading back into the bush.
How did they know Lawrence Anthony had died?
I had more information searched about Lawrence Anthony and his work… do take a look at the information, videos and pictures below.
Tsem Rinpoche
The Elephant Whisperer was published in German, Italian and French.
(Below are images extracted from various sites)
The rescue of Baby Thula.
She was 1 day old… and 120kg.
Shower time with umbrella to protect her skin.
Baby Thula and Bijou…
Johnny introducing Bijou to Baby Thula.
Visit to my kitchen…her favorite spot.
A sad moment: Game rangers Vusi and Promise discovering Hedi, killed by poachers in August 2009.
Heidi
[Source: http://delightmakers.com/news/wild-elephants-gather-inexplicably-mourn-death-of-elephant-whisperer/]
Wild elephants gather inexplicably, mourn death of “Elephant Whisperer”
Author and legendary conservationist Lawrence Anthony died March 7. His family tells of a solemn procession on March 10 that defies human explanation
For 12 hours, two herds of wild South African elephants slowly made their way through the Zululand bush until they reached the house of late author Lawrence Anthony, the conservationist who saved their lives.
The formerly violent, rogue elephants, destined to be shot a few years ago as pests, were rescued and rehabilitated by Anthony, who had grown up in the bush and was known as the “Elephant Whisperer.”
For two days the herds loitered at Anthony’s rural compound on the vast Thula Thula game reserve in the South African KwaZulu – to say good-bye to the man they loved. But how did they know he had died on March 7?
Known for his unique ability to calm traumatized elephants, Anthony had become a legend. He is the author of three books, Baghdad Ark,detailing his efforts to rescue the animals at Baghdad Zoo during the Iraqi war, the forthcoming The Last Rhinos, and his bestselling The Elephant Whisperer.
There are two elephant herds at Thula Thula. According to his son Dylan, both arrived at the Anthony family compound shortly after Anthony’s death.
“They had not visited the house for a year and a half and it must have taken them about 12 hours to make the journey,” Dylan is quoted in various local news accounts. “The first herd arrived on Sunday and the second herd, a day later. They all hung around for about two days before making their way back into the bush.”
Elephants have long been known to mourn their dead. In India, baby elephants often are raised with a boy who will be their lifelong “mahout.” The pair develop legendary bonds – and it is not uncommon for one to waste away without a will to live after the death of the other.
A line of elephants approaching the Anthony house (Photo courtesy of the Anthony family)
But these are wild elephants in the 21st century, not some Rudyard Kipling novel.
The first herd to arrive at Thula Thula several years ago were violent. They hated humans. Anthony found himself fighting a desperate battle for their survival and their trust, which he detailed in The Elephant Whisperer:
“It was 4:45 a.m. and I was standing in front of Nana, an enraged wild elephant, pleading with her in desperation. Both our lives depended on it. The only thing separating us was an 8,000-volt electric fence that she was preparing to flatten and make her escape.
“Nana, the matriarch of her herd, tensed her enormous frame and flared her ears.
“’Don’t do it, Nana,’ I said, as calmly as I could. She stood there, motionless but tense. The rest of the herd froze.
“’This is your home now,’ I continued. ‘Please don’t do it, girl.’
I felt her eyes boring into me.
Anthony, Nana and calf (Photo courtesy of the Anthony family)
“’They’ll kill you all if you break out. This is your home now. You have no need to run any more.’
“Suddenly, the absurdity of the situation struck me,” Anthony writes. “Here I was in pitch darkness, talking to a wild female elephant with a baby, the most dangerous possible combination, as if we were having a friendly chat. But I meant every word. ‘You will all die if you go. Stay here. I will be here with you and it’s a good place.’
“She took another step forward. I could see her tense up again, preparing to snap the electric wire and be out, the rest of the herd smashing after her in a flash.
“I was in their path, and would only have seconds to scramble out of their way and climb the nearest tree. I wondered if I would be fast enough to avoid being trampled. Possibly not.
“Then something happened between Nana and me, some tiny spark of recognition, flaring for the briefest of moments. Then it was gone. Nana turned and melted into the bush. The rest of the herd followed. I couldn’t explain what had happened between us, but it gave me the first glimmer of hope since the elephants had first thundered into my life.”
Elephants gathering at the Anthony home (Photo courtesy of the Anthony family)
It had all started several weeks earlier with a phone call from an elephant welfare organization. Would Anthony be interested in adopting a problem herd of wild elephants? They lived on a game reserve 600 miles away and were “troublesome,” recalled Anthony.
“They had a tendency to break out of reserves and the owners wanted to get rid of them fast. If we didn’t take them, they would be shot.
“The woman explained, ‘The matriarch is an amazing escape artist and has worked out how to break through electric fences. She just twists the wire around her tusks until it snaps, or takes the pain and smashes through.’
“’Why me?’ I asked.
“’I’ve heard you have a way with animals. You’re right for them. Or maybe they’re right for you.’”
What followed was heart-breaking. One of the females and her baby were shot and killed in the round-up, trying to evade capture.
“When they arrived, they were thumping the inside of the trailer like a gigantic drum. We sedated them with a pole-sized syringe, and once they had calmed down, the door slid open and the matriarch emerged, followed by her baby bull, three females and an 11-year-old bull.”
Last off was the 15-year-old son of the dead mother. “He stared at us,” writes Anthony, “flared his ears and with a trumpet of rage, charged, pulling up just short of the fence in front of us.
“His mother and baby sister had been shot before his eyes, and here he was, just a teenager, defending his herd. David, my head ranger, named him Mnumzane, which in Zulu means ‘Sir.’ We christened the matriarch Nana, and the second female-in-command, the most feisty, Frankie, after my wife.
“We had erected a giant enclosure within the reserve to keep them safe until they became calm enough to move out into the reserve proper.
“Nana gathered her clan, loped up to the fence and stretched out her trunk, touching the electric wires. The 8,000-volt charge sent a jolt shuddering through her bulk. She backed off. Then, with her family in tow, she strode the entire perimeter of the enclosure, pointing her trunk at the wire to check for vibrations from the electric current.
“As I went to bed that night, I noticed the elephants lining up along the fence, facing out towards their former home. It looked ominous. I was woken several hours later by one of the reserve’s rangers, shouting, ‘The elephants have gone! They’ve broken out!’ The two adult elephants had worked as a team to fell a tree, smashing it onto the electric fence and then charging out of the enclosure.
“I scrambled together a search party and we raced to the border of the game reserve, but we were too late. The fence was down and the animals had broken out.
“They had somehow found the generator that powered the electric fence around the reserve. After trampling it like a tin can, they had pulled the concrete-embedded fence posts out of the ground like matchsticks, and headed north.”
The reserve staff chased them – but had competition.
“We met a group of locals carrying large caliber rifles, who claimed the elephants were ‘fair game’ now. On our radios we heard the wildlife authorities were issuing elephant rifles to staff. It was now a simple race against time.”
Anthony managed to get the herd back onto Thula Thula property, but problems had just begun:
“Their bid for freedom had, if anything, increased their resentment at being kept in captivity. Nana watched my every move, hostility seeping from every pore, her family behind her. There was no doubt that sooner or later they were going to make another break for freedom.
“Then, in a flash, came the answer. I would live with the herd. To save their lives, I would stay with them, feed them, talk to them. But, most importantly, be with them day and night. We all had to get to know each other.”
It worked, as the book describes in detail, notes the London Daily Mail newspaper.
Anthony was later offered another troubled elephant – one that was all alone because the rest of her herd had been shot or sold, and which feared humans. He had to start the process all over again.
And as his reputation spread, more “troublesome” elephants were brought to Thula Thula.
So, how after Anthony’s death, did the reserve’s elephants — grazing miles away in distant parts of the park — know?
“A good man died suddenly,” says Rabbi Leila Gal Berner, Ph.D., “and from miles and miles away, two herds of elephants, sensing that they had lost a beloved human friend, moved in a solemn, almost ‘funereal’ procession to make a call on the bereaved family at the deceased man’s home.”
“If there ever were a time, when we can truly sense the wondrous ‘interconnectedness of all beings,’ it is when we reflect on the elephants of Thula Thula. A man’s heart’s stops, and hundreds of elephants’ hearts are grieving. This man’s oh-so-abundantly loving heart offered healing to these elephants, and now, they came to pay loving homage to their friend.”
1. Short Intro/ News of Lawrence Passing Away
[Source: Conservation icon passes away, by The Earth Organisation, http://www.earthorganization.
The world of conservation suffered a great loss on the 2nd of March 2012, when Lawrence Anthony passed away peacefully in his sleep. Known internationally for his compassionate intervention at the Baghdad Zoo during the coalition invasion of Iraq, and his subsequent books Babylon’s Ark and The Elephant Whisperer, his life was a true reflection of an extraordinary man who lived by the mantra that nothing is insurmountable. As founder of “The Earth Organization”, his initiatives will continue to make a massive impact in the world of conservation.
2. Lawrence & the Elephants
[Source: The elephant man, published in The Guardian, Feb 22 2009, http://www.guardian.co.uk/
Excerpts from the article:
Thula Thula has a herd of former delinquent elephants which would otherwise have been shot for dangerous misbehaviour. Anthony has worked to rehabilitate them, to the extent that they will even come when he calls. He is convinced the animals, and Nana, the giant matriarch of the herd, in particular, know him. When Nana gave birth, she brought her three-day-old calf to show off.
When Anthony had his first grandchild, he reciprocated. Last month, we were granted a rare glimpse of the bond between Anthony and the herd. We are deep in the African bush when Anthony cups his hands to his mouth and calls: “Come baba, come girls.” The elephants were last sighted a mile or so away, and for 10 minutes there is silence.
Then, on the far side of a clearing, the trees rustle and the first giant grey head breaks above the bushes. Another follows, pausing only to rip a branch from a tree. Soon, as seven or eight of the herd approach, Anthony ushers us from open ground into the relative safety of the vehicle. Within seconds, the animals are poking their trunks through the open windows, their wrinkled faces and eyelashed brown eyes just yards away. We pull forward, and the elephants follow. Only when Anthony guns the engine do they give up the chase.
3. Thula -Thula
[Source: Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Thula Thula Private Game Reserve is a private game reserve situated in Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal province in South Africa.Thula Thula means ‘peace and tranquility’ in Zulu.
History
Thula Thula was once the private hunting grounds of the mighty Zulu Warrior, King Shaka. The first historic meeting between Shaka and his father, Senzangakhona, which set the stage for the creation of the Zulu Nation took place at the Nseleni River at Thula Thula.
The land became a game reserve in 1911 and is believed to be the oldest private game reserve in KwaZulu-Natal.
Owners
Thula Thula is owned by international conservationist and founder of the Earth Organization, Lawrence Anthony,[2] and his wife Francoise Malby-Anthony. The reserve is the scene for Lawrence’s book The Elephant Whisperer[3] which was published in April 2009. In March 2007 Lawrence also published Babylon’s Ark which tells of the rescue of the Baghdad zoo, during the US lead Coalition invasion of Iraq.
Wildlife
Thula Thula is home to a wide variety of animals, including African elephant, buffalo, white rhino, leopard, giraffe, zebra, nyala, hyena, crocodile, kudu, wildebeest as well as other indigenous species. Over 350 species of birdlife has been identified, including raptors and vultures.
Elephants
In 1999 Lawrence Anthony was asked to accept a herd of ‘rogue’ wild elephants from Mpumalanga onto Thula Thula which were destined to be shot unless alternative arrangements could be made. The herd was housed in a boma on Thula Thula but managed to break free and escape. The elephants were successfully tracked, recovered and transported back to Thula Thula. The story of their rehabilitation and Lawrence’s subsequent relationship with the herd is told in his book The Elephant Whisperer. The elephant herd, including Nana, Frankie and Mabula are still at Thula Thula.
4. Websites
- Official Website of Thula-Thula – http://www.thulathula.com/
- All the media coverage of Thula-Thula (videos and articles in pdf) – http://www.thulathula.com/en_
press.aspx
- About Lawrence Anthony (with video links and articles about him published in media, including pictures and info about the story from his book “The Elephant Whisperer”) – http://www.thulathula.com/en_
baghdad.aspx -
Lawrence Anthony’s Website – http://www.lawrenceanthony.co.
za/ -
National Geographic – Press Release – http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2012/03/15/izilwane-remembers-lawrence-anthony-conservationist-and-environmental-diplomat/
-
The Australian – Press Release – http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/animal-lover-braved-war-zones/story-fnb64oi6-1226306237175
-
Washington Post – Press Release – http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/lawrence-anthony-south-african-conservationist-dies-at-61/2012/03/14/gIQAvXc6CS_story.html
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NY Times – Press Release – http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/12/world/africa/lawrence-anthony-baghdad-zoo-savior-dies-at-61.html?_r=1
5. Videos
[Extracted from: http://www.thulathula.com/en_baghdad.aspx]
NEWS !
July 2012 : Famous elephant herd in new ad
New television commercial, based on the remarkable true South African story of conservationist Lawrence Anthony as captured in his bestseller “The Elephant Whisperer” launched during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics later this week..
Sadly, some weeks prior to filming, Anthony passed away and so the commercial is told through the eyes and voice of his wife, Françoise Malby-Anthony, which adds another layer of emotion to this remarkable story.
The role of Lawrence is played by renowned South African actor-director Albert Maritz.
The elephants used in the commercial were with the full support of the Lawrence Anthony Earth Organization, an independent, non-profit group founded by Anthony in 2003. You can download from the videos from www.coronation.com/trustisearned .
Those who have been interviewed include Coronation CIO, Karl Leinberger, Lawrence’s wife, Françoise, and David Bozas, the game ranger who featured so prominently in the book THE ELEPHANT WHISPERER.
Coronation Television Commercial
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/Coronation-Television-Commercial.mp4
David Bozas Interview
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/David-Bozas-Interview.mp4
Françoise Malby-Anthony Interview 1
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/Francoise-Malby-Anthony-Interview-1.mp4
Françoise Malby-Anthony Interview 2
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/Francoise-Malby-Anthony-Interview-2.mp4
The Life of Elephants
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/TheLifeOfElephants.mp4
Please support us so that we can continue to bring you more Dharma:
If you are in the United States, please note that your offerings and contributions are tax deductible. ~ the tsemrinpoche.com blog team
Lawrence Anthony was an international conservationist, environmentalist, explorer and bestselling author. He was the long-standing head of conservation at the Thula Thula game reserve in Zululand, South Africa. He was one compassionate man who has devoted his life to conserve saving trapped rhinos, and elephants . He was known as “The Elephant Whisperer”, and made world headlines when he rescued animals in war-torn Baghdad at Saddam Hussein’s zoo. A very touching article about him with his work and his elephants which I do enjoyed reading. I did google more information about him and his books. Amazing after his death, a group of wild elephants Anthony helped to rescue and rehabilitate travelled to his house as if they knew of his passing. A wonderful acknowledgement of broken-hearted elephants mourning the loss of their human friend that is incredible. It show clearly that they too have feelings of grieving and mourning other than pain and suffering. Animals are aware of what is happening in their worlds.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this beautiful article.
This is incredible touching story! Animals have feelings like us and sadly it goes unnoticed to us. We are ignorant towards their feelings and welfare. Whereas on the other hand they are extremely sensitive towards how human feels and reacts. We should be ashamed of that. Learn to understand and love animals as they are. Animals help us to be a better human being. Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this wonderful story!
动物的灵性，感觉远远比我们人类来的敏锐。以前人类打猎是为了糊口和生活，现在已没有这需要了。常常看见被杀动物的无奈，就是这原因导致动物对人类的仇恨和攻击人类。请问何时能回归原有的真诚。。
this is not easy to gain animal’s trust, but Lawrence have show his true love towards the elephant and they felt it. this is really an amazing love and compassion!
This is so amazing. There is so much unconditional love at play here. So much compassion. Lawrence Anthony deserves a life of well being in his future life and I respect him so much. Elephants are indeed gentle giants and they deserve the love that Lawrence can give.
It is amazing to read through this story. Many things that we thought to be impossible are possible. I am touched by the pure dedication of Anthony.
Really, many things in our world defies explaination. Nobody can explain how two herds of wild South African elephants came to know about the death of Anthony. The picture of these elephants marching to Anthony’s house is very heart warming.
Such great merits that Anthony has created for saving the lives of so many of these wild elephants that were considered to be delinquent. I guess one of the many lessons that we can pick from this story is that many things are possible if we dedicate ourselves fully towards it.
我们总以为人类是万物之灵，看了这则故事，我们这才了解到，有许多关于动物的知识我们是缺乏的，或比我们想象的复杂，大象预知有恩于它们的安东尼的死亡，然后成群结队来奔丧，就是其中一个例子。
人类的傲慢是其中一个导致人类滥杀、恶待地球上其他动物或其他众生的原因。视其他生物跟自己平等，才是善待他们的开始。
This is amazing. Now I know the meaning of the phrase ‘memory of an elephant’. Animals show more humanistic traits than human does at times. All the more reason not to consume meat.. If we are touched by stories like this,why should we continue consuming meat? Not only do we spare the animals’ live when we go vegetarian, we adopt a healthier lifestyle too!
Om Mani Padme Hum, Lawrence Anthony. May you have a good and swift rebirth. And also may you return again as human to continue the good work. =)
I love stories like this.. thank you for sharing, Rinpoche!
wow, people like this inspire me to be more nice to animals, i am a vegetarian too. i love animals and i am in a group called ABC which the whole purpose is to save animals and to help them. I hope Mr. Anthony has a good rebirth and i hope he helps animals in his next life too.
Very beautiful animals and inspiring story of Lawrence Anthony. Mr Lawrence intuitively trust his heart to take care of the elephants, and believing he can do it, like communicate with them, beyond to be proven, he did it, he gained the animal trust and respect. He inspired many of us to be like him, trust our inner instinct and we can do it eventually.
This picture is so calming my mind–>
“The Great Escape: David jumping in a chopper for the long search.”
This is another beautiful story of loving kindness, compassion and gratitude between human beings and animals. When you save the lives of the animals they can’t say thank you to you but they will show their gratitude towards you in actions like wanting to be near you, keep you company or even play with you just like what i have read recently about a man who saved and nursed an injured crocodile back to health and they are like buddies now inseparable. As for Lawrence Anthony, the elephant whisperer,when he passed away all the elephants he saved walked 12 hours to his house and stayed there for two days as mark of respect and left.Very touching.
This is a beautiful and amazing story of compassion and gratitude. African elephants are known to be the largest land animals on Earth and have good memory. There is a saying that “An elephant never forgets”.
Lawrence Anthony is such a great man, spending his life protecting
and saving those elephants and not expecting anything in return. It is incredible that these elephants have the ability to sense the death of Lawrence due to the bond they had and walked 12 hours to repay their last respect.!
Amazing , this is first time know that elephant can sense the death of Anthony and spent 12 hours walk to Anthony’s house for say goodbye . Anthony show his kindness ,care & love to animals , this is very good example that we need to copy , don’t harm anyone and world will peaceful .
Thank you for sharing this touching story. It powerfully reinforces every teaching Rinpoche gives about why we should be kind to animals. It’s amazing that the elephants managed to know that their friend had passed on – they are much more intuitive than any human being! And to walk 12 hours to pay their last respects is incredible and inexplicable. Their gratitude to Lawrence Anthony and the fact that they even could understand what Lawrence wanted to do – to help them – without exchanging a single word – is also inexplicable. I think animals have far greater empathy and understanding than we give them credit for.
Reading this makes me feel and realised that I have not done much in my life for others.
Lawrence Anthony is a true hero and an example to emulate. The fact that even after his death, the elephants still went to look for him showed how much of a bond there is between Lawrence and the elephants. This tells us that when we truly care for others, we will receive the same in return without even expecting it.
This is an amazing story. Beyond boundaries!!! There is no limit in relationship, we are all inter-connected in this very world. Once we being true and compassion towards others, be it human or not i believed it works for all sentient beings. Mr. Lawrence had spent most of his life time saving those rogue elephants to be killed and achieved something remarkable which i think a lot of people were probably just too busy in their lives by raising and caring only their families. Most of these remarkable person will have to endure a lot of hardship in order to do remarkable things to leave an impact on us to contemplate and think to ourselves what did we actually done in our life. Perhaps all these remarkable persons see something which most of us don’t or choose to be comfortable.
It is difficult to explain (from a human perspective) how the elephants can sense a lost of their friend. It is almost as if there are some divine power to inform the elephants about Lawrence’s passing.
It is sad to see that there are many people still don’t care for fellow human beings. Yet, people like Lawrence has already seen past the barrier between human and animals where he treats human and animals as equal living beings and all deserve a better life. Such is the inspiration of Lawrence Antony.
I wish Lawrence can have a good and swift rebirth and continue his good work to benefit even more beings.
On a separate note, please do not go to circus which involves animals, especially elephants. Elephants are tortured and tremendous suffering has been endured by the animals just for the 10 minutes of “show time”. Please read this article: http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/animals-vegetarianism/if-you-enjoy-circuses-must-see-this.html
WOW, this is so cool. I have heard of dogs whisperer but i have never ever heard of an elephant whisperer. Its so cool and amazingly nice how he saved a whole herd of elephants! I dont think anyone in the world has ever done that before. And thats special.
Another thing that really stuck out to me was that when he had died, the elephants had taken a 12hour long journey to hit home and stayed for 2 hours. That is special, i really am starting to wonder how that happened. Did he really talk to the elephants? Amazing. I love this story, this is because it shows the amount of kindness this man has given to these elephants. He has taken care of a whole herd of elephants, that must be really really hard to do. Bless him, for doing such an amazing thing as that.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Reading the post and watching the videos, I could feel a real connection between Lawrence and the elephants and from the looks of it, there was even a relationship between Lawrence and some of the elephants, especially Nana. Not a relationship as in a man and his pet, but between two sentient beings who appreciated and respected one another.
Animals are thought of as being wild and dangerous and perhaps they are. But what is it amazing is that even wild animals have a consciousness that over-rides their animals instincts to be wild. Nana the matriarch did not have a good experience with man who killed half her herd and yet she could tell the difference between a man who wants to harm her and a man who wants to save her. How can she tell if she did not posses a certain awareness of what is good and what is bad and have the ability to discern between the two.
And also the elephants’ ability to sense that Lawrence had passed away is also amazing. On that, they have a more acute sense then man. And for them to know when it is time to mourn to me says that they too have some concept of death, and if they have a concept of death then it follows that they also have a concept of life, and joy and fear and sadness.
That’s true… it truly is amazing how the elephants can sense that Lawrence has passed away and it is very touching to see the elephants mourn for Lawrence’s death just as how they would do for their own kind. Elephants are known to mourn for their own kind for days at a single time before moving along. I suppose kindness and compassion transcends the differences we have from each other.
This is a very touching story of a selfless man whose compassion for animals knows no boundaries. Lawrence Anthony lived his life fully caring for other beings with no expectation of return or glory. Elephants especially African elephant although the largest in size in the land animal kingdom are vegetarians. Hence, they do not harm mankind unless they sense that their survival is being threatened.
Elephants can feel too even though they cant speak. They can feel our positive or negative energy when we speak to them or handle them. As they could sense Lawrence’s death even though they were miles away. this shows the close bond Lawrence had developed with them due to his compassion and hard work caring for them. Lawrence deserves all the respect for his dedication to saving animals.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing all these touching stories with us. Many like me would never have known of such happenings if not for the articles that Rinpoche posted. Another good example is the one of how the elephants were “trained” to perform in the circus. Very very sad cases how animals of all kinds are being treated in the pursuit for profits, research, competitions, etc.
This is a very amazing and inspiring article. Before his death, Anthony has given a lot of care and love to the elephants, he loved the elephants very much. The most wonderful thing would be the fact that the elephants travelled 12 hours just to say goodbye to Anthony. It shows that the elephants are grateful. So sad to learn that Anthony has died, may he takes a good rebirth.
Thank You for sharing Rinpoche.
Love, beatrix.
Wow! I am really amazed by the unexpected compassion of this man for a bunch of runaway elephants and his intentions are solely to keep these renegade elephants safe and sound. While I was reading, I couldn’t help not dropping a tear or two especially on the parts that reveal how much care and concern that Lawrence had invested on these elephants.
This sort of compassion for animals is rare and especially when he literally does not expect anything in return from these great animals. I loved reading and I must admit I am really touched by his care and as a running testament is how the elephants could perceive his passing and actually mourned for his passing is beyond me. I enjoyed this blog post. Thank you rinpoche. It was inspirational and uplifting to hear of a selfless person.
This is so beautiful and so telling of the profound intuition, unfettered compassion and empathy that animals have for others. Actually, all it takes is a little love. That story about Lawrence standing in the dark appealing to Nana is reminiscient of a similar story of the Buddha taming a wild elephant, where he just held up his hand and, feeling the compassion of this great being, the elephant laid down in calm submission. Also, this story, about a frightened, terrified little rescued dog who calmed down instantly when she was given a hug and felt love from her rescuer. http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/animals-vegetarianism/all-she-needed-was-a-hug.html
It’s really that simple – we just need to love.
And wonderfully, animals are sensitive to this love and goodness, far more than humans. Shaming really, since we pride ourselves on being “superior”, “more intelligent”, “having a stronger ability to reason” – but we create so much damage and harm to each other and to other beings on the planet. What is superior, intelligent or reasonable about that?!
We have much to learn from and respect in the animal kingdom who show us the most basic teachings of compassion, generosity, gratitude and inter-connectivity. Lawrence identified this and truly understanding the majesty of other animals on this same planet we share as home, he lived it throughout his life. The world needs more Lawrence. And also, more elephants.
A lovely moving story of great love and compassion. It is rare to find a person who can connect so well and so sensitively with animals- in this case, elephants – and sense their needs and their suffering. Lawrence Anthony braved all, and risked his own life,to spend his days and nights with the rogue elephants in order to gain their trust and love. In the end, he did win them over. they stayed on. He was thus able to save a whole herd of them from being killed by poachers.
He nurtured them and rehabilitated them. They saw him as a father. When he died, their bond of love was so great that they could sense it and two herds of elephant made a 12 hour journey to be with him for the last time.
If only everyone of us could tear down the barriers that we have created between ‘ourselves’ and ‘others’, and recognize instead the “wondrous interconnectedness of all beings”, how wonderful would be the bond of love and care among one and all.
What a beautiful story of gratitude and kindness that can be felt even for the wildest biggest creature on our planet. This goes to show that animals have feelings too and we should respect all living beings.
They say that elephants are well known to have great memory and they will remember everything… so can you imagine they can remember the pain and suffering you caused them like some who is captured and tortured to be train for circus acts http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/animals-vegetarianism/if-you-enjoy-circuses-must-see-this.html
We are put here on this planet not to harm one another, but to co-exist, no one owns this planet earth, so we as humans should being the so called most intelligent species should be the protectors of others. Otherwise what makes us different from the rest?
I saw this quote recently and I really think it is apt here… People were created to be loved, things were created to be used, the reason the world is in chaos is because things are being loved and people are being used. http://sphotos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/377728_10151506278455477_2056087842_n.jpg
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing such an amazing story of the elephants and Lawrence Anthony.
This a story that truly depicts compassion, love and gratitude between man and animal. I teared when i read this sentence :’A man’s heart stops and hundreds of elephants’ hearts are grieving.’
In some countries , elephants are venerated and respected. In India, the Hindu god of wisdom and success Ganesha, is usually depicted with an elephant’s head. Elephants are also symbols of ancient power, strength and royalty. I have just read up that elephants do show an interest in the dead and the dying, even going so far as to display sorrow .
Such a magnificent and majestic animal, yet man subjects them to awful , horrible treatment in ‘training ‘ them for circuses and elephant shows – all for man’s entertainment, killing them for the ivory – for man’s greed.
All animals have feelings and emotions – everyone of them !!! It saddens me tremendously how cruel man is to them.
I have the deepest respect for people like Lawrence Anthony who lived his life in saving the animals, especially the elephants , who displayed so much compassion and courage in ensuring the safety and welfare of such wonderful and beautiful mammals.
Anthony must be an amazing person. To be able to show kindness to a wild animal that is known to be able to cause harm, and have such a big heart to accept this ‘problematic’ herd in fear they will be put down due to the trouble they made… Such kindness especially for wild animals, is so rare.
His story reminds me of another post that Rinpoche wrote many months back, where a Lion shows his great appreciation for his rescuer: http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/animals-vegetarianism/amazing-lion-shows-gratitude.html
It is amazing to see how wild animals can show their gratitude towards people that have saved their lives… Just like how the Elephants traveled so far to say their last goodbye to Anthony, the lion hugged his rescuer to show his affection.
Such wonderful news to spread and make people aware that animals truly have feelings… so please… do not support any form of wildlife hunting.
This is a very touching story. It proves to me that if we are truly kind and compassionate towards any beings, they will feel it.
If someone really have true compassion, it is beyond words. We don’t have to tell or being told about someone’s compassion. Just like we don’t have to specifically mention about Buddha’s compassion.
Animals definitely have souls, although they cannot express themselves using human language, doesn’t mean that they can’t feel or express their feeling through their own way. So many stories have proven that.
Another amazing thing is the ability of these elephants to sense the death of Lawrence from so far away. I guess this is the natural instinct of any living beings. This is the quality we originally have, but we have lost it after centuries of civilization process.
Learning and practicing Dharma will help us to remove layers and layers of these comtaminated “education” and help us to rediscover the true us inside which is one with the universe.
Elephants are one of the most gentle animals on earth. I heard they have incredible memories and do mourned over when one of them has passed away. This is a very beautiful news of how a person tremendous effort and perseverance on caring can make so much a difference not only to the elephants but to the people around him. People will always remember him of his action what he has done for everyone because Lawrence live for others not just for himself.
After finished read through this post, I only can think off through love without agenda, full and pure compassion, care and passionate that even animals also can sense it and feel it. The story of the founder of Earth Organization, Lawrence Anthony; also has been called as The Elephant Whisperer set a very good example to show his love and care towards animals.
What make me respect him so much is he never up and even elephants also can sense his compassion and care. The real story give a awaken message to who treated animals cruelty:”Don’t treat the animals so badly because they can sense and feel it.”
Now, Lawrence Anthony had passed away, however his contribution will not be forgotten. Let’s pay a respect to our real hero. And don’t treat you pet or other animals cruet and badly.Please take more care to them, they are our friends.