Strange But Wise! An Elephants's Wisdom To A Young Elephant About Kruger National Park's Elephant's Culture

Death-defying motherly love. After undoubtedly having escaped a watery grave, this love was one of the qualities Mayafudi admired most in his mother. She was a “deep” elephant. This he realised more and more as he grew older. The wisdom and values which he learnt at “mother’s knee”, Mayafudi drank in as from a fountain.

Ukuthula’s philosophy was one of “live and let live”. To her, the moral right elephants had to the loads of food which they consumed daily – anything from 150 to 300 kilograms in 24 hours – was not negotiable. She did, however, not sanction wanton destruction.

Every tree which was felled meant a dent in the habitat of the food supply of a variety of mammalian leaf-eaters, birds and reptiles, she warned. If any elephant in her herd purposely and boastfully uprooted a healthy tree, he or she could expect a severe reprimand from the matriarch.

In the same way they had to respect other animals, even at a waterhole, where elephants were notoriously short-tempered in respect of intruders. An elephant had no right to use his large body to intimidate others, was one other golden rule. Rather help others in need.

Ukuthula set a good example one day when her herd happened upon a baby rhino who was sinking deeper and deeper into the mud at a waterhole. She stuck her tusks underneath the little body and like a fork-lift raised the grateful little fellow until he could help himself. He was a picture of gratitude as he trotted away to join his mother who had anxiously watched the entire rescue operation from behind a thick bush.

Ukuthula initiated young elephants in the unique characteristics of elephant culture

She taught them discipline, respect towards elders, responsibility, loyalty and compassion. She also taught them to be satisfied with the bare minimum, to accept circumstances for what they were, and to make do with the basics.

She emphasized that an elephant was not a common lout. No, elephants were the aristocracy of the wild, and elephant families were of the closest in the animal kingdom. A herd did not consist of a random collection of strangers. Members of the same herd formed a social group of individuals who were friendly to one another and who bore the loads of their fellow members. If one had a painful leg, or when a mother carried a deceased baby, the entire herd slowed down to help share the burden.

When a friendly group crossed their path, it was a joyful occasion. “Show emotion, greet one another heartily, flap your ears with joy, rub tusks, intertwine trunks, rub bodies – ensure that everyone knows you are happy,” she said. If it was a strange herd, there should be no sign of enmity. They were not intruders or competitors. “Put the best foot forward, show your happiness. Make the strangers feel welcome. Do you hear me, Mayafudi? Do you understand, Nkosikasi?” Marvellous Spirit Of Youth And Wilful Mood Initiated By Mayafudi The Elephant To Kruger National Park Tourists.

She taught them the secrets of elephant communication: always to walk with head held high, ears pointed to catch messages floating from afar on the wings of the wind. Messages of exceptionally high and low frequency, which humans could not hear, but which could be critically important for survival when the culling season began or when poachers became active – a subsonic long-distance-web or peculiar “www.elephant.net”.

Ukuthula stressed the importance of good veld craft. It embraced everything an elephant had to know of food, routes to waterholes, other animals, birds and medication from nature’s own medicine chest. The milky juice of the bushfig was one of nature’s best measures against burns. The sap of the leaves of the russet bushwillow provides excellent eye drops. Fresh mud itself was not to be sneezed at – it was a healing balm of note. She taught them how to manage with less water in times of drought and in arid areas. How to dig “gorras” (deep waterholes) in a hard mud crust.

All humans were not poachers or trophy-hunters.

Perhaps the most valuable lesson she taught them concerned humans. All humans were not poachers or trophy-hunters. She made the babies of her herd understand that the majority of humans were lovers and protectors of nature. Game rangers were their comrades who fought front-line battles against poachers and their snares. They erected windmills. They nursed sick and wounded animals to the best of their ability. If it were not for their dedication, it would have been difficult for many animals to survive.

And what about the tourists with their smart khaki clothes and expensive cameras? Without their money, the Kruger Park would have to close its gates. This would mean a huge loss to all – man and beast. In this way Ukuthula taught them ecology – and economy too.

For this reason she encouraged Mayafudi to be tourist-friendly, contrary to his unfriendly grandfather who avoided tourists, and was only seen by wardens, rangers and park officials.  Who Would Dare Challenge An Elephant? Who Would remain Defiant When An Elephant Charged?

“Be visible. Frequent the rest camps. Remain close to roads and waterholes. Above all, don’t terrorise people. Be considerate. Be patient when they want to have a good lock at you or if they want photographs.”

“Yes, Mom. Alright, Mom.” Mayafudi really tried to live by his mother’s rules as a criterion.

Find interesting information about mayafudi in the Kruger park