Breaking radio silence for a quick zombie elephant update!

[blamebrampton]

Mr Shuffles, Sydney's favourite zombie baby elephant (see previous post), continued his career of attempting to Freak Everyone Out today by deciding to fall into deep water. Mum and aunties and zookeepers all intervened very neatly. I defy anyone to watch that video and not be as charmed by elephants as I am. And yes, I know they are wild animals and have come across a number out in the wild when Dad and I did our overland through East Africa trip. But even big bloody African ones are fascinating, and the sort of animal you hope to negotiate shared space with, and ideally can.

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_inbetween_/]

Of course you've been to meet wild Elephants! They're fab. Where the squeaks, snortling and bird noises I could hear under the oooohnoooo-chorus from little zombie?!

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

The highest ones were Zombie, there were a few slightly less high ones from the other calf, too, as he joined in with the chorus of 'Baby! Be careful!' that all the cows were making.

As to meeting elephants, my Dad used to take me on surprise trips, which usually weren't to lovely French country villages, oh no, rather to places like South Africa, which he managed to get us thrown out of, and then up much of the east coast of the continent by Range Rover. Many brilliant experiences, also three near-death incidents, innumerable insect bites, a brief moment when I looked like becoming a lion snack and wretched knowledge of biology thanks to his version of home schooling.

However, one of the best things we ever did was go to an elephant orphanage. Very little is more hilarious than having your pockets raided for food by a trunk!

[http://users.livejournal.com/_inbetween_/]

Aw, yes, I saw the other calf "look worried". Wasn't sure if some visitors had dogs and there were birds next door but assumed it could be the little trunk bearers.

Hahahah, well, he was *your* father, what do you expect. *reverses elegantly while sighing wistfully* So what did he do to get thrown out???

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

One of Zombie's noises is clearly 'MUM! HELP!' which is when I held my breath, but then he seems to be as annoyed by the fussing as by the experience, bless.

And you make a good point ;-) He failed to follow the laws with regards to visiting townships, on several occasions. Since we were there on visas, we were sent packing, but very politely. Strange time and place ...