on being an elephant
murdoch mackenzie
Recently I was asked the following question:
If you were an animal… what type of animal would you be, and why?
Well that is a good question. All animals have admirable qualities of one kind or another from the diligence of the ant to the healing and wisdom of the serpent, the faithfulness of the dog, the activism of the monkey and the passivism of the cat, the strength of the lion or the ox, the intelligence of the whale, the amazing migration journeying of the birds and the speed of the cheetah. All of these are wonderful but if I have to choose one I think it would be the elephant.
In some ways elephants connect us to the mammoths which used to roam the earth, so as with many other animals, there is a connection with the depths of time. They say the elephant never forgets and their intelligence is profound. Their ability to travel vast distances, to remember previous sources of water and ways of wandering are amazing. Their gregariousness, herding together as one, and their gentleness towards their young and towards people are remarkable. They are also herbivores/vegetarians and so do not kill other animals for food. Occasionally bull elephants will attack human settlements especially if they have been harassed in any way. They are matriarchal rather than patriarchal and communicate by touch, sight and sound. If undisturbed by the greed of poachers wanting to steal the ivory of their tusks they live for many years. They show empathy and indeed sadness for other elephants who are dying or dead and can be seen turning over the bones of their relatives with their trunks. They are amenable to living with human beings in all kinds of situations whether it be in a circus, in a forest, in a war, in a zoo or simply roaming the plains of Africa or the forests of Asia with mahouts for companions. Having lived in India we have seen many elephants on the streets and in the Tekkadi game reserve.
So why have I chosen an elephant? The main reason is that such a huge animal can display such gentleness and fondness, such wisdom and empathy, and that if I actually became an elephant that would give a slight boost to this wonderful species which is fast disappearing. Finally the first film I ever saw as a small boy was in the Hillhead cinema in Byres Road in Glasgow and it was called ‘Dumbo’.
Murdoch MacKenzie
If you were an animal… what type of animal would you be, and why?
Well that is a good question. All animals have admirable qualities of one kind or another from the diligence of the ant to the healing and wisdom of the serpent, the faithfulness of the dog, the activism of the monkey and the passivism of the cat, the strength of the lion or the ox, the intelligence of the whale, the amazing migration journeying of the birds and the speed of the cheetah. All of these are wonderful but if I have to choose one I think it would be the elephant.
In some ways elephants connect us to the mammoths which used to roam the earth, so as with many other animals, there is a connection with the depths of time. They say the elephant never forgets and their intelligence is profound. Their ability to travel vast distances, to remember previous sources of water and ways of wandering are amazing. Their gregariousness, herding together as one, and their gentleness towards their young and towards people are remarkable. They are also herbivores/vegetarians and so do not kill other animals for food. Occasionally bull elephants will attack human settlements especially if they have been harassed in any way. They are matriarchal rather than patriarchal and communicate by touch, sight and sound. If undisturbed by the greed of poachers wanting to steal the ivory of their tusks they live for many years. They show empathy and indeed sadness for other elephants who are dying or dead and can be seen turning over the bones of their relatives with their trunks. They are amenable to living with human beings in all kinds of situations whether it be in a circus, in a forest, in a war, in a zoo or simply roaming the plains of Africa or the forests of Asia with mahouts for companions. Having lived in India we have seen many elephants on the streets and in the Tekkadi game reserve.
So why have I chosen an elephant? The main reason is that such a huge animal can display such gentleness and fondness, such wisdom and empathy, and that if I actually became an elephant that would give a slight boost to this wonderful species which is fast disappearing. Finally the first film I ever saw as a small boy was in the Hillhead cinema in Byres Road in Glasgow and it was called ‘Dumbo’.
Murdoch MacKenzie
