Powerful Pachyderms Need Our Protection

The Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary, two hours north of Kuala Lumpur, has helped save over 500 orphaned and injured elephants since 1989. Together, with 50 other travelers, we bathed, fed and rode several domesticated gentle giants. It was a mythical connection for all -- man and mammal cohabitating with the understanding that we need to help preserve this powerful pachyderm as much as possible. The sanctuary is free to the public but encourages donations large and small.

I opted out of the elephant plunge but took a dry run around the park on the back of one bordering on 70 years old. A few minutes earlier we fed them slabs of watermelon and bananas. They thrive on the guts of baobab trees (thousands of years old) and can brilliantly crush and peel away the bark as easy as a toothpick.

One of the baby elephants lost his front left foot in giant man-made trap while roaming free in the jungle. Fortunately, he was rescued and rehabilitated by the sanctuary. I tickled his tough trunk and he blew sweet nothings in my ear.

I'm in love.

Elephants are extremely social animals and highly intelligent. Studies have proved that they recognize their image as their own when looking into a mirror. Self awareness is considered the basis for empathy, altruism and higher social interactions. The only other animals/primates that can demonstrate that level of intelligence are the ape and dolphin.