March 2021
I am not from Texas originally, and one thing I love about this state is how many quintessentially ‘Texas’ things there are to do. I’ve been in the state five and a half years, and I’ve gone two-stepping, watched mutton bustin’ at the Houston Rodeo, yelled at Aggie Football games, eaten fried food at the Texas State Fair under the shadow of Big Tex, swum at Barton Springs and camped under the big bright stars in the heart of Texas. And that’s only a sampling. I thought that I had really done it all, but, of course, in a state this big, there’s always something new.
My roommate, who only moved here from Pennsylvania in August, compiled a list of all the Texas things she wanted to do. She actually did a bit of research, as opposed to my ‘seat of my pants’ approach, and it led us to an incredible experience! When I think of Texas animals, I think of horses, longhorns, armadillos and maybe a rattle snake here or there, but I want to make you aware that there are elephants among us!
Okay, so the elephants actually live in a sanctuary right this side of wine country, tucked away in the Preserve, surrounded by cattle and horses and wineries. My roommate LOVES elephants, and we were both delighted when she received tickets to the Preserve for Christmas. We had been looking forward to our visit for weeks, and luckily the snow and ice had melted, giving way to reasonably warm temperatures for March in Texas. The day finally came, so we hopped in the car and drove about three hours, past Austin, to the Preserve.
We made it just in time to see four Asian elephants strolling towards the pavilion in a single file line, trunks delicately holding tails like kindergarteners holding a jump-rope to stay in line. I fell in love instantly. They progressed to take their place in front of the small crowd, and the caretakers directed our attention to how few footprints were left behind. Despite their large mass, the elephants are graceful and careful, placing their back feet in the prints left by their front feet. The prints are bigger than a dinner plate.
They stood quietly in front of the group as the caretakers introduced them: Kitty, Tai, Becky and Rosy. Each one stepped forward or raised her trunk when introduced. Some of them swayed back and forth or picked leaves off the ground while the caretakers taught us how they are cared for. Becky was very vocal and tooted and trumpeted softly throughout the day; she seemed so happy to meet us and interact with us.
I’ve seen elephants in pictures and videos and even at the zoo, but after seeing them up close I was in awe of their immense size and the patient intelligence that was evident in them. As a human, I know it’s in my nature to anthropomorphize basically anything and everything I come in contact with, but the way these elephants watched us and interacted with the caretakers just made me wonder what was going on in their huge, double-domed heads. The elephants were all pushing 50, or already there, and I have no doubt they have substantial experience, be it from a zoo, circus or the preserve itself.
The caretakers explained how elephant preserves and sanctuaries can be havens for elephants rescued from carnivals and circuses, or how zoos will utilize them to make sure their own herd is genetically diverse when it comes time to breed. Many of the elephants onsite have been together and in the preserve for close to twenty years, and I enjoyed hearing the caretakers explain their relationship dynamics. One acts as a matriarch, and two others have the closest friendship, and another was more aloof until she felt the others needed her—then she was never too far to lend a helping trunk. It made me wish I could work with them and get to know them.
Luckily, part of the experience was helping bathe Becky. The caretakers explained how these elephants have to participate in their own care, since they are so enormous. Imagine giving a bath to an 8,000 lb baby! It would be difficult to say the least. Becky continued to be vocal as she was sprayed with a water hose. She lifted her legs and bowed her head to get sprayed on her neck and kept trying to grab a sip whenever the spray was near her face. She turned and twisted, not unlike a toddler playing in a sprinkler, and was trumpeting all the time. Soon she was instructed to lay down, and she carefully heaved her 8,300 lb body down to the ground to lay on her side. This is where the true fun began.
Anticipation was high as everyone in our small group lined up and listened to more elephant facts, and asked questions, as one by one we all got to grab a soapy brush and give her a scrub. We stayed at her back and the top of her head. Whatever I expected an elephant to feel like wasn’t quite right. I think I expected thick, wrinkly leather, but what I found instead was bumpy and rough, with long, course hairs tickling my hand. I was in reverent awe of the great life under my fingertips. Sure, we scrubbed her back and tickled behind her ears, but feeling her skin and the wise, ancient life seeping through it was almost overwhelming. She enjoyed our scrubbing and company so much that she passed a substantial amount of gas while we were with her. What an experience!
After that, we got to meet Tai, who patiently posed for photos while we hugged her trunk. She is the tallest of the elephants on the preserve, and the pigmentation on her face and trunk looks a lot like freckles. I looked into the eye of an elephant and fell in love. I immediately wished I could see how we looked in her eyes and wanted to know what she thought about us. I hope she enjoyed taking photos with us and having her face rubbed and touched by strangers, because it was an incredible experience. When I was standing with her, she began to make a sound called subvocalization, which to me sounded like a deep and rumbling purr. I am not fluent in elephant, but I want to assume she was deeply content and happy to be loved by strangers. I felt honored to be in her presence.
My favorite part about this experience was watching the elephant while her caretakers were talking about footcare. We were on gravel, underneath a live oak tree. The elephant would take a deep breath and breathe out through her trunk, blowing at the ground. When she saw a leaf moved by the exhale, she used her large trunk to delicately select just the leaf off of the ground and then eat it. It was so entertaining to me, and just a gesture to pass the time for her. We also got to touch the bottom of her foot, which reminded me of a gymnastics mat. It had a stiffer surface called the callus pad, but underneath it was flexible and gave quite a bit. It makes sense that an elephant foot wouldn’t actually feel like a solid stump, but that was still what I was expecting. I should have known that an animal so big would need more cushioning than that! I could go on with other details and minutia about the day, but you’ll have to go to the Preserve yourself to get the full experience.
Although elephants require around the clock attention, I understand why so many people are willing to devote their lives to these magnificent creatures. They felt old in way that’s not due to their age, but almost “pre-human,” the way I imagine a dinosaur to feel, or a mythical creature. It made me wish for a world less touched by humans, where they could exist without risk of poaching or habitat destruction. Interacting with elephants has deepened my already deep affection for the natural world, and makes it seem that much more important to protect it from ourselves.
If you can go to the Preserve, I suggest it! You can find more information here.
If you want to enjoy learning more about elephants and their daily habits from the comfort of your own home, there’s an elephant sanctuary in Tennessee that provides videos and updates of its guests quite frequently, and you can follow them on Twitter @theelephantsanctuary.
Kalen Johnson is a doctoral student in the Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacy.
My roommate, who only moved here from Pennsylvania in August, compiled a list of all the Texas things she wanted to do. She actually did a bit of research, as opposed to my ‘seat of my pants’ approach, and it led us to an incredible experience! When I think of Texas animals, I think of horses, longhorns, armadillos and maybe a rattle snake here or there, but I want to make you aware that there are elephants among us!
Okay, so the elephants actually live in a sanctuary right this side of wine country, tucked away in the Preserve, surrounded by cattle and horses and wineries. My roommate LOVES elephants, and we were both delighted when she received tickets to the Preserve for Christmas. We had been looking forward to our visit for weeks, and luckily the snow and ice had melted, giving way to reasonably warm temperatures for March in Texas. The day finally came, so we hopped in the car and drove about three hours, past Austin, to the Preserve.
We made it just in time to see four Asian elephants strolling towards the pavilion in a single file line, trunks delicately holding tails like kindergarteners holding a jump-rope to stay in line. I fell in love instantly. They progressed to take their place in front of the small crowd, and the caretakers directed our attention to how few footprints were left behind. Despite their large mass, the elephants are graceful and careful, placing their back feet in the prints left by their front feet. The prints are bigger than a dinner plate.
They stood quietly in front of the group as the caretakers introduced them: Kitty, Tai, Becky and Rosy. Each one stepped forward or raised her trunk when introduced. Some of them swayed back and forth or picked leaves off the ground while the caretakers taught us how they are cared for. Becky was very vocal and tooted and trumpeted softly throughout the day; she seemed so happy to meet us and interact with us.
I’ve seen elephants in pictures and videos and even at the zoo, but after seeing them up close I was in awe of their immense size and the patient intelligence that was evident in them. As a human, I know it’s in my nature to anthropomorphize basically anything and everything I come in contact with, but the way these elephants watched us and interacted with the caretakers just made me wonder what was going on in their huge, double-domed heads. The elephants were all pushing 50, or already there, and I have no doubt they have substantial experience, be it from a zoo, circus or the preserve itself.
The caretakers explained how elephant preserves and sanctuaries can be havens for elephants rescued from carnivals and circuses, or how zoos will utilize them to make sure their own herd is genetically diverse when it comes time to breed. Many of the elephants onsite have been together and in the preserve for close to twenty years, and I enjoyed hearing the caretakers explain their relationship dynamics. One acts as a matriarch, and two others have the closest friendship, and another was more aloof until she felt the others needed her—then she was never too far to lend a helping trunk. It made me wish I could work with them and get to know them.
Luckily, part of the experience was helping bathe Becky. The caretakers explained how these elephants have to participate in their own care, since they are so enormous. Imagine giving a bath to an 8,000 lb baby! It would be difficult to say the least. Becky continued to be vocal as she was sprayed with a water hose. She lifted her legs and bowed her head to get sprayed on her neck and kept trying to grab a sip whenever the spray was near her face. She turned and twisted, not unlike a toddler playing in a sprinkler, and was trumpeting all the time. Soon she was instructed to lay down, and she carefully heaved her 8,300 lb body down to the ground to lay on her side. This is where the true fun began.
Anticipation was high as everyone in our small group lined up and listened to more elephant facts, and asked questions, as one by one we all got to grab a soapy brush and give her a scrub. We stayed at her back and the top of her head. Whatever I expected an elephant to feel like wasn’t quite right. I think I expected thick, wrinkly leather, but what I found instead was bumpy and rough, with long, course hairs tickling my hand. I was in reverent awe of the great life under my fingertips. Sure, we scrubbed her back and tickled behind her ears, but feeling her skin and the wise, ancient life seeping through it was almost overwhelming. She enjoyed our scrubbing and company so much that she passed a substantial amount of gas while we were with her. What an experience!
After that, we got to meet Tai, who patiently posed for photos while we hugged her trunk. She is the tallest of the elephants on the preserve, and the pigmentation on her face and trunk looks a lot like freckles. I looked into the eye of an elephant and fell in love. I immediately wished I could see how we looked in her eyes and wanted to know what she thought about us. I hope she enjoyed taking photos with us and having her face rubbed and touched by strangers, because it was an incredible experience. When I was standing with her, she began to make a sound called subvocalization, which to me sounded like a deep and rumbling purr. I am not fluent in elephant, but I want to assume she was deeply content and happy to be loved by strangers. I felt honored to be in her presence.
My favorite part about this experience was watching the elephant while her caretakers were talking about footcare. We were on gravel, underneath a live oak tree. The elephant would take a deep breath and breathe out through her trunk, blowing at the ground. When she saw a leaf moved by the exhale, she used her large trunk to delicately select just the leaf off of the ground and then eat it. It was so entertaining to me, and just a gesture to pass the time for her. We also got to touch the bottom of her foot, which reminded me of a gymnastics mat. It had a stiffer surface called the callus pad, but underneath it was flexible and gave quite a bit. It makes sense that an elephant foot wouldn’t actually feel like a solid stump, but that was still what I was expecting. I should have known that an animal so big would need more cushioning than that! I could go on with other details and minutia about the day, but you’ll have to go to the Preserve yourself to get the full experience.
Although elephants require around the clock attention, I understand why so many people are willing to devote their lives to these magnificent creatures. They felt old in way that’s not due to their age, but almost “pre-human,” the way I imagine a dinosaur to feel, or a mythical creature. It made me wish for a world less touched by humans, where they could exist without risk of poaching or habitat destruction. Interacting with elephants has deepened my already deep affection for the natural world, and makes it seem that much more important to protect it from ourselves.
If you can go to the Preserve, I suggest it! You can find more information here.
If you want to enjoy learning more about elephants and their daily habits from the comfort of your own home, there’s an elephant sanctuary in Tennessee that provides videos and updates of its guests quite frequently, and you can follow them on Twitter @theelephantsanctuary.
Kalen Johnson is a doctoral student in the Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacy.