Elephants are the first animal in both the "largest land mammals in the world" category and the "in my heart" category. I'm a lifelong elephant lover. I watched the movie "Dumbo" at least a thousand times as a child and I still get super excited whenever a trip to the zoo or to Disney's Animal Kingdom brings me close to them once more. Here are seven things that I love about elephants!
1. They're adorable.
Their size may make them intimidating, but there's just something about their rumpled skin, big floppy ears, teeny little eyes, and skinny, wiggly trunks that make them appealing!
(Why, yes, those are my elephant plushies. Yes, I dosleep with them. Yes, I am 21 years old. Why do you ask?)
2. They're super social and caring.
An elephant herd is a big family of mothers, aunts, and children (the adult males tend to wander off on their own, but the girls don't seem to mind). The herd travels everywhere together, plays with each other, and each elephant has a role in taking care of the others. If a baby elephant is ever in trouble, the family will come running to help!
3. They're incredibly cuddly.
Not only do elephants love other elephants, but the internet reveals a plethora of elephants who love cuddling up to their human friends.
4. They remember their friends.
Elephants build life-long relationships just like humans do. In some cases, elephants who have been separated for years by humans or natural disasters will recognize each other upon their heartwarming reunion.
Elephants are also known to mourn for their dead. It's a sad thought, yes, but their ability to attach emotions to relationships adds to their wonderfulness.
5. They're afraid of bees.
It may look like they have tough skin, but it's actually very sensitive. The sound of a bee buzzing is enough to make an elephant turn tail and flee, fearing a sting. This is something that I have in common with elephants.
Once researchers figured this out, they started encouraging farmers to put beehives around their crops to peacefully deter elephants from coming through and eating their livelihood.
6. Their babies are just as playful and clumsy as our babies.
It's very easy to see ourselves in elephants. Is anybody up for a dip in the pool?
7. You can ride on them.
This, of course, makes elephants at least as cool as horses. I can't condone riding elephants into war (they might get hurt, after all), but I can definitely see what Hannibal found appealing about taking an army of them over the mountains to strike awe and terror into his enemies!
Yes, that is me at the front of the elephant. As I said before, I've loved them for my whole life!
