Being kind... and gentle

Trudging through the mass pages of muck provided by blogs on the internet you sometimes come across a great one with an entry that is inspiring. I found such a story on the blog Random Asides.

True character is measured by the way we treat creatures more fragile than ourselves. Here, Tarra the Elephant observes a fledgling bird.


With gentle curiosity she creeps closer to learn more about this funny little creature perched on a wire. (Check out more pictures of Tara here and here)

I find this inspiring that a creature as powerful as an elephant is intuitive enough to tread lightly around a little bird. All too often it seems that those bigger than others, whether in social stature or in other ways, overlook everyone below them. I guess you could call it a big head. Wouldn't it be nice if humans could learn from Tara's example? It is a good lesson and one that we all should learn from. As Winnie the Pooh once said, "If people were superior to animals, they'd take better care of the world."

If you like these pictures please visit The Elephant Sanctuary. It's an amazing place where retired elephant performers can live out their lives in peace. No chains, no tricks. They're free to play and socialize in a free-roaming environment which is a stark contrast to the show circuit.