I LOVE elephants

This beautiful pachyderm sat on the car.  I think that was a good idea.  I think that the elephant has a crush on the little volkswagen.  Definite attraction in the air!  (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2717919/VERY-heavy-petting-Tourists-stuck-hatchback-elephant-gets-frisky-South-African-safari.html)

I'd LIKE to STAY HERE in South Africa. IN a tree house.

My only real fear is that serpents could someone make there way up into the treehouses.   But for that, can you imagine what it would be like to sit in this rudimentary splendor watching the life the desert pass below you.  Maybe you could pet a giraffe on the head.  Or feed an elephant a banana.  Or rut amongst the rhinos.   Can snakes climb walls or trees or posts?   I would hope these have been snake proofed?

A trio of strikingly beautiful tree houses on the Lion Sands Game Reserve  in the heart of South Africa's safari land, offer brave guests the chance to sleep under the stars, with wild animals lurking below.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-2638829/Treehouse.html#ixzz32mE4zATK
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The 645sqft Kingston is the largest of the three and features a shower, and guests are offered champagne dinners and sunset massages. 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-2638829/Treehouse.html#ixzz32mEOnqye
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The 645sqft Kingston is the largest of the three and features a shower, and guests are offered champagne dinners and sunset massages. 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-2638829/Treehouse.html#ixzz32mEOnqye
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

The 645sqft Kingston is the largest of the three and features a shower, and guests are offered champagne dinners and sunset massages. 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-2638829/Treehouse.html#ixzz32mEOnqye
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

Elephants mourn

This is a heinous photo of a baby elephant who is mourning its dead mother.   Is that a lion in the background?  And a hyena on the right?

This is hideous.   And this incredibly intelligent and loving creature was slaughtered by mankind.  This was not a kill for food (although the way that lion and hyena are looking, they probably may have had "fast food" for the day).

This was a kill to satiate wretched excessively wealthy people who collect ivory.  This photo breaks my heart.  See article link below.    Also visit my other elephant blog postings, by clicking here.  

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2317752/Heart-wrenching-moment-baby-elephant-discovers-mother-died--refuses-leave-side.html

A SWEET baby elephant is SAVED

I LOVE elephants.  This article is the best medicine from my last blog post. It is from DailyMail online.  To read more, click here.

Excerpt from the article:

"A baby elephant who was almost hacked to death by ivory poachers is walking again thanks to an ingenious new boot and lots of TLC.  The 17-month-old calf called Suni was found in Zambia almost a year ago dragging herself along by her front legs, weak and dehydrated, after suffering severe axe wounds."

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2311547/Orphaned-baby-elephant-nearly-hacked-death-left-paralysed-ivory-poachers-walks-thanks-special-boot.html#ixzz2QxfIMbZD
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This gruesome story is happening in the few locations on the planet where elephants still live.  According to DailyMail Online, this and other violence to elephants continues, because:

"Elephant poaching across Africa is now at its highest level for more than 20 years, which campaigners say is due to increased demand for ivory from newly affluent Chinese consumers."

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2311547/Orphaned-baby-elephant-nearly-hacked-death-left-paralysed-ivory-poachers-walks-thanks-special-boot.html#ixzz2QxgDE5kU
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

So basically we are wiping out the entire population of pachyderms that still exists on our planet (approximately 200,000 to 300,000), with great brutality I might add, simply to provide another trophy in the hobby/collection for/of a rich person.   I quote DailyMail article:

'The sale of any ivory - legal or not - is creating demand. No one needs ivory. It is a beautiful substance, but the only ones who need it are elephants'

 Cynthia Moss of the Amboseli Elephant Research Project in Kenya

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2311547/Orphaned-baby-elephant-nearly-hacked-death-left-paralysed-ivory-poachers-walks-thanks-special-boot.html#ixzz2QxkmRZQx
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There are so many organizations that you can support to eliminate the descimation of this noble species by our pathetic, ignoble species.  Please support them in any way you can.

Vets preparing Suni for her operation: Specialist flew in from Norway and the U.S. operate on the orphaned youngster and fit her with the aluminium leg support which has put her back on her feet


• Elephant Orphanage Project     http://www.davidshepherd.org/project/zambia-park-protection-programme-incorporating-the-elephant-orphanage-project/

• Amboseli:  Africa's Elephant Park

http://www.amboseli.com

• Elephant Orphanage Project http://worldwildlife.org/species/elephant

I LOVE Elephants

A protective elephant charges at a pack of hyenas to protect its injured calf

Add caption

These amazing pictures were captured by American photographer Jayesh Mehta, 47, in the Savuti region of the Chobe National Park in Botswana

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2303350/Heart-stopping-moment-protective-elephant-charges-pack-hyenas-protect-injured-calf.html#ixzz2QGgCKQo2 
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A Magnificent species: the ELEPHANT

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2299872/Elephant-Savuti-Game-Reserve-Botswana-charges-photographer-Ben-Cranke.html

The LIONWHISPERER

The man who turns lions into pussycats: The 'Lion Whisperer' takes a risky ride on fearsome animal.

Snuggling up to a fully grown male lion seems foolish enough. To then climb on its back is surely suicide.

But as you can see, Kevin Richardson enjoys doing just that – and insists his actions are perfectly safe.

The animal behaviourist claims he shares such a profound bond with the fearsome beasts that he can even spend the night curled up with them.

The 34-year-old runs a conservation park near Johannesburg in South Africa where he also keeps cheetahs, leopards and hyenas.

He befriends the animals by talking to them and treating them with ‘love and respect’ – to the extent that they consider him part of their pride.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1320646/The-man-turns-lions-pussycats-The-Lion-Whisperer-takes-risky-ride.html#ixzz12doQdgg3

AMAZING moms of the animal kingdom TIME photo essay

DLILLC / Corbis

African Elephant
The largest land mammal also has the longest pregnancy among mammals, averaging a staggering 22 months. Elephants usually give birth to one calf, who will rely on the mother's milk for four to six years. One would think that years of devotion to her calf and the protection of the herd would lead to a healthy adult elephant, but in reality, very few calves live to adulthood.

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1987961_2134847,00.html#ixzz0ndfB1k2w

Frans Lanting / Corbis

Emperor Penguin
Successfully raising a chick is a truly remarkable accomplishment for this mom and dad. Courtship for a typical couple starts in March and April, when temperatures in the Antarctic are about –40°F (–40°C). Emperor penguins are serial monogamists and will wait for their previous year's mate before breeding again. The female produces one egg and leaves it in the care of its father while she makes the nearly 74-mile (119 km) journey back to sea to capture the fish she will need for feeding. Upon returning to the nesting site, she must relocate her mate and chick. Then the pair switch roles, Mom caring for the offspring while Dad makes the same long journey to the ocean and back for food.

Help out these amazing moms through the World Wildlife Fund.

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1987961_2134851,00.html#ixzz0ndg0ucAX

It was a 114° when I went to the store this afternoon -- Not very beautiful-- I'm going to focus on this picture instead of reality

Largest waterfall in Lesotho, Africa. I'm pretending that for the next two months that I live down there where the fall meets the water. The coolness of that wonderful water.

I guess I should clarify for visitors to this blog that I live in the Palm Springs area of Southern California. In Palm Desert, to be more precise (some would think this is a very important distinction too). I've lived in the desert for I think 15-20 years (with a sweet, cool respite in San Diego for 3 years) and up until the last couple of years I didn't mind the heat. But it has become so unbearably humid and the summer starts earlier and ends later every year. The other months out of the year it is ideal but I'm beginning to wonder. Anyway, I'll just focus on this beautiful photo which I found on the internet at the Greentree Gazette (http://www.greentreegazette.com/photoweek/load.aspx?art=972).

I hope the rest of you are enjoying a cooler summer than we are here....in our own little hell.

King of Swaziland--documentary-one of the only absolute monarchy's left in the world

I watched the most remarkable documentary last night about the King of Swaziland, the African king who is one of the world's only absolute monarchs. Watch this official trailer from, Without The King, a new documentary about the last ruling monarchy in Africa, Swaziland.

Remarkable film.....remarkably appalling but a brilliant documentary.