So I've never really touched on the subject with most of you as to why I just simply adore elephants as much as I do. I get asked all of the time why that animal above any other. Usually the reactions I get from people when they find out my favorite animal is an elephant, and in fact that I have two elephant tattoos with plans to get at least one more, is laughter and a weird look. Both of those I'm used to though. People laugh at me because I'm weird, it's no secret. It's one of the few things I actually take pride in.
Alright, here's the story. And it's not a very interesting one at all so don't expect anything special here. It was merely by chance that I started my now massive elephant collection which includes some in the form of stuffed animals, necklaces, rings, knickknacks, pretty much anything elephant I can get my hands on. I've always thought elephants were totally cool animals. The size alone is enough to make me look at them with my mouth hanging open, but I have to say my absolute favorite thing about elephants is the way they use their trunks. Now, don't get me wrong, that's not the only thing I like, not even close. For instance I love the difference in the shape of the ears and head of an African elephant as opposed to an Asian elephant (see pics below for visual :P). I love the fact that they've evolved over thousands of years from the mammoth. I love everything about them. Except for the fact that people poach them for their tusks, but that should probably be saved for another day's ranting.
African Elephant
Asian Elephant
So back to the story, I was probably 15 or so when I was given my first elephant. One of my high school friends had a little brother who was going to his aunt's house for the weekend and said that he would make me a knickknack if I wanted one. I told him absolutely, surprise me. What he brought home to me was an elephant sitting on his big ole rump, light blue in color, porcelain, handmade by himself and his aunt. It's about a foot in height so it's not just some tiny little thing. It's freakin awesome and absolutely adorable and I loved it the minute I set eyes on it. Well, from then on my collection spiraled out of control. If I have the chance to buy something in the shape of an elephant, with an elephant on it, anything remotely relating to an elephant I'll do it. And it also seems to be the gift of choice for people to give me, which I am SO NOT complaining about. Every year for Christmas for instance I get at least one elephant, it never fails. Just when I think I'm going to be elephantless, I open one and I always love it the most out of all of my presents. (Hope nobody takes offense to that.)
See? It's like I said, my collection was just something that happened. Some day I hope to be able to dedicate a whole room in my house to nothing but elephants. I'm obsessive, what else can I say?
There is one other thing I would like to note about elephants and it's something I have a link for up on the side of my page, and have had for a while now. It's called The Elephant Sanctuary and it's located in Tennessee. What I wouldn't give to be able to go there some day and spend time with people who take care of these animals on a daily basis. If you check out their web site http://www.elephants.com/ you will see what I mean. The place is amazing and the elephants are, of course, cool as hell. I've frequented this site for years now and I love going there to check out the pics they have up of the various elephants who live in the sanctuary. One elephant in particular I have fallen in love with just from watching her progress on the site and seeing the pics they have of her. Her name is Tarra and she's an Asian elephant that has been at the sanctuary since 1995. Before that, she was a circus elephant, but was born in the wild. At six months old she was taken from her mother and was privately owned until she retired and became the first elephant to reside in the sanctuary. She is awesome. You've all seen, or at least heard of, elephants that paint, well she's one of them.
Tara Painting
Tara Playing
I really think you guys should check the site out and browse through some of the pics and stories they have. You might just find it more interesting than you thought it would be.
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