Twenty years ago Steven Soderberg was on holiday in Kenya
after graduating from college. While he was walking through
the bush, he came across a young bull elephant standing with one
leg raised in the air.
The elephant seemed distressed so Steven approached it very
carefully. He got down on one knee and inspected the elephant's
foot. There was a large thorn deeply embedded in the bottom
of the foot. As carefully and as gently as he could he worked
the thorn out with his pocket knife, after which the elephant
gingerly put down its foot. The elephant turned to face
Steven and with a rather stern look on its face, stared at him. For
a good ten minutes Steven stood frozen -- thinking of nothing
else but being trampled. Eventually the elephant trumpeted
loudly, turned and walked away. Steven Soderberg never forgot
that elephant or the events of that memorable
day.
Last Tuesday Steven Soderberg visited the Bronx Zoo with his now teenaged son. Passing animal display after animal display, they finally approached the elephant enclosure. For the first time since his long-ago adventures in Kenya, Steven shared the story of the bull elephant with his son.
As they stood at the rail viewing the massive creatures one of the bulls turned and walked over to where they were standing. This large bull elephant stared intently at Steven with a seeming look of recognition. The enormous pachyderm lifted its front foot off the ground and put it down. He did this several times, all the while staring unwaveringly at Steven.
Steven and his son could not help wondering if this was the same elephant 20 years removed from the African bush. After repeating the stamping motion several times the bull trumpeted loudly and continued to stare at Steven.
Finally, unable to wonder about this miracle any longer, Steven
summoned up his courage, climbed over the railing and made his way
into the enclosure. He walked right up to the elephant and
stared back in wonder.
Suddenly the elephant trumpeted again, wrapped its trunk
around one of the Steven's legs and swung him wildly back and forth
along the railing, killing him.
Probably
wasn't the same elephant.









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