Elderly Male Bull elephants “don’t bred, they just fight”killing each other. During
“ Musth “ the bull elephants are aggressive. Fights take place when the challenger challenges the male guarding he female, resulting in killing each other.Is this an example of this behaviour?
Amazing gratitude shown by the herd to the dead leaderThis is the heartbreaking moment a herd of elephants gathered to pay their last respects to their dead leader.
Footage shows the animals surrounding the carcass on the banks of a lake near Anuradhapura, close to the Kalawewa reserve in Sri Lanka.Some of the elephants use their trunks to caress the fallen giant, which had been killed by a rival.
According to the villagers interpretation t he female elephant caressing the carcass in the clip is the female culprit of the dilemma…
Watch the video
News, Views and More from Batch'64, Faculty of Medicine, Colombo, SriLanka 
Dear Eddie
That was a very moving short clip. It is wonderful to see all the elephants including Baby elephants paying their last respects to the leader. Nice clip . Thanks for posting it .Praxy
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Dear Praxy, This is Rani’s post.I only facilitated the posting as Sam is unavailable as he is in transit to serendipity.! I am sure Rani will respond to your comments.Perhaps most avid bloggers and followers are in transit to Colombo.Eddie
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Dear Rani and Eddie
Thank you for this post. It was wonderful to see unity shown by elephants and moving too, to see the way he was struggling to get out. Thank you for the post. Praxy
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Thanks Rani and Eddie for the very moving post on the Grieving Elephants of Kalawewa .
The Herd Instinct and behaviour patterns of these giants are way better than what we humans can display .
I was able to witness something like this – where all the elephants in the herd were gathered at one spot , on the middle of the road, while on a safari trip to Uda Walawe about 15 yrs ago .
We were on the jeep and there was a large herd of elephants on both sides of the jeep trail, and on the trail it self .
We were forced to stop and just be patient and wait , how ever long it took .
Our guides were able to ‘communicate’ with some of elephants that they recognized, and the elephants too seem to ‘recognize’ the guides as well .
The guides informed us that the main herd is awaiting the arrival of another member of the herd, who seemed to have got lost .
We had to real quiet , not to make any sudden movements .
I stood up with my old camera in hand – NO videos at that time in my old camera .
After what seemed like eternity , ( about 20-30 mins ) , there was some exitment and activity in the herd .
And there it was – a juvenile elephant, accompanying a baby elephant !
The jubilation of the herd was totally moving — trunks up , making all the sounds that elephants make, trumpeting etc .
The entire herd greeted the ‘home coming ‘ for the baby elephant- and off they marched into the sunset- and we went on our way .
The pity was I could not take a video- but, the memory of that very memorable moment, – is in my neural memory chip- like that of an elephant !
I am still here in Canada, and will be leaving in a little over a week – for the RU- 64- 2018 – I cant imagine that time has passed sooo quickly , and I will be there in 11 days .
We will miss you Eddie- specially, when we are in Passekuda .
Will think of you ,every time we eat good Batti Prawn Curry !
Thanks for taking over the Web Master’s job! and Rani- for the post .
See you Rani in a few days !
EagleD
,
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Thanks Rani and Eddie for the video. It is quite moving and sad to watch. I guess it is the survival of the fittest in the animal world.
Nisantha
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Thanks Rani for sharing this video of elephants funeral function.
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Very moving film clip, thanks Rani for sharing
Rule of the jungle is the survival of the fittest
Ruler has to impress its harem or fall on dust
When the choice is to protect pride or the life
Even among the Homo sapiens result is same
Ariya
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Thanks Rani.A very rare and interesting clip of a dead Asian elephant,thought to be due to injuries sustained during a probable premating show of hierarchy.!The grieving process is well known among elephants.
I have not heard of a duel to death in an elephant herd before.Although the injuries may have been accidental ,the commentary indicated that there were multiple penetrating wounds caused by a tusker.Was this a male from another herd which had strayed into the herd of another dominant male.?
I was under the impression that elephant herds usually have a dominant male which is in the forefront during their movements and that other males when they reach maturity, wander off to lead another herd composed predominantly of females.
If anyone has more intimate knowledge of elephant behaviour,please share.Eddie.
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