Sometimes, you know, you just have that itch and nothing will quite reach it…. And when you find something that will reach it, who wants to stop? Wet and dry caked mud, we’re sure, add to the pleasure and the challenge.
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Every day we went to this small-ish pond to watch the elephants when they arrived and departed. In between they seemed to be having utterly unconstrained fun. Splashing and thrashing about, we were witnesses to a phenomenonal level of interaction, apparent caring, and early games preparing them for the challenges later in their adulthood. Anyone who suggests that there is nothing deeper to these (and other animals?) would have to have their eyes closed…… The next five slides are a series of these two at play. There were many of them in various acts of play. These two are presented as only an example….. they rough-housed, escalated, and ultimately ended with…. Well, watch the series.
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Like all play between boys, it seems, it starts nice and easy but escalates….. when is it no longer play? (never, it seems, with these elephants)
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Everything at work… or play, as they pushed each other, thrashed their tusks at each other, wrapped their trunks around each other….. where will this end?
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[[Somehow this photo got out of order. It belongs at the end of the section about Baby being stuck in the mud….. here is Baby!]] I’m SO embarrassed about getting stuck in the mud. If I just hide my face—if I can’t see you, you surely can’t see me……
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An apparently all-out match……
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We are still friends….. after every joust, they approached each other gently…..
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Altogether we have had three Maasi warriors who served as our guides (in the Maasi Mara, at Amboseli, and at Laikipia). Joseph is a deep spirit. He operates at multiple levels in the natural world, as our guide, and as a person. Working with him every day was a pleasure.
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In his usual position as we went on searches for….. whatever we found. Incredible eyesight. Great knowledge, generous, and warm. And always present for us.
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When we hiked in places where lions were present, Joseph and his trusty spear were always ahead of us and on the alert…… the only defense we had.
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