Size doesn't matter to
friends
When I was quite
young, I was bitten by a dog that I was trying
to pet. Instead of crying or reacting with fear,
I told my mother that it must've been abused by
someone. For reasons I still can't explain, I
just empathized with animals instantly. I still
do. Animals teach me things about living in the
moment and about being authentic.
Because I'm
disappointed with humans' record as animal
caretakers, I seek out assignments about animals
so I can tell their stories. Recently I went to
Tennessee, the unlikely home to 19 elephants
who've been rescued from years of abuse or
painful living conditions in circuses and zoos.
Elephants need lots of space to be healthy and
happy. They also need companionship, ideally
with their own kind ... but sometimes they also
enjoy friendship with other species.
Meet Tarra
and Bella. Tarra is an Asian elephant the size
of a UPS truck. Bella is a yellow mutt who was
living as a stray on the land purchased for the
elephant sanctuary. After the big pachyderms
moved in, Bella started following Tarra from
barn to field and back again. Soon the two
became inseparable - even sleeping side by side
every night. There's no mistaking the affection
they have for each other, or the expression on
Bella's face. That's why I love this picture.
When you're open-minded, best friends can come
in all shapes and sizes. |
