Could this be the origin of the aphorism about elephants never forgetting? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think I heard that the physiological mating period for male elephants goes by the name "must", which sounds compelling in itself. Time to write that first inspirational metric ballad. Let's call it "You're three tonnes of love; pack your trunk and let's do the jungle thing!" Sex sells, so perhaps we can make SI into something so erotic that no American can ignore it. But, along those lines, we ought to use humans instead of elephants.Pardon my political incorrectness, but who should be SI's first pin-up girl? kilopascal wrote: > > 2001-07-22 > > Claim: A village in India learned the hard way not to interfere with the > course of pachyderm True Love. > > Status: True. > > Origins: The following tale found its way into quite a few newspapers in > early 1994: > > An Indian man was trampled to death trying to break up a love affair between > a tame elephant and her wild 3,600 kilogram suitor from the jungles of south > Bihar. > > The irresistible force of love between elephants is something the villagers > of Gumla, in northern India, wish they had avoided. It is rare for wild > elephants to develop crushes on domesticated pachyderms. > > But when a bull elephant happened to spy an attractive she-elephant named > Madhubala, it was, well, love at first sight. > > Even though Madhubala was chained to a tree, the bull elephant refused to > leave her. At first the villagers tried to lure away the heavyweight > stranger with a banana bribe. It was not food the elephant had on his mind. > > Angry and scared, villagers and police began tossing firecrackers and > flaming sticks at the wild male. As the furious elephant charged back to the > jungle, he crushed a forest ranger, killing him. > > The bull elephant's retreat was only tactical. The lovesick male sneaked > back later that night and freed Madhubala by smashing her chains. The two > lovers eloped. > > Madhubala's keeper, Mahedi Hussain, tracked her down in the jungle after a > week and brought her back to the village. The she-elephant, alas, remained > lovelorn. She even turned up her trunk at a bunch of bananas, her favorite > food. Finally, her plaintive trumpet calls were answered. > > The avenging lover swept down on the village last Friday like an army tank, > flattening huts and scattering people into the forest. As the United News of > India reported: The elephant ''returned to Gumla in a rage, demolishing > walls and anything that stood between him and Madhubala. The act, many said, > would have done credit to any film hero who had been denied his love.'' > > With Madhubala loose again, the reunited elephant pair slipped off into the > dense trees. This time, the elephant-keeper is in no hurry to bring her -- > and her trouble-making boyfriend -- back again. > > Barbara "Madhubala is now living out her elephantasy" Mikkelson > > Last updated: 30 July 1999 > > John > > Keiner ist hoffnungsloser versklavt als derjenige, der irrtümlich glaubt > frei zu sein. > > There are none more hopelessly enslaved then those who falsely believe they > are free! > > Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) -- Paul Trusten, R.Ph. 3609 Caldera Boulevard, Apt. 122 Midland TX 79707-2872 USA (915)-694-6208 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
