Very very interesting documentary on Channel 4 about elephants

[duchesse]

They're talking about behaviour problems among elephants in a Masai area of Africa where a large scale slaughter wiped out all the elder females about thirty years ago. The young males are behaving extremely inappropriately and aggressively even so many years on.

Fascinating stuff.

[duchesse]

On Five actually, sorry.

I am watching it, I promise.

[Lauriefairycake]

I saw it was on but can't watch it as get very upset at documentarys about elephants as I love them so much.

I still get tearful when I think about one on 6 years ago where a baby lelephant was born stillborn all the mummy lelephants stood around mourning it for a day and a night.

[duchesse]

They're talking about the destruction of the family structure for what was thought a good reason in the 70s, and the appearance of this hooligan sub-culture among the traumatised younger males. Apparently they are passing the trauma of seeing their mothers butchered down through subsequent generations. Quite a lot of resonance with human behaviour methinks.

[Bluestocking]

I'm sorry I missed it sounds really interesting. LFC, on a brighter note, do you remember the documentary where an unusually large baby elephant was born with a bent leg, and the whole family waited for weeks until it straightened out and he could walk properly?

[Lauriefairycake]

I do remember that, god they are just fantastic creatures.

Also totally agree about passing trauma on - reminds me of the Jewish survivor stuff