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.

On Five actually, sorry.

I am watching it, I promise.

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.

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.

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?

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

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