More proof of the unpredictability of Elephants

Elephant bull kills matriarch
2007-4-4 23:49
Jerusalem - A seven-ton bull elephant charged and killed a 46-year-old female elephant half his weight on Wednesday as visitors at an Israeli nature park looked on in horror.
Officials at the Safari park near Tel Aviv said they were unable to stop Yossi, a 33-year-old male, from attacking Atari, the captive herd's matriarch, and trampling her to death.

"What happened to Yossi, who grew up all his life with Atari, and they always got along?" said Yigal Horowitz, a veterinarian at the park.

"Here and there were small fights, but they never had a fight like this one."

Elephants are social mammals, observing hierarchies in their herds and visiting the burial places of loved ones for years after their death.

But scientists have recently become increasingly concerned with what they say is a rising level of violent activity among elephants.

Elephants prone to violence

In a 2005 essay in Journal of Nature, Gay Bradshaw, an Oregon State University psychologist, argued the worldwide population of elephants is suffering from a form of post-traumatic stress disorder, making them excitable and prone to violence.

Horowitz said the nature park's staff will make a decision about what to do with Yossi after investigating the incident and consulting with outside experts.

In the meantime, Bati, another female with a senior role in the herd's hierarchy, is expected to take charge of the herd.

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Elephants are social mammals, observing hierarchies in their herds and visiting the burial places of loved ones for years after their death.

I've never been invited to an elephant funeral, but I wonder what they use to dig the hole?

Since the author is convinced that elephants are human enough to love and bury, maybe the proper punishment for the offender is a conviction under the Domestic Violence Act, taking away his 2nd Ammendment rights and anger management courses? That is, after he goes to the funeral in leg irons and an orange suit.

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So you have a DG qualified PH or a class 3 FGASA jeep jockey, they pass and qualify, assuming then at the time a measure of competency with some rifle for the job....... years pass by, how is that competency assured?

Alf, are you saying that the majority of those who are qualified by passing certification don´t take the weapon part seriously enough to understand that they will be the first in the path of a charge?
Thats like a combatsoldier who thinks the enemy can´t really be as bad as they say...

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Originally posted by ALF:
Interesting thread, going to throw one out there?

So you have a DG qualified PH or a class 3 FGASA jeep jockey, they pass and qualify, assuming then at the time a measure of competency with some rifle for the job....... years pass by, how is that competency assured?

You see we all age and if you are not recertified or if like many the guide never retrains or actively keeps up his skills how is he expected to perform?

There is not an occupation in this world that has a dependency on a practical skillset that can be performed accurately and effectively if you do not excercise that skill on a regular basis !

My point exactly.