Feb 11-07: Pachyderms & Primates (AKA minkees and trunks)

Well, we had an INCREDIBLE day today, we got to pet and interact with elephants (which is totally cool, by the way!), and visit many monkeys. We visited the Elephant Sanctuary and Monkey Land, another sanctuary, both places where former pets or lab animals have found refuge. The rain was off and on all day, so you can part of the elephant photos are us drenched in rain. We got to walk “hand-in-trunk” with them, feed and pet them. They have very coarse skin of course, but also fine hairs all over their body – apparently they feel through these hairs, as their skin is so thick and not very sensitive. The take food into the top of their trucks and then literally blow it in their mouths. When they hold your hand with their trunks (VERY gently as well), you can feel their warm breathe on your hand, its very cool. And when they take food, they literally “hoover” it up into their trunks so they can hold it and then transfer it in their mouths. The back of their ears are life giant leaves, the veins carrying blood into the soft tissue. Wow, that was quite an experience, nothing like it in the world! And the monkeys are also incredible, we took lots of photos there as well. Check out the Flickr site!