Pink elephant is caught on camera- Follow it's lead

The little pink calf was spotted in amongst an 80-strong elephant herd

By Rebecca Morelle Science reporter, BBC News
A pink baby elephant has been caught on camera in Botswana.

A wildlife cameraman took pictures of the calf when he spotted it among a herd of about 80 elephants in the Okavango Delta. Experts believe it is probably an albino, which is an extremely rare phenomenon in African elephants. They are unsure of its chances of long-term survival - the blazing African sunlight may cause blindness and skin problems for the calf.

Mike Holding, who spotted the baby while filming for a BBC wildlife programme, said: "We only saw it for a couple of minutes as the herd crossed the river.

"This was a really exciting moment for everyone in camp. We knew it was a rare sighting - no-one could believe their eyes."

Documented evidence
Albino elephants are not usually white, but instead they have more of a reddish-brown or pink hue.
While albinism is thought to be fairly common in Asian elephants, it is much less common in the larger African species.

Elephants Without Borders
Ecologist Dr Mike Chase, who runs conservation charity Elephants Without Borders, said: "I have only come across three references to albino calves, which have occurred in Kruger National Park in South Africa.

"This is probably the first documented sighting of an albino elephant in northern Botswana.
"We have been studying elephants in the region for nearly 10 years now, and this is the first documented evidence of an albino calf that I have come across."

He said that the condition might make it difficult for the calf to survive into adulthood.

"What happens to these young albino calves remains a mystery," said Dr Chase.
"Surviving this very rare phenomenon is very difficult in the harsh African bush. The glaring sun may cause blindness and skin problems." However, he told BBC News that there might be a ray of hope for the pink calf as it already seemed to be learning to adapt to its condition.

Dr Chase explained: "Because this elephant calf was sighted in the Okavango Delta, he may have a greater chance of survival. He can seek refuge under the large trees and cake himself in a thick mud, which will protect him from the Sun.

"Already the two-to-three-month-old calf seems to be walking in the shade of its mother.

"This behaviour suggests it is aware of its susceptibility to the harsh African sun, and adapted a unique behaviour to improve its chances of survival."

He added: "I have learned that elephants are highly adaptable, intelligent and masters of
survival."

The baby elephant seems to be sheltering under its mother

to protect itself from the sun.

Now Darlings ~ If a baby pink elephant is intelligent enough to realize his situation and adapt in order to survive in the harsh Botswana bush....guess what that says about you and your capabilities during these challenging times of change?

It just astounds me, how humans want to forget our amazing abilities to adapt, and expand into greater options, and demonstrate our flexibility.

On this point we really differ from our teachers the elephants. For they don't forget what's important in the scheme of Life.

Yes!!! You too. Just like these wonderful creatures, in the words of that song from Third World ~ You've Got the Power!

We can adapt, and flow into new ways of Being with ease, if we choose to.

Rest in that awareness, and demonstrate it.

Don't join the pity parties, and the moanin' choirs of mass ignorance. Speaking despair and dismay, will keep you in that state.

This ain't nothin' to us....

Follow Nature's example offered here, and BE like the elephants. Just keep on crossing those rivers, until you look up and realize, you are deep within the shady valley of your 'Promised Land'.

love u~

Kentke