what an elephant eats for breakfast
A previous blog post from Africa hinted at the fact that I simply adore elephants. But I hadn’t figured out why I feel such a bond to these massive mammals (is it the wrinkly knees, graceful movements or simply the trunk?) until a recent, unlikely encounter in, of all places, central California. Now, I understand: Elephants and I have a similar relationship to food.
The gentle pachyderms wake up ready for their next meal, spend the day grazing and look forward to a gourmet nosh to end the evening. I can relate.
I’d actually spent a fair bit of time around elephants for someone who lives far from their native environment. As a child, my parents purchased my brother and I a joy ride the back of an African elephant the first time the circus came to town, (a spectacular version of a pony ride). I rode elephants in Thailand (twice). I was kissed on the cheek by a tiny Asian elephant in Phuket. And in South Africa, I had the most incredible experience sitting silently in the middle of a herd of at least 100 wild elephants as they moved toward their watering hole. But I’d never been around elephants at mealtime until I visited Vision Quest B&B in Salinas, CA.
Vision Quest is home to over 100 exotic animals, including the residents of EARS (Elephants of Africa Rescue Society). EARS is basically a retirement home for captive elephants–in other words, those which had been used in carnivals and zoos. Working elephants all their lives, once at Vision Quest, the elephants can concentrate on natural elephant duties, (which primarily consist of finding the next meal).
The B&B property consists of 4 tents (complete with electricity and running water) situated overlooking the elephant yard. I couldn’t figure out why the elephants lined up in one corner of the property in early evening until we walked down to the barn to participate in the elephant bedtime package. The elephants were lining up for dinner! After they ate a bowl of vitamin-packed nutrients, we helped feed them the “bread course” of the evening meal. As we left the barn, we learned that they’d be noshing on hay for the next 2 or 3 hours. Three hours, three courses–that’s quite an elaborate dinner. And they do this every day!
In the morning, breakfast at Vision Quest is delivered by elephant, (and a trainer, of course). We were delighted to learn that not only was our friendly pachyderm delivering breakfast to us, but we got to share breakfast with her. As she snaked her trunk over our balcony railing, we held out carrots, bananas, apple slices and yams–it was a healthy breakfast, indeed, full of the ingredients we recommend on EatSomethingSexy! She would use the little finger-like muscle on the end of her trunk to grab each fruit while we petted her hairy trunk and watched with delight as she munched her antioxidant-rich meal.
After the delivery, our elephant returned to the play yard for a mud bath and then to a pile of hay to indulge in the next meal. Eat, pet, bath, eat–the life of an elephant is the life for me!
