Could elephants be as loving as humans? Reaction to life and death could suggest the animals have SOULS… according to wildlife experts
This emotional wildlife documentary gets up close and personal with the huge animals
TWO wildlife experts have set out to prove that elephants do have souls, by filming their reaction to life and death in an emotional wildlife documentary.
The gentle giants have always been considered intelligent creatures, but could they really be as loving as humans?
Well yes, at least that’s what celebrated husband-and-wife duo Dereck and Beverley Joubert think - and put forward in Soul Of The Elephant.
Acclaimed photographer Beverly narrates: “You only have to look at how profound and gentle they are.
“They’re only aggressive when they have to save themselves or their offspring. Being in the presence of an elephant is very moving.”
Writing for the in October, when the film first aired in the States, Dereck said: “If you tell me humans have souls then there is a good chance elephants may have as well.”
The award-winning filmmakers and conservationists live in Botswana, where they have been Explorers-in-Residence for more than four years.
They have been filming and researching in Africa for 25 years and, while filming, they get incredibly up close and personal with the huge animals.
Their powerful footage includes a jaw dropping elephant charge, with Dereck saying: “I find facing down a charge hypnotic, like meditation.
“When you’re in that situation you’re on the edge between life and death, and you’re at your sharpest.”
The couple see off the herd of elephants by staring them down, with Dereck adding that ‘confidence is the only weapon we have’.
The film-makers argue that a group of elephant’s reaction to birth and death is one of their most human qualities.
When the herd stumble upon the remains of a dead elephant, they appear to mourn over the bones.
Beverly says: “We were able to capture the most intimate scenes of the elephant wake. Neither of us wanted to so much as breathe, to break the spell.”
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And as soon as a baby elephant is born, the herd gather around it – adjusting their pace to that of the newborn when they eventually set off again.
Dereck says: “Elephants are nothing if not compassionate and understanding.”
Soul of the Elephant aired on NatGeo Wild at 10pm last night. But be careful, it could reduce you to tears.