28 Comments
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Cindy Ojczyk's avatar

The images were stunning. Great curation!

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Heidi Zawelevsky's avatar

Thank you so much, Cindy! I’ll pass your comments along to Clee Images. Take good care!

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Renato Zane's avatar

I have a friend who has dedicated her life to saving Indian elephants. Sadly, many elephants in Asia and on the Indian subcontinent have been mistreated. These magnificent creatures are intelligent, sensitive and community-oriented. They deserve our protection and respect.

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Heidi Zawelevsky's avatar

Thank you for this thoughtful comment, Renato. The Asian elephants absolutely deserve to have us open our hearts and minds to them. Would you like to see them featured in a post here at Critters? They are the third extant species of elephants, along with the two African species.

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Renato Zane's avatar

Sure, if you have information that you'd like to share, that would be nice. But honestly, just write about what matters most to you.

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Heidi Zawelevsky's avatar

Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Renato.

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Clee Images's avatar

Thank you for the collaboration Heidi. Love it! ❤️

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Heidi Zawelevsky's avatar

Thank you for the collaboration Carrie! We are getting lots of good feedback! I’ll be sure to restack a thanks to you!

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Clee Images's avatar

Awesomeness!

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Neil Barker's avatar

Great information Heidi! That gestation period for an elephant was that long. That's amazing! Also some excellent photos of elephants shared.

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Heidi Zawelevsky's avatar

Thank you, Neil! Really appreciate the feedback. Take good care!

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Diana van Eyk's avatar

Thanks for this important information about African elephants, Heidi and critter friends. My heart is open for them, and I hope they thrive.

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Heidi Zawelevsky's avatar

Thank you so much, Diana! We really appreciate you being here. Thank you for your openness.

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Diana van Eyk's avatar

And thank you, Heidi, for your advocacy of animals. And for the fun interlude amidst all these other posts.

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Heidi Zawelevsky's avatar

Absolutely! We really appreciate that, Diana. Thank you for your kindness. Thank you for reading. These are difficult topics that tie into so much hurt in the world. Our goal at Critters is to find a path forward and, like elephants, never forget to have a sense of humor. We are grateful for your readership. Take good care.

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Diana van Eyk's avatar

You too, Heidi, and thanks for finding such a creative way to discuss these very serious and difficult topics.

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Heidi Zawelevsky's avatar

Thank, hearing this is truly humbling. Thank you, Diana.

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James Freitas's avatar

Insane that it takes 22 months for this species to have a baby. Thanks for all the great information packaged in such an enjoyable way!

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Heidi Zawelevsky's avatar

Thank you, James! We really appreciate you being here and learning with us in a positive way.

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Perry J. Greenbaum 🇨🇦 🦜's avatar

This is fantastic; Arya and I enjoyed learning about these magnificient mammals. Kudos to all the critters. I read that elephants not only have good memories, but they also grieve their losses as much as humans do.

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Heidi Zawelevsky's avatar

Thank you, Perry! We really appreciate your feedback. You are correct about their grief, they also cry like we do. I made a reference, although not scientific, in the haiku about when they weep. They are incredibly sensitive and we have much to learn from them.

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SquizzRadical's avatar

Thanks you for writing about the heffalumps :)

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Heidi Zawelevsky's avatar

Thank you for reading! Hope all is well with the Degus!

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Apr 6, 2024
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Heidi Zawelevsky's avatar

Thank you, Maureen! This is a truly incredible story! When I was in High School, I volunteered at the zoo in Portland, Oregon. I had a tail hair that had been shed from one of the elephants. It was like a wire. Your story reminds me of that. Thanks again for sharing!

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Apr 6, 2024
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Heidi Zawelevsky's avatar

Thank you so much for sharing this with us in the comments at Critters. I’m going to look up Whipsnade Safari Park.

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Apr 7, 2024
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Heidi Zawelevsky's avatar

I see it on the map!

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Apr 7, 2024
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Mar 23, 2024
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Heidi Zawelevsky's avatar

Thank you, Alan. Thank you very much. It’s me. Jasper Kitten! The Bush at the Gas Station is in fact smaller than the savanna in South Africa. I now know this. Because. I googled it with my toe beans and studied the satellite imagery at scale. Thank you for appreciating my point of view and for appreciating elephants. That’s nice of you. Yours truly, JKitten🐾🐾

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