Life Is Full of Sweet Spots

“Our greatest strength

lies in the gentleness

and tenderness

of our heart.”

— Rumi

tiny touch says much

affection told with warmth

strength and tenderness

#   #   #

Visitor to Great Elephant Migration exhibit fell in love with baby elephant and tucked tiny flower behind its ear.

Each sculpture crafted from the invasive lantana weed is designed to match a real elephant. Even the eyes are hand-painted to match the exact eye-color of the elephant being re-created.

Elephants are known for their floppy ears and long trunks. Essentially a combination of the nose and upper lip of an elephant’s mouth, the trunk handles tasks ranging from breathing, touching, smelling and sound production to showing love. With close to 40,000 muscles in a trunk, it can reach up to six feet long and lift about 595 pounds.

Elephant tusks are actually elongated incisor teeth used for such activities as digging, lifting objects, gathering food, stripping bark from trees, and self-defense. Just as most humans have a preferred hand, an elephant has a preferred tusk, identified by its more worn-down enamel.

Elephants’ feet appear to be flat, but in reality, elephants walk on their tiptoes rather than flat-footed. Their front feet have five large, wide, rounded toenails, while their back feet each have only four.

All photos taken at the Great Elephant Migration exhibit in Newport, RI. First four photos and “Up Close and Personal” haiku by Mary O’Connor • Elephant’s foot photo by Jan Logozzo

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