An Interview with a Pygmy Elephant
Posted by Suchaita Tenneti on 2011-04-18
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“Huge” is the right word for the world’s largest land animal, the elephant. But its little relatives, the pygmy elephants, are equally fascinating. All Day Kids met these rare creatures:
ADK: I thought you would be tiny. But you are quite big!
Pygmy Elephant (smiles): We are only a little smaller than Asian and African elephants.
ADK: Ah, I see. You are much sweeter than big elephants.
PE: Yes, we are very shy. Our tusks are smaller, too.
ADK: I see that. How old do pygmy elephants get?
PE: Usually 60 years.
ADK: That’s great! And where do you live?
PE: We live on an island called Borneo and in parts of Africa. We hear stories about pygmy elephants in India.
ADK: What is your favourite food?
PE (smacks its lips): We love palm trees. We also love a tasty fruit called durian. It is covered with spines like a pineapple. But we still eat it whole!
ADK: I should try it without the spines! Tell me about your migration.
PE: Every monsoon, we swim across the river to find food on the other side. The eldest elephant in our herd leads the way. We never get lost!
ADK: Wow! You are very smart. Is there a message you would like to share with our readers?
PE: Please save the forests and the rivers. They are home to us and our friends, the orangutan and the sun bear. If you help us, we will be around forever!
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