Thursday, September 6, 2007

Hippopotamus and the Tortoise

Hi, I recently received an e-mail, which is very inspiring. I thought I would like to share the same with you all. So, here it goes.....

These are truly amazing pictures. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

[]
NAIROBI (AFP) - A baby hippopotamus that survived the
Tsunami waves on the Kenyan coast has formed a strong
Bond with a giant male century-old tortoise in an animal
Facility in the port city of Mombassa, officials said.
The hippopotamus, nicknamed Owen and weighing about
300 kilograms (650 pounds), was swept down Sabaki
River into the Indian Ocean , then forced back to shore
When tsunami waves struck the Kenyan coast on
December 26, before wildlife rangers rescued him.
[]
"It is incredible. A-less-than-a-year-old hippo has adopted a
Male tortoise, about a century old, and the tortoise seems to
Be very happy with being a 'mother'," ecologist Paula Kahumbu,
Who is in charge of Lafarge Park , told AFP.
[]
"After it was swept away and lost its mother, the hippo was traumatized.
It had to look for something to be a surrogate mother.
Fortunately, it landed on the tortoise and established a strong bond.
They swim, eat and sleep together," the ecologist added.
"The hippo follows the tortoise exactly the way it followed its mother.
If somebody approaches the tortoise, the hippo becomes aggressive,
As if protecting its biological mother," Kahumbu added.
[]
"The hippo is a young baby, he was left at a very tender age and
By nature, hippos are social animals that like to stay with their
Mothers for four years," he explained.
[]
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take,
But by the moments that take our breath away."
[]
This is a real story that shows that our differences don't matter
Much when we need the comfort of another.


So, I think that we could all learn a lesson from these two creatures of God,
"Look beyond the differences and find a way to walk the path together".

What do you think?

8 comments:

Anonymous

Hi Meghna,

Really great post. Very inspiring too! Keep blogging and entertaining us.

David.

Peter Pie

Dear Meghna,
Thank you for sharing this wonderful snippet. It was thought provoking really.

Anonymous

That was a beautiful story. Kudos to both the animals for their wonderful relationship.

Meghna

Dear All,
I certainly agree that this is a really true inspiring story! I will keep sharing such great stories with you all!

Anonymous

Hi Meghna,

Wow, that was an amazing and inspiring story. It made me think how much everyone needs eachother.

Thanks for commenting on my blog.

Bethany :)

Jimbo

Read more about Owen & Mzee at their blog:

http://www.lafargeecosystems.com

Join the Owen & Mzee Yahoo Group at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Owen-and-Mzee_Group

See Owen & Mzee Movie trailer:

http://tinyurl.com/oxomy

Author's fabulous website with movie:

http://www.owenandmzee.com

Download Parent-Teacher Guide at:

http://images.ibsys.com/2005/0429/4432216.pdf , or

http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/tradebooks/owen_mzee_dg.pdf , or

http://www.grandcanyonreaderaward.org/4432216.pdf

Meghna

Dear Bethany and jimbo,
Thanks for the visit and comment. Glad you like it!

Anonymous

awww:) so sweet. thats such a cool story about motherly love:)

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