An Elephant Tale

Trevor's Trick

The above photograph was taken by the author.

One fine, sunny and very warm day in Spring, I was watching Trevor the bull Asian elephant at the zoo as he was playing in the sprinklers, you know, one of those Rain Bird sprinklers that shoot out a big, long stream of water high up into the air in a graceful arc. Trevor the elephant was standing in the stream of the water letting it play on his face and head and back. Occasionally, he would lift his trunk and open up his mouth to let the water shoot into his mouth, then fill his trunk with water and squirt it up and back over his head and back. He seemed to be having a great time playing in the water. 

Nearby, some workmen were working on the elephant exhibit, hammering and sawing, driving machinery, digging holes, and planting flowers. As I watched Trevor playing in the sprinkler, I notice one of the workmen coming along the path that ran along the side of the enclosure. He was wheeling a wheelbarrow full of small plants. It was a very hot day, and the workman was wearing jeans and a tank top, as well as his construction hardhat.

As the workman began to pass Trevor, I noticed that the elephant appeared to glance over his left shoulder, and then took a definite step to the right allowing the water from the sprinkler to go past him. The stream of water shot over Trevor’s shoulder and hit the workman right in the face and upper body! Then, before you knew it, Trevor was back in front of the sprinkler, again, his head bobbing, his ears flapping, his tail wagging, and his shoulders shaking.

I could swear to you that that elephant was laughing!

[Who says animals don't have a sense of humor!]