Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult

 

“There were many moments during the writing of this book when I thought that elephants may be even more evolved than humans—when I studied their grieving habits, and their mothering skills, and their memories. If you take away anything from this novel, I hope it is an awareness of the cognitive and emotional intelligence of these beautiful animals—and the understanding that it is up to us to protect them.”-Jodi Picoult

 Out of the four books I’ve read by Jodi Picoult, Leaving Time is my favorite. If you love a good mystery and are eager to explore the emotional and cognitive intelligence of elephants and understand the unique individuals they are, you will appreciate this novel.

 Leaving Time is the most suspenseful book I’ve read this year. Connecting with the realities of the elephants is a compelling aspect of the book, and I have to admit that the immoral choices of many of the human characters make the read somewhat annoying.

 It is impossible to imagine the ending of the story. There is no way to guess, but I embrace the layer of mysticism it presents. It is hard not to shed a few tears at the end. I think it is a bit odd that the readers are not warned about the fact that this novel has a touch of magical realism.

 Leaving Time is about the timelessness of love between a mother and her child. It makes you reflect on the precious bond that transcends time and space and how that love connects to our present. It made me think of the moments in which I dreamed of a loved one who had passed away. Yet the energy that connects me to that person lives on in thoughts and actions of strength and hope in ways that escape the realm of words.

  There is something I did not like. The perpetrators of the two acts of violence made me uncomfortable because I did not find them credible. Yet I know it can happen in extremely rare cases… The revelation was to me the monster of social misogyny poking its ugly head into the reader’s mind and a product of the author’s unconscious bias... I will not elaborate further on this. (Jodi, will you ever give mothers a break?).

 Alice Metcalf is Jenna's mother. She is an elephant researcher who left behind a journal with several entries about her personal life and her observations of elephants. Jenna wonders why Alice left her behind. Is Alice dead or alive?

  Be prepared to be taken on an adventure into the world of troubled human characters, and learn about the emotional lives of elephants, both in the wild and on a sanctuary. You will learn about empathy, grief, family bonds and so much more. The novel is informative and thought-provoking. Have you ever thought about empathy and what it implies? Here’s an interesting passage from page 134:

“When I was in Pilanesburg, I watched an elephant come across a rhino calf that was stuck in the mud of a watering hole. The rhinos were distressed, and that in turn upset the elephant, which stood around trumpeting and rumbling. Somehow, she managed to convince the rhinos that she had practice doing this, and to just get out of the way and let her take over. Now, in the great ecological sphere of things, it was not beneficial to the elephant to rescue a rhino baby. And yet she went in and lifted the baby with her trunk, even though the rhino mother charged her each time she tried. She risked her own life for the offspring of another species. Likewise, in Botswana, I saw a matriarch come upon a lioness that was stretched out beside an elephant path while her cubs played in the middle of it. Normally, if an elephant sees a lion it will charge—it recognizes the animal as a threat. But this matriarch waited very patiently for the lioness to collect her cubs and move away. True, the cubs were no threat to the elephant, but one day they would be. Right then, however, they were just someone’s babies.”

 Leaving Time is a riveting read with intriguing characters. My favorite human character is Serenity, a “psychic” who befriends Jenna, a thirteen-year-old teenager in her quest to find her mother, who disappeared ten years ago. Then there is Virgil, an alcoholic retired detective who is determined to help Jenna find her mother. The trio captivated me from the beginning… and I liked the elephants.

 The story of these humans is fiction but the ones about the elephants are as real as their plight. There are many forces decimating the population of these compassionate, intelligent beings. Elephants die in the hands of poachers. There is a criminal network responsible for poaching African elephants to benefit from the trade of ivory. The network smuggles ivory from Africa to China. A wealthy middle class in China fuels the demand for ivory products. Corruption in Africa is part of the puzzle that enables the slaughter and trafficking of ivory. Trafficking of ivory is also used to fund terrorism.

  Before the publication of Jodi Picoult’s book forty-one elephants were killed in Zimbabwe because their water hole was poisoned with cyanide. The purpose was to obtain ivory to profit from it, so don’t purchase ivory or anything made of ivory.

  The illegal trafficking of ivory is still happening. This report was published last week by Homeland Security Investigations.

 The slaughter and abduction of elephants lead to trauma, disruption of complex relationships and aggressive elephant behavior in the wild. Elephants are captured for elephant-back safaris, zoos and circuses, where they endure brutal, cruel treatment and endless suffering. In circuses elephants are forced to perform tricks through deprivation of food, water and rest, and by physical restraint, pain and fear. Max Brandett, a former circus worker reveals the details of the horrifying treatment of animals in circuses, so I encourage you to read his report. The elephants are even chained in cages. You can read it from the link I offer. I will not share the information here because it is traumatizing to even write about it. 

 It is disgusting to learn how cruel humans are to these amazing animals. Please, avoid supporting circuses and do everything you can to help stop this cruelty from taking place by educating others on the issue. Avoid paying for elephant-back safaris and make sure that zoos provide the right conditions for elephants and that they don’t capture any more elephants from the wild. In captivity elephants live a life of misery.

 Last but not least, climate change is affecting the survival of elephants in multiple ways. For example, climate change causes prolonged droughts in the African savanna. Also, older elephants are more prone to die as a result of extreme high temperatures, and the loss of the older elephants has a serious impact on the survival of the herds. Supporting regulations that address climate change is also necessary for human survival… and how can anybody oppose regulations that protect the quality of water and air? Let’s make it clear and concise: the regulations that help curb climate change also protect the quality of air and water, so what is not to like about that?

 Climate change also leads to water and food shortage, and the situation worsens the conflicts between humans and elephants and creates tensions that make humanity more prone to start wars and new conflicts. Peaceful coexistence requires a kind of holistic approach to the crisis. 

 There are various organizations working to give assistance to elephants. The elephant sanctuary in Tennessee, which inspired some of Jodi Picoult’s writing, has been helping rescued elephants by providing them with individualized care, the companionship of a herd, and a setting that supports their health and wellbeing. The organization also supports elephants by educating the public. You can also visit the Global Sanctuary for Elephants website. This organization helps to establish elephant sanctuaries worldwide:

 www.globalelephants.org

 

You can learn more about elephants in the wild and the dangers they face by visiting the following sites:

www.elephantvoices.org

https://www.ifaw.org/journal/what-is-ivory

www.tusk.org

www.savethelephants.org

 Here's more information about the link between terrorism and the exploitation of wildlife:

https://editorials.voa.gov/a/stopping-terrorists-from-trafficking-in-natural-resources/6803286.html

I wrote about The Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony a while ago. If you haven’t read it yet, feel free to check my post.

The photos of elephants are from unsplash.com: the second photo is by Mylon Ollila; the first photo is by Mathew Spiteri .

Canine Confidential: Why Dogs Do What They Do by Marc Bekoff

 

 I devoured this fascinating book about dogs. Marc Bekoff is a dog lover and an ethologist. Ethology is the science that studies animal behavior. I am always curious to learn more about dogs; I am enthralled by the ways my furry friends surprise me through their understanding of human language and expressive gazes. The communication that ensues when we genuinely care to pay attention to them leads to a more peaceful and meaningful coexistence.

  The first point to remember is that each dog is a unique individual. Marc Bekoff makes it clear at the beginning of his remarkable book: “As I will discuss, it’s wrong to talk about ‘the dog’ as if all dogs were the same. They’re not. Dogs are as individual as people, and learning to care for your dog means paying attention to your dog, discovering his/her likes or dislikes, and so on.”

  At least 67 percent of American households own a pet, and dogs are the most popular one. Sixty-five million households in the US own a dog, and stats show that there is an increase in the numbers of dog adoptions in other countries of the world.

  Marc Bekoff sensed the need to write a book about their cognitive, emotional and moral lives. Canine Confidential inspires us to be excited for this endless field of exploration. There is still a lot to be learned about dogs.

 Food, water and shelter are not enough. Building a relationship of love, trust and support is crucial for a healthy existence.

  Did you know that dogs can understand hundreds of words?

  Like human beings, dogs require mental stimulation and physical exercise. Taking dogs out for regular walks is essential, and we need to let them explore everything through their sense of smell, which is highly developed in dogs. This exploration is an important source of stimulation and learning. (I don’t understand why some humans deny dogs their basic right to go out for walks and explore the territory as much as they need to).  Tail wagging is another interesting subject of the book.

 Marc Bekoff prefers to use the word “teach” instead of “train” when he talks about the education of dogs. Unfortunately, in the United States of America anybody can call himself or herself a trainer, so he urges people to use caution when they choose a person for such a purpose. Transparency is one feature that should be sought for to make sure that the dog is in safe hands. Bekoff shares the experience of an acquaintance whose puppy was killed by a so-called “trainer” in the state of Florida.

 When we teach dogs, we have to do so with respect, love and kindness—being bossy is not a good option. Also, a sense of dominance over the dog should be avoided.

  Researchers refer to dogs as “social catalysts”. The reason for this is that they foster connections between people. Marc Bekoff loves to visit dog parks because he learns a lot about dogs and people in these places, although he acknowledges that not every dog likes to visit dog parks, and their wishes should be respected.

 “Dogs grease the way for people to open up to one another, and this seems particularly true at dog parks. Most people go to dog parks to let their dogs have fun and meet other dogs, but people wind up meeting one another, too.”

  It was reassuring to read Canine Confidential because I know that taking the time to observe my furry friends helps me to develop a solid relationship with them.  It is enlightening and fun to watch their quirks and actions and to get to understand their unique individualities. Dogs sense the world differently; Canine Confidential delves into this crucial topic to gain insight into their behaviors.

  Dogs help human beings in various ways, but this should not give humans a pass to abuse them. Seventy-five percent of the dogs of the world are still struggling to survive. Although Marc Bekoff highlights the progress that has been made across the world in this regard, he also educates us on the multiple ways in which dogs continue to be abused and treated with cruelty.

 “People still breed dogs who they know will have short and likely miserable lives because of inbreeding and selecting for traits that make it difficult for them to breathe or walk. These people are breeding for beauty over health…at the cost of empathy. At Texas A & M University, dogs are intentionally bred with deformities to study various forms of muscular dystrophy. Many of these experimental dogs are profoundly crippled by six months of age, and half of them don’t live more than ten months.”

 

 It is necessary to educate ourselves to do our best to advocate for dogs. In advocating for dogs, we are building bridges of kindness toward one another and toward other non-human animals.

I hope Canine Confidential will inspire people to treat dogs with respect and to celebrate their existence with consideration and love.

    

   

Inside Animal Hearts and Minds by Belinda Recio

 

“If a cat and an iguana nuzzle each other and nap together, and a dog and a fish can ‘kiss’ upon meeting at the boundary between their terrestrial and aquatic worlds, then it’s time for humans to take a lesson from other animals in how to get along.”

Belinda Recio

 You wouldn’t imagine a crow saving the life of a kitten. Yet this is what happened in Massachusetts. Ann and Wally Collito knew that people would find the situation difficult to believe, so they videotaped the interactions between the crow and the kitten. Initially, they thought the crow would attack the kitten.

  The kitten had been abandoned on their property, and the couple witnessed how the crow, which they named Moses, fed insects and worms to the kitten, which they named Cassie. Moses nurtured Cassie and made sure she was safe at all times. This was a clear act of empathy and altruism between species.

 Cooperation used to be understood as one of the qualities that distinguishes human beings from other animals, but scientists are now starting to understand that cooperation is an important element of survival in the natural world. It is not unique to humans. Examples of cooperation in the animal world abound, and this book brings some of those together in a delightful, inspiring read.

   Qualities like loyalty, friendship, a sense of fairness, curiosity, empathy, creativity and even spirituality are not unique to humans. With both research and anecdotes, this book will broaden your perspective. It will help you to dissolve negative stereotypes attached to many animal species, and will enhance your understanding of the world around you.

 The book contains a foreword by ethologist Jonathan Balcombe, who has published over fifty scientific research papers on animal behavior and protection, and is also the author of Second Nature, which I reviewed in My Writing Life blog last year.

 Belinda Recio’s book showcases an amazing variety of heart-warming photos that make this reading adventure even more vivid and vibrant.

 The bad reputation assigned to rats is not justified. Research showed that 50 to 80 percent of the time rats were more interested in helping another rat in trouble than in a chocolate treat. Female crocodiles respond empathetically not just to their own hatchlings but also to those of other crocodiles. They even have playful relationships with river otters. You will learn about dolphins, octopuses, prairie dogs, orangutans, gorillas, parrots, goats, and many other animals.

 Albert Einstein once said that it is easier to disintegrate an atom than a prejudice. Hopefully, Belinda Recio’s book will prove him wrong.

Dive into Inside Animal Hearts and Minds, and immerse yourself in a world of wonder, awareness and empathy. Make sure you share it with the children in your life as well.

If you enjoyed this post, feel free to read my writing on Unlikely Friendships and Unlikely Heroes.

 Till next time.

Untamed: The Wild Life of Jane Goodall

   

“Knowledge is the only sword that can cut through harm being done in ignorance.” Sara Dykman, author of Bicycling with Butterflies.

  Jane Goodall was the first person to discover that chimpanzees make tools and use them; when she later wrote about their emotions, personalities and intelligence, she was criticized. Just like humans, chimps have emotions like happiness, sadness, anger, frustration and grief. 

 Thanks to her childhood teacher-- her family dog, Rusty—Jane Goodall had learned at a very early age that animals have individual personalities.  

 

Jane Goodall loved animals since she was little. She spent hours watching them and learning about them. Her connection with animals was deep.

  

One day in winter, when she was lying sick in bed, a British robin came to her windowsill; to encourage his visits, she left crumbs every day for the robin. In the spring the robin returned with a mate, and the birds made a nest in a bookshelf in her bedroom.

   Anita Silvey wrote Untamed for children, but it turned out to be a mesmerizing read for people of all ages. In an engaging conversational style she provides details about Jane Goodall’s life story, anecdotes, facts, maps and delightful photos. It is a book that can be shared and celebrated with an entire family, because it connects generations of people through experiences from the past, which are linked to historical events.  

 Untamed also contains an uplifting foreword by Jane Goodall, opening the minds of children to new perspectives and hopeful horizons.

  Jane empowers children to make a difference in the world.

  Anita Silvey’s book recounts how and why Jane Goodall traveled to Africa in her twenties, and how she got in touch with the mentor who would support her work through her years in Africa. His name was Louis Leakey.

  When Jane first settled in Gombe, Africa, to explore the lives of the chimps, her mother was with her. In a secluded place in a forest, away from people, where they had to dig a hole for a latrine, Jane found the magical site she had dreamed of in her childhood. Jane’s description of the place was idyllic; she wrote to her family about it:

 “It is so beautiful, with the crystal clear blue lake, the tiny white pebbles on the beach, the sparkling ice cold mountain stream, the palm nut trees, the comical baboons.”

  Anita Silvey explains the risks, dangers, and discoveries of Jane's adventures, making the book intriguing and unique. Untamed also details how the study of animals has evolved over the years, including amazing information about the challenges Jane encountered back then.

 “She devoted more hours to observation and recording than anyone in the area of chimpanzee research. And she did so through illnesses such as malaria, horrible weather, and rough living conditions.”

  

I did not know that chimps draw and paint, but some of them do. This is a photo of chimp Congo. He began to draw when he was two years old, and two years later he completed more than 200 abstract compositions.

    

Jane Goodall continues to work tirelessly to protect forests, prairies, oceans and the lives of animals and people. She also inspires children and people of all ages to do the same.

 Jane’s organizations include Roots and Shoots, Jane Goodall’s Institute and TACARE.

Feel free to check these sites:

https://www.rootsandshoots.org/

https://www.janegoodall.org/

https://tacare.org/about-us/

 I am humbled by Jane Goodall’s wisdom and courage; here’s an interview with Jane Goodall.

 Here’s another thought-provoking conversation with Jane Goodall published by Vox.

https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/22585935/jane-goodall-chimpanzees-animal-intelligence-human-nature

To learn more about Anita Silvey’s works, you can visit her website:

https://www.anitasilvey.com/

National Geographic Kids is the publisher of “Untamed”:

https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/