In 1986, James was on safari in Kenya after graduating from the Ohio State University School of Law.
On a hike through the bush, he came across a young bull elephant standing with one leg raised in the air. The elephant seemed distressed, so James approached it very carefully. He got down on one knee, inspected the elephants foot, and found a large piece of wood deeply embedded in it. As carefully and as gently as he could, James worked the wood out with his knife, after which the elephant gingerly put down its foot.
The elephant turned to face James and with a rather curious look on its face, stared at him for several tense moments. James stood frozen, thinking of nothing else but being trampled. Eventually the elephant trumpeted loudly, turned and walked away. James never forgot that elephant or the events of that day.
Thirty four years later, James was walking through the Columbus Zoo with his adult son. As they approached the elephant enclosure, one of the creatures turned and walked over to near where James and his son were standing. The large bull elephant stared at James, lifted its front foot off the ground, then put it down. The elephant did that several times then trumpeted loudly, all the while staring at James.
Remembering the encounter in 1986, James could not help wondering if this was the same elephant. James summoned up his courage, climbed over the railing and made his way into the enclosure. He walked right up to the elephant and stared back in wonder. The elephant trumpeted again, wrapped its trunk around one of James's legs and slammed him against the railing, killing him instantly.
Probably wasn't the same dang elephant.
This is for everyone who shares those heart-warming bull poop stories.
Keith
