Posts: 5,150
Threads: 419
Joined: Nov 2013
Reputation:
33
What an amazing story in pictures! It was really moving to watch. I hope the Gnu was ok when he got on land again. That big Hippo was definitely trying to help him get up on to the river bank.
Posts: 2,479
Threads: 109
Joined: Nov 2013
Reputation:
28
Good find, Noble Knight! I don't usually take much notice of comments on a web page following a report, but I liked this one: "Wow, even hippos can be extremely compassionate to other species..... what's our excuse......?"
Posts: 17,209
Threads: 5,960
Joined: Jan 1970
Reputation:
78
I never knew hippos could act this way. It makes me wonder what other animals would do in a similar situation.
The hippos set a rather high standard for compassion. Crocs are dangerous and they still went to help a stranger. An interesting variation on the good Samaritan story.
Catherine
Posts: 233
Threads: 44
Joined: Dec 2013
Reputation:
8
Yes and the exemplification of the first hippo stirred something deep within the other adult hippos - and will have planted a seed of consciousness in the younger hippos...
The quiet force that is kindness and good example.
It is our deeds, the accumulated acts of goodness and kindness that define us and ultimately are the true measure of our worth. Service is the coin of the spirit.
http://holy-lance.blogspot.com
Posts: 5,150
Threads: 419
Joined: Nov 2013
Reputation:
33
Yes that's the way young animals learn from their mothers and older ones around them, how to negotiate the world.
It was fortunate that the photographer was there to film this. It makes me wonder -how many similar events might happen in the animal world, that we know nothing about? And also among humans...?
Posts: 233
Threads: 44
Joined: Dec 2013
Reputation:
8
03-13-2014, 11:21 PM
(This post was last modified: 03-13-2014, 11:22 PM by Knight of Albion.)
A good point. Many acts of animal altruism will have gone unnoticed. Though the fact that this one was caught on camera has value in alerting humans that the seed of compassion and goodness of heart is all along the line of evolution.
And would be more so if we humans were living to our ideal and setting the example.
As for human altruism. Best done in private I'd say. What greater 'reward' is there in having done something beautiful than having done it?! Give thanks to God for being blessed with the opportunity.
A noble deed is marked on your soul forever.
It is our deeds, the accumulated acts of goodness and kindness that define us and ultimately are the true measure of our worth. Service is the coin of the spirit.
http://holy-lance.blogspot.com