Lawrence Anthony was a conservationist that worked hard to preserve the lives of elephants that were hunted for their ivory tusks in Africa.
Although the ivory trade was deemed illegal, elephants were still poached and killed. Lawrence saved as many elephants as he could, including a herd of elephants that would have died if he hadn’t stepped in. To these elephants, he was a true hero.
When he died it was a loss to these elephants. So much so that two different herds of elephants walked for 12 miles to get to his house and then stood outside of it for two days with no food or water.
A total of 31 elephants stood outside the house and mourned for their fallen hero. At the beginning of the third day, they headed out to return home, leaving Anthony’s own home behind.
While some might be surprised at their behavior, elephants are known for having good memories and strong emotional ties. They even have their own burial sites and take time to grieve for their loved ones. Because they considered Anthony a hero, it wouldn’t be unreasonable for them to walk for so long to grieve that loss for someone so dear to them.