He liked walking br among the subtle shades, br the striking nuances br of colours, br the seemingly br countless hues br and the distant sounds br of the jungle, br with its dangers, br known and unknown. br br This was part of his life, br his DNA br had been imprinted br with the love, br the unquestioning acceptance br of the wild. br And, for all of his short life br the wind br had always been at his back. br br The morning sun in his eyes, br he made swift progress, br it was hard going to climb this hill, br Elephant Mountain they called it br and it soon lived up to its name. br br A mother and calf were feeding, br their backs turned, contented giants. br He venture closer, being downwind br and some 70 meters away, br br when she turned, br rigidity gripped her body, br ears spread wide, br eyes glowering, br she started trumpeting br and charged, br at maximum speed. br br Brave by tradition he called her bluff, br wildly waving his arms, br facing her br in crazy-eyed determination. br She was not to be persuaded br and, br as she caught up with him br she used her trunk br to lift, then toss him, br helpless bundle, br into the tall grass br where he lay still. br br Her tusks raised, br she stepped forward br and stabbed them down, br twice. br His eyes closed, br at first from br the piercing pain br and, minutes later br from death. br It was his life br and he would, br gladly, br live it all again.