tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739684561063978507.post7499910748192210567..comments2024-03-22T21:58:18.933+00:00Comments on ShukerNature: THE ELEPHANT OF SURPRISE - REMEMBERING MOTTYAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15628598508836601012noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739684561063978507.post-68229340521576451632020-02-07T18:24:43.288+00:002020-02-07T18:24:43.288+00:00Although I am no scientist, I have long speculated...Although I am no scientist, I have long speculated this to be the case, along with similar origins for the high arctic camel (bactrian x dromedary)and cave lion (lion x tiger). It would be nice to see more research on the subject, but I doubt it will ever happen.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01292062279457154847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739684561063978507.post-47461633373948623312020-01-16T01:46:27.548+00:002020-01-16T01:46:27.548+00:00Hi Dave, Thanks for your comments above and also f...Hi Dave, Thanks for your comments above and also for so kindly emailing your photos of Motty and his mother Sheba to me, which were wonderful to see and are scientifically-valuable documents, as so few images of him exist.Dr Karl Shukerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06222845702628862829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739684561063978507.post-49326197912171718092020-01-15T23:57:03.488+00:002020-01-15T23:57:03.488+00:00Hello, I was working with the chimps at Chester at...Hello, I was working with the chimps at Chester at the time of Motty's birth and some of us sat on the elephant island well into the night to see his early progress. A couple of us tasted Sheba's milk.....only by dipping a finger I hasten to add. I have a few more photos if you are interested? Dave Haynes.Dave Hayneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09802369009487503036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739684561063978507.post-39748973906775789462018-02-08T00:12:58.307+00:002018-02-08T00:12:58.307+00:00Dear Dr. Shuker, as someone has pointed out alread...Dear Dr. Shuker, as someone has pointed out already, it is well-known that elephants (Asian and African) cannot digest the fat in cow's milk and it is often fatal to them. Given that Motty was fed cow'a milk repeatedly, this likely played a significant role in his death. While I appreciated your post and found it interesting, I am eager to see you post something bringing attention to this fact in the interest of accuracy and lest people get the wrong idea. In countries such as Thailand or Kenya where people often live alongside wild elephant populations, more than one do-gooder has inadvertently killed an orphaned elephant calf by feeding it cow's milk.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07891952071738358021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739684561063978507.post-16542403276727960662017-05-06T22:19:10.235+01:002017-05-06T22:19:10.235+01:00Apparently, elephants (African ones, that is. I d...Apparently, elephants (African ones, that is. I don't know about Asian elephants.) cannot digest the fat in cows milk. It can literally be fatal. No doubt this had an influence on Motty's digestion. Sad.CLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18259507994892746647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739684561063978507.post-17387646841295576122014-09-12T09:55:44.455+01:002014-09-12T09:55:44.455+01:00Sadly, however, it was not to be, and because of h...Sadly, however, it was not to be, and because of his tragically short life, ... <a href="http://amenshybridshorts.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">amenshybridshorts.blogspot.com</a><br />Rudihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06979279108667230611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739684561063978507.post-54365168072397637132013-10-23T21:11:51.288+01:002013-10-23T21:11:51.288+01:00I wonder what Motty would look like if he had beca...I wonder what Motty would look like if he had became a fully grown adult.Austin Majorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16011020956897960915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739684561063978507.post-9474018467356941132013-06-02T16:13:58.261+01:002013-06-02T16:13:58.261+01:00Hi Dr Karl. Sorry for the delayed response. I'...Hi Dr Karl. Sorry for the delayed response. I'll definitely scan the Motty pics next time I'm at my parents' home, although I'm afraid it may be a few months. On one of the pics Stuart Hall (yes THAT Stuart Hall) is pretending to feed Motty Champagne!<br />Cheers, ChrisAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739684561063978507.post-32350070446749951262013-05-24T04:02:44.796+01:002013-05-24T04:02:44.796+01:00Hi Chris, Yes please, definitely! Thanks very much...Hi Chris, Yes please, definitely! Thanks very much. If you could email the scans to me at karlshuker@aol.com that would be excellent!Dr Karl Shukerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06222845702628862829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739684561063978507.post-56594888296670636392013-05-24T03:33:36.721+01:002013-05-24T03:33:36.721+01:00I saw Motty at Chester zoo when I was 6 years old....I saw Motty at Chester zoo when I was 6 years old. My father took some colour photos that day which I could scan if you are interested. ChrisAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739684561063978507.post-25899377895915742052013-03-15T21:53:06.170+00:002013-03-15T21:53:06.170+00:00As of the present time, Motty remains unique. Hi J...As of the present time, Motty remains unique. Hi Juhi, Hybridisation is not encouraged in many zoos, so no deliberate attempt would be made to mate an African elephant with an Indian one in captivity - Motty only occurred because it was thought impossible at that time for the two species to mate and produce any offspring. So, no, no further news on this subject to date. Glad you enjoyed my article. All the best, KarlDr Karl Shukerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06222845702628862829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739684561063978507.post-83832493010892004142013-03-15T20:05:33.535+00:002013-03-15T20:05:33.535+00:00I just read this.Thanks Dr Shuker for educating us...I just read this.Thanks Dr Shuker for educating us on Motty. The story of Motty is heart breaking.Is there any new Motty/ties now?This article is from 2011 and I am sure there might be more news on this front. Juhi Roynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739684561063978507.post-54870116608138916172011-03-22T21:55:21.704+00:002011-03-22T21:55:21.704+00:00Motty should be recognized!!!!!! It is a tragic bu...Motty should be recognized!!!!!! It is a tragic but expectable reaction on the part of the scientific community to ignore this miracle. But that's why<br />there are imaginative, open-minded cryptozoologists like you, Dr. Shuker. May Motty someday be resurrected! This miracle will someday return to the headlines!!! RIP Motty. You taught us a lot. And maybe you will be accepted by the scientific world someday.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739684561063978507.post-51603866952790963182011-03-06T18:36:30.166+00:002011-03-06T18:36:30.166+00:00Thanks, Norman, for your kind words and informativ...Thanks, Norman, for your kind words and informative post. Obviously Motty was a valid example, as he would have clearly survived if he had not succumbed to infection, so the televison woman's attitude seems bizarre to say the least.<br />Yes, bison x cattle hybrids regularly occur nowadays, and are known as cattalo (as the American bison is often termed the buffalo).Dr Karl Shukerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06222845702628862829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739684561063978507.post-42575745479394475712011-03-06T17:32:49.519+00:002011-03-06T17:32:49.519+00:00Didn't the same thing come up with American bi...Didn't the same thing come up with American bison/cattle crosses? The first one died at birth, but they cross them now? I might be mistaken.<br /> Donna, from IndianaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739684561063978507.post-33260530113075069552011-03-05T23:28:37.655+00:002011-03-05T23:28:37.655+00:00I did not notice the original interesting event of...I did not notice the original interesting event of 1978 but became aware of it a few years ago when the BBC mentioned it in a programme, possibly about the Beast of Bardia or maybe about cloning a mammoth.<br /> At that time I took advantage of a service provided by the BBC to answer telephone queries about the programme. In my question I mentioned that an asian and african elephant had bred, but to my chagrin the imformant had no knowlege of the fact. I pointed out it was in the very film we were discussing and the lady said she was unaware of it and would have to check and get back to me. Subsequently she said the birth was not a valid example because the calf had not survived. I do not agree with this and next time-I think there will be a next time-the pregnancy will receive better treatment.<br /> Thank you Dr Shuker for your enjoyable and richly imformative article,normanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08417067810162765509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739684561063978507.post-48879832965132615912011-03-04T13:20:37.222+00:002011-03-04T13:20:37.222+00:00Thank you much for your very kind words, and I'...Thank you much for your very kind words, and I'm delighted that you like my post re Motty so much. I'd long been interested in this remarkable animal, but was surprised that so little had ever been written about him. So I finally decided to compile into a single detailed report everything that I'd managed to uncover over the years, as a testament to and celebration of a genuinely unique, fascinating individual.Dr Karl Shukerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06222845702628862829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739684561063978507.post-36607007626840456442011-03-01T20:40:43.426+00:002011-03-01T20:40:43.426+00:00What a a thought-provoking and emotive post! I'...What a a thought-provoking and emotive post! I'm not sure if my natural 'anthropomorphism motor' added from the reading...or detracted from it.<br /><br />My thoughts wandered towards how the elephants felt seeing this little guy faltering. How did they view the valiant efforts of their 'keepers' as they strove to keep him alive? Elephants have been filmed apparently mourning their dead; I wonder if they felt sadness at Motty's passing too?<br /><br />Moreso, did they somehow recognise the 'limbo' status of his undefined ancestry? Was there a scent of death or some subtle recognition that he wasn't 'one of them?'<br /><br />I appreciate the overlooked importance to science and how an orchestra of natural selection and mutations can express a life that shouldn't be. Nevertheless, the images and your narrative have put my emotional focus on the little guy's abbreviated life. <br /><br />Although you've pitched the article at a greater scientific importance than I, it's hit my heart more than my mind and left me feeling quite sad.<br /><br />It's an excellent post.Kandinskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11598864214791609926noreply@blogger.com