The call came from the zoo: how darin' are you? Would you like to wash an elephant?
I ran over to Photographer Jake and said, "You are not going to believe this one. They want me to wash Jana the elephant!"
I take a shower every day, but I think this scrub-a-dub will be a bit much.
Photographer Jake and I drive over to the Knoxville Zoo, with my raincoat and galoshes in the back seat.
Jim Naelitz, the curator for these three majestic creatures, meets us at the elephant barn. The ladies--Jana and Edie--are outside when we get there.
Tonka is in the outer part, I guess because he might like to blow water on me like I have seen him do to Jim, because Jim was talking to me and not the pachyderm.
Jim gives us the elephant washing etiquette. All I know is I love and respect all animals, but if Jana decides rubber ducky time is no fun, I am outta there.
As we walk out into the yard, a very, very muddy Jana comes on over. Edie is curious, but she does not want a bath.
Now that I am standing here, I am a little afraid. I know I have touched an elephant before, but now she is standing here looking at me.
Then the entertaining part--she sniffs us both.
Jim explains the wash and what I'm to do, and then he hands the hose over. It's sort of like a fire hose, but not quite as powerful.
Jana wants a drink, not a bath, so I fill 'er up. Then I start to rinse her off.
Holy mackerel! This is a very large animal when you are standing right next to her.
Nice elephant. Good girl. Hold still.
Jim and I start to scrub her. He warns me abut the hair on her skin--it can actually cut you if you are not careful. Whoa.
Jim and I scrub Jana with brushes, as I sing "Working at the Car Wash...Yeah" Does anyone know any other words to that song?
I ask what they use for soap. Jim informs me it's a product aptly named, yep, elephant wash. Better than turtle wax, I guess.
We scrub every nook and crannie. Jana is very calm during the whole thing. As I look behind us, there is a crowd of people amazed that A.) I am washing an elephant and B.) There is a man actually filming this. Hey, we do what we can!
I am in awe of the relationship that Jim has with this animal. She listens to him and pretty much does what he says. He has a tool on his belt that will help him to get her attention, by poking her, but he does not have to use it once.
Mind you, my laughter should have scared this animal more than a mythical mouse. I'm just hoping she never forgets me.
One thing I never realized about an elephant is their feet. I would think they are huge. If she steps on me, that's a broken foot or toe.
Nope, the bottoms of their feet are soft, and they sort of mold to what they walk on. Now that's cool.
Welll after I braided Jana's tail and rubbed her ears, we figured it was time to let her go. Plus, from the loud sound coming from her belly I think she needed some alone time. Ewww.
So this Darin' Erin was oh-so-cool.. but here's a little something extra.. the zoo has started something they call the Sudsy Safari.. for more information check out the Knoxville Zoo website.
A big thanks to the zoo folks and the curators who taught us a lot and had patience with my bad jokes and singing.
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