Ekadanta, one of the very handsome males, got his name for his single tusk. He is very renowned among the females, including Bhunte’s aunts and sisters. He recently left his herd when he was 15 years and often stays alone, wandering around the forest and even around the periphery of his forest. He seldom contacts other herd members. It was a year ago, he fell in love with Gajgamini. He is soon going to be a father.  Bhunte, on his way to the waterhole with his moms and a cousin Bachu, saw Ekadanta uncle. Ekadanta drank the water and left the waterhole. He seemed less bothered about the herd. He maintained the distance and walked away. Bhunte knows his uncle is going to stay on his own*, occasionally interacting with other males and maybe with a female. 

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*Even elephants maintain the social distancing. Particularly, male elephants remain solitary most of their lives (occasionally they patch up with males and are seen with herds during breeding periods)**. During this Covid situation, Bhunte urges you to maintain the distance (minimal interactions and proper cautions). Bhunte says: “You need not stay all by yourself like Ekadanta uncle, but maintain and minimize the spread of the viruses. Stay safe and healthy.”

**Male elephants stay solitary throughout their lives, once they attain sexual maturity and disperse from their native herds to avoid inbreeding. They are occasionally seen with some males and associate with herds during the period of breeding, other than that- they distance themselves from others. Well, it’s time to learn some good lessons from elephants 😉