We firmly shook hands, and exchanged greetings neither of us understood. I opened my little notebook, where I d jotted down some questions. He laughed, flashing his crooked white teeth. It was a gift from a friend. The Samburu people respect elephants more than they respect any other living creature.
Elephants are powerful symbols in their culture.
In the old days, before the illegal ivory trade began to threaten elephants, the Samburu used ivory to protect them from harm. They made small ivory charms from the tusks of an elephant that had died naturally in the wild. These charms were hung around the necks of newborn babies to protect them throughout their life. When a young Samburu couple marries, a pile of elephant dung is burned on the floor of their house to bless them with a long marriage and a happy life together. I asked Lempuna if he would share his favorite story about elephants.