The fall of Acre and the best elephant rescue story ever

On June 17, 1291, the city of Acre fell to the Saracens, almost a hundred years to the day after it had been taken by the Lionheart in 1191; he bought the Kingdom of Jerusalem another hundred years of life, but this time the fall of Acre signified the end for the Christian realm of Outremer.

And here is a heartwarming video of a baby elephant being saved by his mom and sister after almost being swept away during a river crossing. The most remarkable elephant rescue I ever saw occurred in a documentary a number of years ago. The film crew was filming an elephant herd and when they reached a watering hole, they discovered a baby elephant trapped in the mud. After failing to free him, his own herd had finally abandoned him to his grisly fate, and hyenas were already gathering, drawn by his panicked cries. The hyenas retreated to a safe distance when the second elephant herd arrived and began to drink. Elephants do not normally adopt babies from other herds and after drinking, they moved on and the hyenas moved in. Film crews usually refuse to “interfere” with nature---which I could never do—and they would not try to save the baby. Needless to say, I was horrified, especially since they continued to film him as the hyenas prepared to attack. And then suddenly, like the cavalry in an old western, the matriarch of the second herd came charging back, with her herd on her heels. She scattered the hyenas and then plunged into the water hole and somehow managed to free the baby. Another nursing female then adopted him and they all continued on their way. It was truly amazing. There ought to be a special place in Hell for those who shoot these magnificent animals.

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/baby...