Echo, the remarkable matriarch of a family of elephants in Kenya’s Amboseli National Park, was most studied elephant in the world, the subject of several books and documentaries, including two NATURE films. For nearly four decades, elephant expert Cynthia Moss, and award-winning filmmaker Martyn Colbeck were on hand to record the trials and triumphs of Echo and her family, documenting the intense loyalties and deep caring that are so fundamental to all elephants, creating a moving record of a life we all can share.
Echo died of natural causes at the age of 65 in May of 2009, leaving the family she had cared for and guided for so long to face the worst drought ever recorded in Amboseli on their own. It was a final test of the years of Echo’s leadership. Had she taught them all they would need to survive without her? Could her wisdom continue to provide for them even after her death?
With rich archival footage and warm recollections, Moss and Colbeck share their memories of Echo and her family as they follow the fortunes of Echo’s family during the drought. Echo is shown caring for her newborn son, Ely, who overcame the crippling condition he was born with thanks to her patience and extraordinary perseverance. Echo is also shown making a heartbreaking decision to abandon her mortally-wounded daughter, Erin, in order to save Erin’s young calf, Email. Moss and Colbeck have especially fond memories of Echo’s mischievous baby daughter, Ebony, whose playful nature was so endearing to them both. And they marvel as they recall Echo’s rescue of Ebony when she was kidnapped by a rival clan, remembering it as one of the defining moments of her leadership.
Happily, Echo’s legacy lives on. Though other elephant families suffer devastating losses, her family is able to survive the drought, retaining her wisdom for future generations, keeping her memory alive.
When I was watching Ely’s determination, I was reminded by my baby goats’ legs that would come out wildly misshapen and in a day or two miraculously straighten out. The cool thing was the Elephants knew that this happens and it was worth it to stick it out. The bones are very soft when they are in the mother, but even without splinting, they will straighten out. Admittedly it is frightening to see the crippled legs for the first time.
Thank you for making these scenes possible, without interfering with the surroundings.
I agree with both Marie, and Alain. Also, I can’t begin to understand their LOGIC, of how and why they could watch Erin suffer, and die, when they SAID that they intervened with medical care for Erin, because her wound was caused by MAN with a spear as opposed to ‘natural cause’… so, when it became infected, WHY did they not intervene, and re-treat her??? Echo was incredibly smart, and incredibly intuitive, and ‘felt’ these researchers were ‘family’. Surely, she sensed if not witnessed these research scientists had intervened and treated Erin initially… who knows… maybe Echo ‘hugging and soothing’ Erin was Echo telling Erin: It’ll be okay. I’ll take baby boy to feed, and check on and tend to the rest of the family while you stay here and relax, and let them take care of that wound again. We will take care of the baby, and you join us when you feel better.. then, wondered where she was, and why she hadn’t come to find her and her son, so returned two months (?) later, a bit confused and concerned that Erin hadn’t sought them out…. only to return to where she had left her to realize that the caress she came upon, was Enid’s remains, confused why the researcher ‘family’ didn’t help her like they had before. Might sound melodramatic, but still…. that’s what it felt like to me. Broke my heart for ALL of them, and absolutely disgusted with the researchers. That same researcher that said to the cameraman, “Don’t film this, it’s horrible to watch…:” when Eli was born and struggled to learn to walk!! UGH!
I was amazed by the dedication Echo showed to the well being of her herd. Thank you so much for sharing this with the world. Poaching is something that needs to be STRONGLY addressed and HARSHLY dealt with. Bless you all do taking care of this magificent animals.
I am watching a replay of “Echo: An Elephant to Remember” yet again. I never tire of this particular episode of Nature. I can honestly say that Echo is by far the strongest and finest woman I have ever had the privilege of learning about. I do not care if people find that strange for me to speak of an animal with such heart felt fondness.Our world was such a better place with her in it. What an amazing creature! Elephants have always fascinated me; every time I learn of another slaughter for their ivory it brings tears to my eyes. What a wonderful program–it is an honor to be able to sit in my living room and watch their live stories unfold! When the male calf–little Ely- that was born a bit “unsteady” with his legs-finally stood up and was “rewarded with his drink”–did you see the look in the little guys’ eyes?? How about when the other calf was kidnapped, and Echo gathered up her clan and took the calf back? Bless all the ladies–and other staff–at Amboseli for bringing us this incredible story! I know I was deeply saddened by the death of Echo–I can only imagine the heartbreak and incredible loss felt by all the staff. Echos’ family (as shown in the program) was profoundly affected. No doubt Echo imparted her wisdom on enough of her clan so they can carry on, into and through the next generations. Let’s pray that the poaching STOPS forever(naive I know). Rest in Peach, Echo–a true wonder of nature, you enriched my life in so many ways. Now you are the Guardian Angel of Amboseli. You are deeply missed.
I do not understand why Erin was allowed to suffer so long. Humans intervened when she was wounded to try to save her. But when it was clear that she could not survive, why wasn’t she euthanized? This was animal cruelty by those who claimed to love her.
And don’t give me that tired, old ‘nature should be allowed to take its course’ argument. We destroy their environments, we hunt and kill them savagely for their tusks, but we can’t intervene to end their suffering? Are you kidding me?!!!
I am deeply touched by elephants,always moved to tears just by. watching them.It saddens me greatly,all the harm we cause these intelligent, and majestic animals. We have much to be accountable and ashamed of.
I will miss you echo
January 25, 2013
Look well, therefore, to this day! Such is the Echo salutation of the dawn. Paradise is where Echo will walk…On the edge of the forest live joyfully, without desire…People will miss Echo because they never found that little bit of happiness and never stopped to enjoy…
Echo is gone…
In the bulb there is a flower;
in the seed, an apple tree;
In cocoons, a hidden promise:
butterflies like Echo will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter
there’s a spring that waits to be,
Unrevealed until its season,
something God alone can see.
There’s a song in every silence.
Seeking Echo and melody;
There’s a dawn in every darkness,
bring hope to you and me.
From the past she will never be forgotton,
and leaves her mystery,
Unrevealed until its season,
something God can only see.
In her end is the beginning: in our time, infinity;
In our doubt there is believing; in her live, eternity,
In her death , a resurrection; at the last, a victory,
Unrevealed she walks amongst us the memory that will always be.
In memory of Echo…
H. Bialek
Why not pay some of these poorer African countries to create and maintain a herd of elephants that would b specifically grown and maitained for the nonlethal harvesting of their ivory. These elephants would be registered and like other commodities traceable back to a sustainable source large enough to satisfy demand. This commodity would grow dliterally for decades to adjust to what market there would be thereby reducing the incentive for illegal poaching as potantial harvesting could be licensed and regulated to ensure the elephant would not be sacrificed in the harvesting of the ivory. Wild natural herds would therefore be left as tourist destinations and would still bring other revenues not focused upon the ivory as these other herds would satisify that demand,
I am deeply touched by this story, i will miss you Echo the Elephant.
So many many people fell in love with Echo…….AND now add another to the list…my 5 1/2 year old grandson!!!!!! He even has a foto of her alone taped to his bedroom wall!!!!!!! What a very special matriarch and family!!!!!!!! She will always be missed!!!!!
I thought the two pogams jsut aired on PBS on elephants werer excellent. he film about Echol the mariarch was inpariticular fascinating, and b showing the histor of an entire famil of elephnats gave us a pictue that we don’t usually see. That elephats have bonding and family relationships and histories much like humans was vividly shown an dou effos to save the elephenats from further loss is much needed.
As always, Nature does it best. Echo’s marvelous story should be more than just entertainment. My hope is that it will help motivate people around the world to do all they can to stop the horrific mass slaughter of elephants in Africa for their ivory. The fact is that Echo survived to such a ripe old age is now a rarity-no doubt people in China and other big markets for ivory saw this program, and lamented the fact that they weren’t able to kill her and get her magnificent set of tusks so they could be carved up to sit on some rich businessman’s curio cabinet.
It is past time we saw Nature programs such as this one as portrayals of something distant and far from us. The fact is that soon, many of the creatures we have been so awed by in the decades that Nature has been on the air will very likely disappear from the wild for good. What will this say about humanity? How will our children feel when they find out the animals they see on old televisions shows are all that remains of a once vibrant species? Whether or not these creature survive is in our hands, and our collective conscience.
My daughter and I loved this show. Eli’s determination to walk was amazing, as was the fact that he survived. Elephants have been shown to mourn their dead, which shows their higher intelligence. We could learn from them.