Superior elephants

Re “But do they all think they’re fat?” Oct. 31

So elephants can recognize themselves in a mirror. In addition to nurturing their young, having close-knit families and mourning their dead, this is one more way elephants can be likened to humans.

One way they’re different from humans: They don’t imprison other species of animals under the guise of “education” or “conservation.” They don’t feel that the entertainment of their children warrants the exploitation of other species. They don’t subject animals to lifetimes in zoos for their own amusement. Clearly, elephants have one up on humans.

RORY FREEDMAN

Los Angeles