The Elephant Whisperer

I read one of the most intriguing and inspiring of stories just recently about the death of Lawrence Anthony, the conservationist known as the 'elephant whisperer'. Shortly after he died in early February, two herds of wild South African elephants slowly made their way through the Zululand bush ..walking for  12 hours  ....until they reached the house of the late author. The formerly violent, rogue elephants, who would have been shot a few years ago as pests, were rescued and rehabilitated by Anthony, who had grown up in the South African bush. Lawrence's  family were amazed to see this long procession of elephants standing  outside their home 'paying their respects' ... all the more so as they hadn't even been at this property for more than a year and a half.

Doesn't it raise all sorts of questions like....

How did they know he had died ? Did they see him 'in the spirit'
What sort of finesse of emotion and sentiment would prompt the elephants to respond in such a way?
Just how conscious and intelligent are elephants? 
And if true of elephants what about other animals ? 
What does it say about the interconnected web of life?

And not so much  questions ..but isn't life  beautiful, intimate and marvellous? Aren't the mysteries a gateway to a deeper awe and appreciation of life itself?  Aren't we human beings lucky to be conscious players in this great game?