Poetry – Elefantasy – a poem in my Anthropocene Apocalypse series about the terrible tragedy occurring to the majestic elephants.
Elefantasy
Matriarchal tribe
Even with bull
In his prime.
Gestation lengthy
Baby suckles
Loved all the time.
For the love of a tooth
Ripped from a dying head
The family too is ripped
As father’s blood is shed.
Opher 4.7.2015
Only a decade ago I was out on safari in ecstasy as I watched the herd of elephants with calves stroll around us. The big bull stood in the centre of the track with ears spread wide, watching us intently. The driver had his hand on the gear and his foot on the pedal. I was enthralled as father twitched his tail and flapped his ears. He decided we meant no harm. The herd passed through following their old female leader and the Bull followed up the rear. I watched as they melted into the foliage and disappeared from sight.
I thought they were only disappearing from sight. They were disappearing from the planet. They are being slaughtered by the thousand and hunted to extinction.
The superstition of Chinese medicine and the love of ivory carving has created a market that is as obscene as it is stupid. Ivory is exactly the same stuff your teeth are made of. It has no magic power. But rhinos and elephants are being hunted and cruelly killed. Their tusks and horns are hacked out of their heads with machetes even while they still live. It is obscene.
Poetry – Elefantasy – a poem in my Anthropocene Apocalypse series about the terrible tragedy occurring to the majestic elephants.
Elefantasy
Matriarchal tribe
Even with bull
In his prime.
Gestation lengthy
Baby suckles
Loved all the time.
For the love of a tooth
Ripped from a dying head
The family too is ripped
As father’s blood is shed.
Opher 4.7.2015
Only a decade ago I was out on safari in ecstasy as I watched the herd of elephants with calves stroll around us. The big bull stood in the centre of the track with ears spread wide, watching us intently. The driver had his hand on the gear and his foot on the pedal. I was enthralled as father twitched his tail and flapped his ears. He decided we meant no harm. The herd passed through following their old female leader and the Bull followed up the rear. I watched as they melted into the foliage and disappeared from sight.
I thought they were only disappearing from sight. They were disappearing from the planet. They are being slaughtered by the thousand and hunted to extinction.
The superstition of Chinese medicine and the love of ivory carving has created a market that is as obscene as it is stupid. Ivory is exactly the same stuff your teeth are made of. It has no magic power. But rhinos and elephants are being hunted and cruelly killed. Their tusks and horns are hacked out of their heads with machetes even while they still live. It is obscene.
This is sad and bad, very bad.
1) Can UDAW be of no help, on this regard ?
2) If ivory is taken for medicine instead of showpiece, then it is a better reason for the question – what would be the so-called medicine alternative if these elephants are no more available ?
The medicinal value of horn is nil.
If people are taking this psychological placebo they would be better off with something that really works – like Viagra.
Psychological or not, they think it has a value. Therefore, the question of alternative on extinction is for them to ponder and answer. It is then, when they can stop this brutality on their own.
Yes but Viagra actually works.