L'Elephant d'Afrique

 

Best photo of this century

A lioness and her cub were crossing the savannah, but the heat was excessive, and the lion cub was in great difficulty. An elephant realized that the cub was dying and carried it with its trunk to a puddle, walking next to its mother.
And they are called wild animals!

From a very young age, I have been fascinated by this African animal. This animal is remarkable in many ways. Its imposing size and the distinctive presence of its proboscis, equipped with two membranes at its tip, make it remarkable, like two skilled human fingers. Its weight can reach 8 tons. Unfortunately, it is frequently poached because of its precious tusks, which are essential for its food and protection. In these herds, it is the leadership that is provided by the females, setting up a system of matriarchy, a social structure that differs from that observed in the human species, where domination is often exercised by males.

The horses we kept at home consumed about 10 liters of water per day, a negligible amount compared to the 150 liters an elephant needs to drink. Regarding plant-based food, elephants consume between 200 and 300 kg, while our horses are satisfied with 5 kg of grains and prairie grass. The horses received regular care, including grooming, deworming, and vaccinations, which contributed to their average lifespan of 30 years. Elephants must rely on their acquired immunity to face the various dangers present in the savanna and the forest. That is why they can only reproduce at the age of 30, even though they reach sexual maturity around the age of 12. Their average lifespan is around 70 years, but they can live up to 100 years. The expression "to have an elephant's memory" comes from these animals' remarkable ability to recognize places and individuals even after many years.

Following my marriage, I started a collection of elephant figurines. On every trip or getaway, I made it a habit to look for souvenirs in local shops to bring back a representative piece from the country or region I visited. Over the years, my collection gradually grew to an impressive number of over a hundred pieces. A part of it has been arranged in niches located in the entrance hall of our new residence. The visitors, in turn, are fascinated by this colorful collection of the pachyderm that welcomes them.

Currently, due to the famine caused by the long period of drought in Southern Africa, I came across an article discussing the strategies implemented by African countries to address this issue. I must admit that this news deeply moved and disturbed me, to the point of preventing me from sleeping the following night.

In August 2024, the Namibian government recently announced its plan to cull 83 elephants, 30 hippos, 60 buffaloes, 50 impalas, 100 blue wildebeests, 300 zebras, and elands on its territory. The government's decision to task professional hunters with the culling of these wild animals is motivated by the goal of providing meat to distribute to the population in food insecurity. The country has been impacted by a severe drought that has led to the devastation of food stocks and crops. It is anticipated that 50% of the population will face food shortages in the coming months. The number of animals in parks and protected areas exceeds that of animals in pastures and water reserves. The 157 animals that were sacrificed generated a total yield of 57,000 kg of meat. Wildlife protection advocates have strongly criticized this disastrous hunting program and have launched a petition to demand its immediate cessation. No environmental impact assessment or precise animal census has been conducted. We must understand that human subsistence takes precedence over that of animals, of course, but it's so sad to have to come to this.