You already know a lot about elephants. You know they are
intelligent, emotional, caring creatures. What you may not know is this: Earth
will not survive the loss of elephants. They are Humanity’s keystone
species.
When elephants are gone, we are gone. And our actions have made these massive,
yet delicate creatures extremely vulnerable to extinction.
Elephants have roamed the planet for 15 million years. At the beginning of
the 20th century, there were about 5 million African elephants living comfortably
on that continent. Now, a scant hundred years later, there might be 450,000,
at most. That’s over a 90% decline in population.
The cause? Humans. People like you and me. People trying to live, make a living,
enjoy life. We are encroaching on their territory and pushing them out. We
are killing them for their ivory. Our climate-changing activities are destroying
their habitat. And ours.
The sad paradox is that we who are doing all the harm are the only ones gifted
with the intelligence to know it, and to stop it. Unfortunately, along with
that gift of intelligence, we were dealt the affliction of greed. And that
affliction appears to be terminal. There is no vaccine or mask to protect
us. Their greed is killing us all.
For information on what you can do to help save these magnificent creatures,
check out the World Wildlife Fund, or any of the many organizations dedicated
to saving elephants.
Read the poster—“HELP US.” That’s not the Elephant
pleading for his life. He is pleading for all elephants, as well as you, me,
and every other creature on earth. Intelligent and compassionate, like some
people. Not greedy at all, like some people. Help us all!
© 2022 Scott Wright
