THE SPIRITS ARE ANGRY

Mankind has over time been consistently intrigued by these gigantic beasts with their human like behavioral patterns. The elephant, fold upon fold of dignity, intelligence and love, engender such feelings of awe in me that I have totally fallen under the spell of these animals. To me, they are ‘Natures’ Masterpieces.’  I often wonder why humans react with such surprise on discovering how intelligent and sentient these animals are, but fortunately more and more is learnt about these animals, and we are learning they should be handled with compassion and not brutality. They are ‘human’ animals.

When we discuss ‘animal intelligence’, do we as humans take on a anthropocentric view? Are we the most important beings? Whilst we are an intricate part of this wild and beautiful world, we are but one thread in this web of life.  We are all creatures of the soil, and we need to learn to honour all that leaves their mark  in the sand. Sadly, we seem bent on destroying not only each other, but the environment as well. These magnificent creatures and other animals are also intricately woven into evolution’s slow magic. They are however, not preoccupied with control or destruction. Elephants reveal to us humans all the goodness in creation. They possess an inner beauty: Natures soothing breeze.

Tragically,  these creatures are being buffeted by howling winds as poachers stalk their every movement. These ‘men of death’ are not only slaughtering the creature but are also destroying what makes this animal so revered.  Man, who calls himself the ‘rational animal’, the ‘virtuous animal’ and the animal with the ability to conscientiously choose between right and wrong is responsible for the heinous crimes against nature and her creatures. These men have been instrumental in the collapse of ‘Elephant Society’ brought on by poaching.  They have disrupted the transmission of ‘Elephant Culture’ from one generation to another. Echos of harmony are quickly lost as survivors of these ruthless poaching attacks are left traumatized and rudderless. Lone elephants and elephant calves have been found either standing guard over corpses or wandering aimlessly. Youngsters with no guidance and discipline can turn into rampaging delinquents. Elephants are close-knit and emotional, with strong family bonds. For them, the bush which should be their haven, has turned into a raw and violent battlefield. What we are now seeing in behavioral patterns with elephants after a ‘genocide’ is that it is frighteningly close to how humans react.

Me getting emotional? You damn right I am.  I cannot bear to sit around watching as humans destroy a species. It is morally wrong. Do these people who destroy and pillage the wildlife have a conscience? Can they envisage a world of shadowy spirits weaving through the bush. People, please, let us not allow it to become a vanishing world.

Mother Nature is showing signs of anger. This poem is aimed at those who perpetrate such crimes as poaching. Although it is aimed at those involved in the cyanide poisoning of the elephants and other animals in Hwange Game Reserve in Zimbabwe, it is a little message to all those destroying the wildlife.