Friday, August 30, 2019

Book Review - Elephant - Princeton University Press

One president said to me: I've never had a voter ask me for more elephants.  
They want hospitals, education.
Kaddu Sebunya


     When I see the name of Errol Fuller as the author of a book, I immediately look forward to reading it and I know that at the end of the book I will be left with a sense of satisfaction.
     Fuller normally deals with avian topics, especially extinctions, so I was particularly curious as to how he would tackle an iconic mammal.
     


      The coverage is exhaustive, from the prehistory of the modern pachyderm, through its evolution to the form we see today, its association with man (always to the animal's disadvantage), to the precarious state of its current existence in a world dominated by serious human overpopulation and a degraded landscape.  
      Hannibal used elephants as beasts of war; throughout history they have been used in circuses and fairs for human entertainment, often in the most demeaning ways, and have even been publicly executed by attempted hanging and finished off with electrocution for an obviously cultured and appreciative  public who came out to witness the event. In Asia elephants are used as beasts of burden. Seldom have these magnificent and enigmatic creatures been permitted just to be elephants.
      It is a cause for great dismay that humans, who have always had a fascination with elephants, and acknowledge that they share traits such as loyalty and affection with us, have posed and continue to pose the greatest threat to the elephant's survival as a species.
      Contemplate for a moment the images below and try to dismiss the notion that they do not represent emotions akin to our own.





     Who can question the intensity of this large matriarch's loyalty to her family and her willingness to protect it?


     The key to elephant existence is the extended family unit, and the devotion displayed to the young by all, regardless of parentage, is a key character of elephant survival. Indiscriminate killing of adults not only removes many years of experience from the herd, it disrupts the entire social structure of it.
     Aside from the conflicts engendered when elephants come into contact with humans, by raiding crops, for example, or that noble sport of trophy hunting by rich westerners who come only to kill, one of the most magnificent adornments of an elephant has been in large measure the principal agent of its downfall. An elephant has the misfortune to have tusks.
     There has been a fascination with ivory since time immemorial and it has been used to carve items of every description.




        If the ivory was taken only from animals that died from natural causes there would be no problem, but the principal cause of elephant poaching is to supply the relentless demand for ivory, and elephants are killed daily to satisfy this insane trade. Using modern technology poachers are more than ever before able to outwit the authorities and this highly profitable barbarism continues unabated. Mothers are shot before the eyes of their young and their tusks hacked out. Young elephants are left bewildered, traumatized and orphaned.
       And all this for trinkets.



     Many countries now have bans against the trade in ivory, but the laws are often poorly enforced and the illegal trade finds ways to smuggle ivory in any event.
     Add to this the reduction in land for elephants prone to long distance wandering, conflict with farmers when their crops are trampled or eaten, a landscape blighted by drought and over-exploitation, and the future for elephants looks grim.



     Who among us would wish their demise? Surely the time has come, it is long past in fact, for humans to mount a concerted effort to save our elephants, whose numbers have already plummeted. They represent a patrimony for the entire world, not just for the countries they inhabit. Are we really unable to curb our own greed, modify our selfishness, reduce our own numbers? 
     One hopes not, but hope is a faint glimmer on an ever darkening horizon for the elephant. Its extinction may not be too far off. 

Elephant
Errol Fuller
Hardcover - $29.95 - 9780691191324 - 288 pages - 202 colour illustrations - 8" (20 cm) x 10" (25 cm)
Publication date: 3 September 2019
David M. Gascoigne,
David M. Gascoigne,

I'm a life long birder. My interests are birds, nature, reading, books, outdoors, travel, food and wine.

34 comments:

  1. The photos seem to be enough reason to buy the book, spectacular!

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    1. I agree, Marleen, and I have shown you but a few.

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  2. Hi!!! Wonderful book.. so interesting!!! .. I hope you are having a happy week..

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  3. Hello, another great review. The photos are just beautiful, I would love to see the elephants in the wild. From a distance of course, lol. The extinction of any animal is sad, especially the elephants. Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy weekend!

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  4. Realmente mi querido amigo David estas cosas entristecen y mucho. Cada día siento más vergüenza como ser humano que soy. Deberían existir leyes únicas para todos los países que comprendieran ciertos casos como es el de los elefantes y otras especies en el peligro de extinción y para él que cometiera incendios o desforestaciones, estas leyes deberían ser únicas y de aplicación para cualquier país y además leyes duras, con estas cosas no se puede ir de blandos por la vida.
    No cabe duda que ese libro tiene que ser un gran libro, como ya has mencionado.
    Un fuerte abrazo querido compadre y profesor David y te deseo un buen fin de semana.

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  5. Again a wonderful review, and what a beautiful book!
    I think the story of elephants is a sad story. The greed of mankind are endless.

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  6. Awsome photos of elephants!
    I've got an ivory mail-knife bought in South-Africa, and I keep it hidden, as it reminds me of the atrocities against elephants meant to get their ivory tusks.

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  7. they are such gentle giants, with a true personality. i enjoyed seeing inside the book, beautiful pictures, and reading your detailed review!!

    the thought of them becoming extinct is very sad!!

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  8. An elephant is always admired for intelligence and vitality.

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  9. What a beautiful book and review. The photos in the book are very impressive.

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  10. I am so very often ashamed of our species. Very, very ashamed.

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  11. Well said. Thanks for recommending this one.

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  12. I've never read anything by this author so I'll look for his books! Thanks for a very good review...given with your whole heart!

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  13. I do like great elephant pictures.
    Merle........

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  14. En bok som jag aldrig skulle kunna läsa, det blir för plågsamt för mig att läsa om allt det grymma mänskligheten gjort och gör mot detta ståtliga djur.

    Jag har aldrig sett en fri elefant i dess rätta omgivning, däremot som liten flicka såg jag elefanter plågas på cirkus. Ingen talade om för mig att detta var fel och själv kunde jag i den åldern inte begripa bättre. Tyvärr finns det fortfarande vuxna människor som tycker att det är underhållning.

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    1. We have treated them very badly, Gunilla. I have not seen them in the wild either. The one chance I had, in South Africa, was thwarted due to drought - the animals had moved on in search of water. I just wanted to say also that we are very happy to welcome your young Greta to North America. What an inspiration she is.

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    2. Det gläder mig David att du och många andra välkomnar tösen som seglat över Atlanten. Vem kunde ana när jag skrev om henne första gången att hon skulle få detta genomslag i hela världen. Jag hoppas att hon klarar av uppmärksamheten, hon har en fin och stödjande familj och jag hoppas att de kan vara den vägledning som hon behöver, hon är ju bara 16 år.

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    3. She may be only sixteen years old, Gunilla, but she has wisdom that belies her youth. I admire, respect and cherish her. It was you, Gunilla, who first introduced her to me.


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  15. Hello David, this looks like a great book with beautiful photos. A safari to see the elephants is on my bucket list. I can not stand the thought of the elephants becoming extinct. Thanks for sharing your post. Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend. PS, thank you for the visit and comment.

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  16. In spite of what I wrote in response to your previous book review, David, the subject of this current, and very compelling, review is now added to my 'wish list'.

    On the subject of Elephant conservation and the prospects for their future, the current situation is yet another example of how man's selfishness, greed, and vanity are rapidly destroying the planet and its inhabitants. Let us hope that there are soon many more people like Greta Thunberg who will publicise, educate, and bring some sanity to the human race.

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    1. The future lies with the Gretas of this world, Richard. And with a more sensible populus to stop electing people like Trump and Bolsonaro.

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  17. I am sure I would enjoy that book David. I have a number of happy memories of elephant encounters. The most special was a late night watching a flood lit waterhole at Naivashsa with nothing much happening until a herd of elephants of all sizes arrived to set the place alight with their noise and activity.

    Another time, giving a roadside elephant a few rupees which it deftly transferred to the mahout sat above before holding out its trunk for more – who could resist?

    In Sri Lanka we scrubbed a bathing elephant and then in India rode above like maharajahs of old. And of course, we have Ganesh on the mantelpiece at home.

    Magnificent creatures.

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    1. You have been very fortunate to have had these experiences, Phil. They will live in your memories forever.

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  18. Hi David,
    What appears to be a superb publication on these poor animals that are still being slaughtered an an alarming rate, I'm afraid the world has got to act against this extreme cruelty and exploitation just for trinkets.
    A friend on mine went on an excursion in India to get images of Tigers, this he did but said how wonderful the Elephants were they rode upon.
    All the best,
    John

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  19. These photos are great, inspiring.

    I read: Elephant Company by Billy Williams, WW2
    Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony

    Elephants are the most precious, most amazing of all mammals.

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  20. Un libro muy interesante, me encantaría tenerlo. Besos.

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  21. Hello David, I hope this book will help to understand Elephants better and respect them more. I said it before that most of us humans do not respect nature and its animals in it. My sister in law went to Thailand and wanted also to visit Elephants. I told her to make sure that these animals were not forced to amuse tourists and she should not take a ride. Lots of young Elephants are still taken from the wild and abused to do tricks for amusement. I have seen pictures of braking down a Elephant and I had nightmares of it. So sad :(
    Regards,
    Roos

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  22. Elephants are wonderful, this book looks and sounds excellent.

    All the best Jan

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  23. I can see why you are sought out to do reviews on books such as this.They are always complete and really give a remarkable idea of what the book is about and why it would be a valuable (or not) reference. This one certainly looks like it will help its readers get a fuller appreciation for this magnificent beast.

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  24. Hi David - I'd love this book ... I had so many happy encounters with elephant during my time in Southern Africa - they are extraordinary for their memory ... a Safari Lodge in Zambia ... no cognisance was taken of the migratory routes of the elephants and so they went through the foyer and on their usual route to a well loved mango tree! Seeing them in Namibia - in the Skeleton Desert ... where they always followed their ancestral routes to water, in times of serious drought. Extraordinary creatures ... and I hope we don't completely wipe them out for trinkets ... but others' value of trinkets is different to ours, where we have some knowledge of the destruction we are causing.

    Thanks for reviewing this - it's special! Cheers Hilary

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    1. Hi Hilary: I feel uneasy about justifying the use of ivory by saying that people value trinkets differently, especially when they know they are buying their raw material on the black market, which should give them a pretty good idea that the trade is not sanctioned. It is hard for me to believe that in the 21st century anyone is ignorant of the consequences of the trade in ivory.

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    2. I was referring to people who almost certainly don't know better ... ie the peoples of the Asian area - their cultures aren't so respectful of nature ...

      I agree with your thoughts ... cheers Hilary

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  25. Great review.
    I condemn animal hunting. I think it's a murder.
    Greetings.

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  26. I can't understand why people like Trump and Bolsonaro are chosen. I know it very well. In my country, people were also chosen who destroyed the Białowieża Forest, which was on the UNESCO list!
    Hugs and greetings.

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