The Portland daily press., 1896-07-03
TO SAVE THE ELEPHANT.
Immediate Action Is Said to Be Necessary
"A Sanctuary in somaIiland

A correspondent of the London Times
writes to that paper urging the need of
immediate action, il the African ele-
plant is to be saved from speedy extino-
ton. 81 desire to call attention." he
says, ito the opportunity which our
pIoteotorate over Someliland gives us for
constituting portion of that country
a sanctuary for the remaining herds of
those animals-an opportunity go favor
able In all respects that it seems only me-
oessary to state the case to insure the
adoption of this measure.
"Of late years Somaliland has been
traversad by numerous parties of
sportsmen and the herds of elephants
which few years ago inha bited the
mountain range behind Berber have
been driven out. This took place in the
belt of country the hunting in which is
now reserved for the use of officers of
the Alden garrison. These herds, or the
remnants Of them have taken refuge more
than hundred miles farther to the west
in the country of the Gadabursi, to the
south of Zeila.
"This large tract has been recently
added to the Alden reserve, which Ethere-
fore now again contains elephants. My
suggestion is that the shooting Of ele-
plants should be prohibited within the
whole preserve. Great advantages are
granted to the officers of the Alden garri-
son which should be the last to grudge
fsr
them to make iu return that, within cer-
tain specified limits, they should abstain
altogether from killing elephants. do
not for a moment believe that thess gen.
tlemen, who are good sportsmen, would
oppose this measure. Even If the privi-
lege were nominally retained for them
it would not be of long duration. The
experience of the past would be repeated.
1t is not that the animals are externii-
mated; the essential fact to be remsm-
bered is that single shot fired at one
member of the herd il enough to make
a whole band abandon that part of the
country.
tThis belt of country is particularly
favorable for the constitution OF such a
| sanctuary. 1t is comparatively near
home and therefore likely to be under
constant observation. saw tracks Of
elephants On the fifteenth day from leev-
ing London. The close supervision by
the assistant residents, who are able
and experienced Administrations.
stationed on the coast, would be oOmpar-
attyely easy, owing to the fact that nu-
merous parties OF sportsmen traverse tho
region in question every year and would,
OF course, report. They are also kept
.f<nr 49, ,s.sA
the coast for purposes of trade and who,
owing to the wise and just treatment
which they have received, are our fast
friends. The Somalis are unarmed az
cept with spears and therefore have not
the power, even if they had tbs will to
go behind the restriction. They decline
to eat the flesh of elephants, therefore an
elephant killed is ton of meat wastad,
which is thing abhorrent to us all. The
region in question, which is mountain
Gus, with fairly abundant forests and
river bed bordered with dense jungle,
is peculiarly attracted to elephants.
Let me deal with possible objections.
have heard it urged that the officers at
Alden would make SO little use of the
right that thore ls no purpose In re-
strictiDg them. I DO not think they
would make this claim for themselves.
On the contrary, have reason to expect
the heartiest cooperation from the au-
thorities Of Alden. 1t is obvious that a
sanctuary in which the favored few are
allowed to go on killing elephants is no
sanctuary at all. 1t has been said that
restriction for this area would be useless,
as the Abyssinians. who have gums,
raid it il search of ivory; but to this 1
reply-frst, that such raids should be
prevented, and, secondly, If the ele-
phants were thus ha1assed they would
find a refuge in the eastern part of the
reserve, which they frequented less than
ten years ago and which is out of reach
Of the Abyssinian frontier.
"A memorandum embodying these
considerations has been forwarded to the
India office. 1t has, L belive boon favor
ably entertained by the secretary Of state
and forwarded to the government of
Bombay, under whose political super
vision 6omaliland lies. My purpose in
writing to you is to invite an expression
of opinion from naturalists, spoTtsmen,
and not least, from those interested in
the future Of Africa. The question Of
once more utilizing the African ele-
phant,as was certainly done in Ptolemaio
times, may pc one for subsequent con-
siderauton The preservation of the race
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