The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1896-07-11
SANCTUARY FOR ELEPHANTS.
Somalilsnd Would Mako . Good One II
Set Apart at Once.

bomaliland Would Mako . Good Ono II
Set Apart at Once.
A correspondent writes urging tho
need of immediate action, II the African
elephant is to be saved from speedy ex-
tinction. 81 desire to call attention."
he says, ito the opportunity which our
professionals over Somaliland gives US
Tor constituting portion of that coun-
try a sanctuary for the remaining herds
OF those animals-an opportunity so
favorable in all respects that 1t seems
only necessary to state the case TO in
sure the adoption of this measure.
"Of late years Somaliland has been
traversed by numerous parties OF
sportsmen, and the herds of elephants
which few years ago inhabited the
mountain range behind Berbera have
been driven out. This took place in tho
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 a hundred miles further to
the west, in the country of the Gada-
burst, to the south of leila.
This large tract has been recently
added to the Alden reserve, which there
fore now again contains elephants. My
suggestion is that the shooting of ele-
plants should be prohibited within the
whole of the reserve. Great advantages
are granted to the officers of the Alden
garrison, which l should be the last to
grudge them, and 1t is a small conces-
sion to ask them to make in return
that within certain specified limits,
they should abstain altogether from
killing elephants. / do not for mo-
ment believe that these gentlemen, who
are good sportsmen, would oppose this
measure. Even if the privilege were
nominally retained for them, it would
not be of long duration. The expert
ence of the past would be repeated. 1t
Is not that the animals are extermi-
mated; the essential fact to be remem-
bcred is that a single shot fired at one
member of the herd is enough to make
a whole band abandon that part of the
country
This 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 18th day from lcav-
ing London. The close supervision by
the assistant residents, who are able
and experienced administrators, sta
toned on the coast, would be compare
lively easy, owing to the fact that nu-
merous parties of sportsmen traverse
the region in question every year, and
would, Of course, report. They are
also kept informed by native caravans,
who visit 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, except with spears, and there
fore have not the power, even If they
had the will, to go behind the restric-
ton. They decline to eat the flesh of
elephants; therefore an elephant killed
is ton of meat wasted, which is thing
abhorrent to us all. The region in ques-
ton, which is mountainous, with fairly
abundant forests and river beds bor-
dered with dense jungle, is peculiarly
attractive to elephants.
Let me deal with possible objec-
tions. have heard it urged that the
officers ut Alden would make so little
use of the right that there is no pur-
pose in restricting them. I do not
think they would make this claim for
themselves. On the contrary, l have
reason to expect the heartiest coopcra-
ton from the authorities Mt Alden. 1t is
obvious that a sanctuary in which the
favored few are allowed to go on killing
elephants is no sanctuary at all. II has
been said that restriction for this area
would be useless, as the Abyssnians,
who have guns. raid it in search of
ivory; but to this I reply-first, that
such raids should be prevented, and,
secondly, If the elephants were thus har-
raised, they would find refuge in the
eastern part of the reserve, which they
frequerted less than ten years ago, and
which IL out of reach of the Abyssinian
frontier.
"A memorandum embodying these
considerations has been forwarded to
the India office. 1t has, believe, been
favorably entertained by the secretary
of state. and forwarded to the govern
meht Of Bombay, under whose political
supervision Somaliland lies. My pur-
pose in writing to you is to invite an
expression of opinion from naturalists,
sportsmen, and, not least, from those
interested in the future of Africa. The
question of once more utilizing the
African elephant, as was certainly done
in Ptolemaic times, may be one for sub
.sequent consideration. The preserva-
ton Of the race from extinction is
urgent. Two or three years hence it
may be too late so far as Somaliland is
Observation-Disclosures Times.
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