Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-05
EXTINCTION OF WILD ANIMALS
Buffalo, Elephant, Lion, Giraffe and
Others Passing Away.
From the Indianapolis News.

From the Indianapolis News
Recently published translations from the
German writings of c. 3. Schillings, the
noted African traveller and animal photog-
rapher, have been interesting good many
people in this country. Mr. Schillings has
an enthusiasm for this sort of scientific In
vestgatfon that has carried him to daring
lengths in the achievement of his purpose
He realizes that the larger animals OF
Africa-the elephant, the lion, the giraffe
etc.-are rapidly becoming extinct; that IN
few more generations the world Will
know them only as it now knows the dodo
and for this reason he has undertaken to
make an accurate and scientific record or
their existence in their native habitat TO
do this he has gone into the widest parts
OF the dark continent and photographed
these animals in their wild state, both at
night. by means of flash light, and in day
time with such sun exposures as he has
been able to obtain. His work has been ex-
cellently done, and the record is Interesting
to us. and will be even more SO to those
who come after us.
And yet with all his scientific enthusiasm
it seems that Mr.. Schillings could not al
ways resist the temptation to take a shot
at these unsuspecting beasts which were
unknowlngly exposed to him in his covert
On one occasion he even killed four lions in
one day. This, we are afraid, was killing
for the mere sake of killing-which is the
SiduSHlSl luot 10 iUW llldhiiiS eAliHct
of natures most remarkable productions
With its economical usefulness it is likely
that the elephant will, in the course or
time, take the status of the cani2l in the
orient, and never become extinct But the
others are doomed. The CRATES are al
most gone, the rhinoceros and the river
horse" are becoming rare, and lions grow
scarcer year by year. And this Is largely
because of killing for sport Some of
these animals. to be sure, are dangerous,
but Africa is large place. Under fair and
undisturbed conditions they live to them
selveg and injure no one; man goes into
their territory, slaughter-bent, a good deal
oftener than the wild animals come to him.
What the purpose of the existence of all
these animals is we may not know, but In
the economy of nature. 1t is reasonable to
assume that there Is some purpose And
from this point of view their slaughter IS
lamentable. In the course of long enough
time no doubt they will become extinct
through the mere changing of conditions.
AS the settlements of men encroach more
and more on their native Businesses, they
will deterforate and lessen in numbers just
as the Indians have through lack of a place
to i've lack of their natural sustenance
and the increasing stress of the struggle
for existence. But in such place as Africa
these conditions are a long way Off. Mean
time is It not worth while to give the ami
mals-the real Afric autocthons-a chance
to live what is probably their allotted time
ON earth in such peace as their good be-
hayior will permit? The same argument
can be made in favor of the bears and bob
cats of our own western states. The
slaughter Of the buffalo should teach us
some things.