Gram for gram, the elephant tusk is more valuable than heroin. To own the genuine article is a status symbol. As is the possession of trophy heads and hinds from the beautiful exotic creatures, Gods creatures they may be, but He failed to make them impervious to the flying lead from Mans own powerful creation – the gun.

            Deep in the heart of the African continent are the habitats of these most sought after animals, lions, rhinos, elephants and countless others. They are a sight to behold in their natural environment, emitting raw, wild energy, powerful and radiant. A caged zoo animal is less than half the animal of a wild one. It becomes traumatized, than lazy, being almost hand fed day after day. These animals lose their natural instincts that they would need to keep them alive in the wild. But how can you blame them after they’ve had their territory reduced from countless acres to a few square meters.

            To see the same creature in safari, or the jungles, is to see magnificence. A herd of mighty elephants searching for water, trembling the ground like an on-coming earthquake. Powerful rippling muscles of a fully-grown cheetah as it chases down prey, reaching phenomenal speeds within seconds. Or the ferocity of angry gorillas fighting for leadership of their clan; the defeated to hang their heads in shame and leave forever. In the zoo you can’t find this no matter how hard you look. The most common sight being static. Either asleep or awake, but stillness. Even with living breathing animals, it is always artificial.

            Man has protected these animals now. The rare species of the world. It has been declared illegal to hunt and kill the endangered animals of Africa and the world. Even the trading of ‘souvenirs’, ripped and torn from their carcasses. However, the reality of the matter concludes, that the rule of man will be broken by man. Especially where there is profit to be made. Animals’ habitats span thousands of miles. To police them completely is literally an impossible task. To find an entire incorruptible police force is just a delusional theory. In many parts of Africa, the law is dictated by the color of money. As long as palms are lined, eyes easily turn away and memories can become erased. But then again, how can you lay blame with a poor African man trying to earn a living for a starving family, when a Western tourist asks him to find a mighty lion for him to hunt, ‘money is no object’. Well, money is an object to the masses, and its powers of persuasion have been proven time and time again. It is all it takes unfortunately.