Satao – a legend
I found Mark Deeble’s blog by chance. Since then I have been following it regularly. The first time I read his blog on the Tsavo tuskers, it frightened me. Was it a good idea to name places and animals in the same breath?
Today I am re-blogging his post below and you can see how my, and many others’ fears have come true.
Please, those of you who care enough, add your voice to this fight. Every thought and whisper will count. Time is fast running out for our fellow creatures on earth. Put social media to use. Sign petitions. Take pictures. Post, blog, make a noise.
My own reply to his post was this …
“Anger and tears are of no use to Satao’s living brethren. Yes, we all are angry and we all are distressed.But for you Mark, I have a question. In this age of genetic technology, is there no way to make a DNA identification of any tusks that are found hereon? Cannot a look out be kept for this one DNA match? I have no idea about the science or the costs involved. It’s just a thought that occurs to me. It’s technology we use in human forensic science. If it can be used, does the Kenyan government have the backbone to pay and use it?
Surely to have killed Satao’s and got away means a massive plot. This could not have been a stray poacher.
Is animal conservation in Kenya – and the rest of the world – going to become a real war in favour of the animals or will it remain a page three article for political bigwigs to get their pictures splashed in the media?
The need of the hour is not tears flowing or fury. The need of the hour is relelntless logic and ruthless pursuit. The need of the hour is complete punishment – what needs to flow is ice in the veins of the criminals – the thought of poaching should turn them cold with dread.”
When I last wrote about Satao, I felt that I couldn’t use his name. I could refer to him only as a ‘magnificent tusker’ or an ‘iconic Tsavo bull’. I feared that naming him would risk revealing where he lived. Now that I can use it, I wish that that I couldn’t.
On the 30th May, poachers finally caught up with Satao. An arrow smeared with Acokanthera poison hit him in his left flank and penetrated his body cavity. It travelled right through to his vital organs. To begin with, he might have run, to get deeper inside the park, where he felt safe. Running would have made the poison work faster. He didn’t get very far. Eventually he stood still in open ground, not a mile from the park boundary – with the potent cardio-toxin coursing through him. Without any cover to hide his tusks, he’d have felt exposed…
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I read this post today in complete and utter sadness. I saw your comment on Cecilia’s blog that I have been following for a few years now. This was the first time I had seen a comment from you and since I am an animal lover…elephants especially, I accepted your invitation to read this post. I read it this morning and it has haunted me all day and probably will for quite some time to come. Especially after seeing that heartbreaking photo…
I am a long time member of the World Wildlife Fund and they are especially ramping up efforts to cut down on wildlife poaching as it seems it is getting worse instead of better. I’m not sure if you saw the recent article on the front page of National Geographic called, “Blood Ivory” but at least it is being brought to more of the public’s attention. I hope more people around the world will help put a stop to this horrible and senseless loss of our precious wildlife.
Thank-you for posting this story…as sad as it was, people need to see and hear about it. They won’t save what they don’t love….
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Thanks Honeya for sharing. Very sad that such a magnificent tusker has been poached and presumably killed all for the sake of some lucre. Hope the Kenyan government tracks the criminals and gives them their just desserts.
Luv Tara Auntie
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