Remember our friend Mutware, the elephant who tried to kill us?
On our way back from the gorillas the other day, we told our guide about our trip to Akegera and mentioned being charged by Mutware. He told us that before 1994, he was a peaceful elephant, never aggressive. During the genocide, however, when chaos was rampant throughout the country, people would shoot at each other (and sometimes the animals) in the park, and the animals witnessed a lot of violence. Many of the animals fled- it's why there are no longer any lions or other predators in Akagera. Mutware was scared by the shooting and felt threatened, and now he associates people with violence and trying to kill him. It's so sad to think how people's actions affect the environment around them, and how even animals can be scarred for life... I guess elephants really don't forget.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
it's not only the elephants that don't forget. I'm sure there are children that are growing up with out family members and know that something bad happened, but not 100% sure what. I'm also sure that there are people our age, that are also very aware of what happened and what went on. and each and every night cry them selves to sleep because of what they've seen humans capable of doing. It is very sad what some people can do and not feel bad about it :(
~~ Kara Lynn
Post a Comment