Asomotif, the preservation of forests is not only about the preservation of elephants. It is about the preservation of life as we know it.
Throughout the history of the planet Earth, species have arisen, and species have disappeared. This in itself is neither good nor bad, it is simply the nature of the abstract concept of "life". For balance to exist, old entities must disappear and new entities must come into existence.
Humans have been here for only the blink of a gnat's eyelid, but during our time here, we have assumed the characteristics of a parasite that has changed the nature of our host, and is in the process of destroying that host.
As a species, in our present form and current distribution it is inevitable that we shall disappear.
Unless some very unpalatable decisions are taken by those who are in command of the destiny of our species.
Against such a backdrop, the disappearance of elephants, as unfortunate as this may be, is as nothing, when measured against the disappearance of life as we know it.
Regrettably it is the nature of humankind to see only that which is within its reach:- the preservation of an animal species is something that seems to be attainable; the preservation of Earth is too big, too hard, and something that is not attainable. The principal barrier to this is the very human nature that has placed us where we are today.
|