GA-ALL-LEE

... said Gomer.  Surprise!  Surprise!  Surprise!

This week, the most surprising thing I've heard:

At one time, as recent as the 16th century, 500 years ago, there were an estimated 26 million elephants in Africa. That's a lot.  That's a whole lot.  Today, there are at most 700 thousand.  

Poachers have turned over 25 million elephants into hair brush and knife handles, billiard balls, piano keys, figurines and the like.  Ivory is highly valued and still in demand.  

I've got no special love for the largest animal on Earth but, geez louise, what are we doin' here?   What if they are the only animal that can't jump?  What if they have skin an 1-1/2" thick?  What if, in that huge mouth they have fewer teeth than a human who doesn't live in West Virginia or Kentucky?

Enough of this silliness.  I'm feelin' it for the elephants.  Especially mother elephants who endure pregnancy for over a year and a half; longer than any other animal.  Yikes!
🐘