The Danger of Elephant Hunting

They have giant ears that extend like barn doors when they want to exhibit a temper or merely announce their magnificent presence. No wild creature on earth is as fascinating or as intelligent--or as dangerous.
Wherever I go, someone always asks me to name my favorite type of hunting. It's a fair question, and it
deserves an honest answer. But usually I'm forthcoming with only a politely noncommittal "Whatever I happen to be hunting at the time" and let it go at that. The reason I'm evasive is because even a hint of my true hunting passion invariably provokes shocked outrage or a cascade of questions. You see, my true hunting love is elephants. African elephants.


People who don't know anything about elephants can't understand why I'd want to hunt them. The only elephants they've ever seen are the cuddly pachyderms that munch peanuts and trot around circus rings with pretty girls astride their necks. Those are Asian, or Indian, elephants. They can be recognized by their small size, stubby ivory and stunted ears dangling from their heads like limp rags. African
elephants are another beast entirely. Half again or even twice as big as the Indian variety, they weigh up to five tons or more, and may stand over 10 feet at the shoulder. They have giant ears that extend like barn doors when they want to exhibit a temper or merely announce their magnificent presence. No wild creature on earth is as fascinating or as intelligent--or as dangerous.


For many, elephant hunting becomes a consuming passion. Legendary ivory hunters such as  and Bell lived that passion. Like a compulsive gambler who is good-or lucky-enough to make a living in the casino, these hunters didn't care about winning; their passion was doing it. If this were the age when herds of elephants freely roamed the African continent, I would chuck it all and go there forever. Hunting elephants is in my blood and they are in my dreams.