Carl Akeley was a taxidermist. A taxidermist with inordinate amounts of
perseverance, passion and patience. A man who redefined the purpose of
taxidermy and made it an acknowledged art form.
Working at the American Museum of Natural History, Akeley worked on a
plan to build the African Hall. It would depict lives of animals of the
great African wilderness as they truly are and not as a figment of human
imagination.
He had a special love for elephants. These large, gentle
giants were the center of his art through his life. He had many
testing expeditions to Africa in search of the perfect specimens to
shoot down. He would acquire large males, females and young calves. On
being shot, their skins were painstakingly removed and cured for use. A
master in his own line, Akeley kept working on better methods of
taxidermy. He would often completely change his methodology and strove
to share his knowledge with others. He was keen on projecting taxidermy
as an art form. He created some of the finest specimens ever produced.
Renowned scholars and artists highly commended and validated his work.
Akeley came to be a close friend of the then President, Theodore Roosevelt.
He accompanied Akeley on one of his expeditions and even shot one of the
elephants that stands today at the museum. It was on this expedition
that they acquired a small elephant family for another display.
Akeley also worked extensively with gorillas in his later years and they
inspired him to build a moving picture camera especially to record
African wildlife. It was his quest to prove that gorillas were not the
easily-angered, dangerous and violent creatures they were always made out
to be. He was genuinely annoyed when a specimen of a charging,
teeth-gnashing gorilla was presented to the museum. He shot a number of
gorillas for his own creations. He also went on to be the first to
record gorillas in their natural environment.
Akeley faced numerous near-death experiences with the animals he hunted.
He had been attacked fiercely by both elephant and gorilla. But he
never let these incidents keep him from continuing on after them.
Although Akeley wasn't alive to see through the end of his dream project
of the African Hall, his close colleagues and his wife completed it for
him. Today, known as the Akeley Arfican Hall, it stands with its
life-like specimens against realistic painted backgrounds. Over two
million people honour this hall every year through their visits.
Carl Akeley was a great man, a perfectionist in every respect and a
pioneer in his field of science. But I refrain from being full of praise
for him. He was looked up to for his love of animals. He was angered to
hear of animals being hunted down. This amuses me. How was what he did proving his love for animals? He shot
down numerous elephants, including calves and group leaders, breaking
up their families and dismembering them; just so they could be
reconstructed for human viewing pleasure. Study of anatomy is one way of
looking at it. But I ask myself, was there no better way?
Elephants are perhaps, the most emotional of all mammals. To them, every
member of the family matters and is loved. Even the natural death of
one of their herd calls for a long mourning. The sudden death of the
most important links of their herd, including their young ones has the
most heart-breaking impact on the herd. To be able to kill so many,
without having a conscience to stop you, is an extremely selfish ability.
The love for his work far exceeded his love for nature. I wouldn't
sympathize with him for the injuries he acquired from an agitated
elephant. I would sympathize with the elephant and its entire herd for
having to endure such cruelty. Just as the elephants suffered at his
hands, so did the gorillas. Gorillas are gregarious animals that are
highly dependent on their alpha male leader. He is a symbol of security
for them. These males were Akeley's main target and was the first
gorilla he managed to shoot; a large, silver back. This caused an
immense outcry- an actual, sulking outcry from the females of the group.
This first experience didn't prick him, it made him go forth and shoot
two females and a baby.
The results of these killings may be beautiful artworks that spreads
knowledge about animals; but was it really worth all the pain and death?
Does that justify what Akeley did? Does that make him different from
hunters?
Shooting of animals shouldn't be influenced by their populations. It
should be influenced by an inner conscience. This conscience was lacking
in Akeley. He was obsessive about his work, for a need to do better.
The fact that he was never satisfied and always wanted to push himself
further, just lead to the death of more and more animals. He turned elephants into guinea pigs.
He was, in my eyes, a hypocrite. And delusional about his true passion. It is important to have perspective. To be aware of
your actions and be responsible for them. Akeley neither thought he was
doing wrong, nor took any responsibility for what he did. All he took
was praise of the highest order and large monetary gifts that allowed
him to carry on with his sinister work.
There's nothing more valuable than life. Life of a fly, life of a wolf,
life of a monkey, life of a whale. Humans must come to terms with the
fact that we cannot play God. It is not our prerogative to decide who
deserves to live and who doesn't. All life must be respected, must be
cherished and nurtured. And if not these things, in the least, should be
left at peace. Each one unto itself. Nothing is more precious than a
life.
