Myanmar(Burma) still uses elephants for low impact logging, and has done so for a very long time.
I find it very heart breaking that the modern world is bringing this noble symbiotic relationship between man and animal to an end.
http://america.aljazeera.com/conten.../2014/1/photos-elephant-logginginmyanmar.html
I'll never forget the day about 15 or so years ago while removing a large Lerp Psyllid infested red gum euc with a 120 ton crane at the S D Zoo, that crossed over a 24 inch DBH ficus elastica that bent over precariously further once the euc was gone.
I asked Danny Simpson, the head of horticulture at the zoo, what he wanted to do with it, suggesting to him that it was too high of a pedestrian traffic area to leave. He said choke the tree off and have the CO put it where I tell yu. So I rigged it, whacked it, and the CO lifted it dripping white sap into the air.
Then Danny unlocked the huge steel gates into the African Elephant enclosure, went inside, and signaled for the CO to lower the entire tree into the enclosure next to him, and to hurry up about it! Once the tree was down next to him, he quickly unchoked it and high tailed it outta there!
About 12-15 elephants were stampeding and trumpeting their way to that ficus, and devoured the entire tree down to 3 inch wood in less than 15 minutes! They had white sap drooling down their chins as they rolled their eyes in ecstasy at the unexpected treat.
Jomo
I find it very heart breaking that the modern world is bringing this noble symbiotic relationship between man and animal to an end.
http://america.aljazeera.com/conten.../2014/1/photos-elephant-logginginmyanmar.html
I'll never forget the day about 15 or so years ago while removing a large Lerp Psyllid infested red gum euc with a 120 ton crane at the S D Zoo, that crossed over a 24 inch DBH ficus elastica that bent over precariously further once the euc was gone.
I asked Danny Simpson, the head of horticulture at the zoo, what he wanted to do with it, suggesting to him that it was too high of a pedestrian traffic area to leave. He said choke the tree off and have the CO put it where I tell yu. So I rigged it, whacked it, and the CO lifted it dripping white sap into the air.
Then Danny unlocked the huge steel gates into the African Elephant enclosure, went inside, and signaled for the CO to lower the entire tree into the enclosure next to him, and to hurry up about it! Once the tree was down next to him, he quickly unchoked it and high tailed it outta there!
About 12-15 elephants were stampeding and trumpeting their way to that ficus, and devoured the entire tree down to 3 inch wood in less than 15 minutes! They had white sap drooling down their chins as they rolled their eyes in ecstasy at the unexpected treat.
Jomo
cool story!