The Lexington Intelligencer

Decision of South African Authorities. It Is Feared, Will Mean Their Extinction There.

The life of the famous African elephant seems to be in danger, for the South African Cape provincial council proposes to exterminate those in the Addo Bush forest, near Port Elizabeth.

For generations past these animals have been a great nuisance to the farmers. They have damaged crops and killed several persons.

The African elephant is noted for its laziness—quite the reverse to its Indian relative, who when called upon cheerfully and easily shoulders a burden of a ton or so. However, an effort is to be made to train the young ones for log-hauling in the Cape forests.

The rounding up of the animals has involved the erection of a number of lofty observation towers, and so large are the numbers to be killed that the shooting of the animals will take over six months. The natives enjoy elephant meat, and the prospect of an unlimited supply for several months is being eagerly looked forward to.

The provisional council's announcement has caused keen regret among naturalists, some of whom say that should the threat be carried into effect the elephant, like the mastodon and the ichthyosaurus, may become extinct.