A Message From Nature On World Animal Day

A Message From Nature On World Animal Day

A Message From Nature On World Animal Day. Fred von Winckelmann – The African Wild In Monochrome –  it is a privilege to once again present exquisite images from Fred’s series The African Wild In Monochrome. In honour of World Animal Day on October 4, 2014 – when we will take to the streets in 127 cities around the world – I thank Fred for allowing me to share his work.

As a wildlife photographer Fred’s trained eye captures what Nature wants us to know. His kind heart tells him when to press the shutter and the resulting images are haunting, profound and beautiful. 

We must not fail in our efforts to save our endangered animals and the planet that we all call home!

Photographs – Fred von Winckelmann

Text – Rosemary Wright

Animals Belong To The Wind – The Rain – The Sunshine – The Stars At Night And The Dew In The Soft Morning Light – They Are Not Ours To Kill …

And Moon Called To Her Favourite North Star And Said – “Let Us Create Something Beautiful And Enduring. A Bond For A Lifetime – A Caring So Deep That Time And Space Will Never Alter Its Course”. And North Star Said – “I Know How To Do That” – Star Dust Covered The Earth – And Mother Love Was Born.   

And Blue Sky Conspired With Sun And They Agreed To Share Their Domain. Clouds Promised To Bring Rain When Needed – And To Change Into A Thousand Magical Images To Bewitch The Imagination Of A Curious Creature – Who Would One Day Be Called Child.

And Earth Knew That A Solid Foundation Was Needed To Stand Against The Wind – To Endure The Heat Of The Sun – To Provide Shade To A Withering Landscape. So Roots Were Created To Delve Into The Soil To Hold Firm The Being That Was Tree.

These Are The Baines Baobabs – Botswana

And A Gnarled And Powerful Root Ball Held Steady In The Noon Time Sun. The Roots Went Deep And Spread Far. From This Base A Tree Of Grandeur, Beauty And Elegance Rose Up Into The Brilliant African Sky.

Her Leaves Softly Touched The Face Of A Passing Cloud And They Were At Peace With One Another.

And Earth Looked About And Thought – “This Magnifient Landscape Must Be Shared”. So He Created A Marvelous Creature And He Imbued Her With Wisdom, Loyalty, Generosity, Kindness And Love. He Gave Her Memory To Carry The Lessons Of A Lifetime Wherever She Wandered. He Promised Her That Her Birthright Was Freedom And Her Legacy Was Family. She Knew How To Honour Them Both. He Called Her Elephant.

And Tree Grew Tall And Her Beauty Was Legendary. She Tickled The Clouds And Spread Her Branches To Offer Shade And Comfort To All Who Stood By Her Side. She Had A Powerful Trunk And A Strong, True Heart And A Spirit That Offered Solace To The Weary. 

And A Vee In Her Sturdy Branches Offered Respite To A Being That Earth Called Cat. And Leopard Knew That His Secrets Were Safe With Tree – That She Would Never Forsake Him Or Fail To Offer Him Safe Haven. And They Became Lifelong Friends.

There Were Days When Sun Scalded The Land. Elephant And Leopard Languished – Too Tired To Move. So Clouds Played Their Part – Covered The Sun And Shed A Million Tears To Wash Away The Dust. And They Provided The Life Giving Gift That Was Water.

But Clouds Were Lonely Because Sun Was Bonded With Sky And Elephant And Leopard Were Fast Friends With Ground. So Earth Blew Soft White Puffs Of Magic Into The Sky And Birds Were Born. Miraculous, Graceful Creatures Who Loved Ground, Water And Sky – But Whose Special Passion Was To Float Quietly On A Gentle Wave Of Air And Then Soar Up To Meet With Clouds On Silver-Tipped Wings. And The Clouds Were At Peace.

And Tree Was Solitary – Standing On The Open Plain – So Earth Blessed Her With A Brother And A Sister. Their Roots Intermingled Deep In The African Soil And Their Trunks Grew Strong And Solid. Their Branches Protected All Who Sought Shelter From Sun, Wind And Rain On Those Days When Respite Was Needed.

And Grass Grew Tall And Lush And Small Ground Creatures Got Lost In The Thickness Of The Plants – So Earth Created Buffalo Who Travelled In Herds. Their Hooves Carved Paths In The Foliage So Creatures Could Follow Them To Water, Food And Nesting Grounds.

But Tree Still Felt Isolated – So Earth Blessed Her With Seeds And A Woodland Was Created. The Dream Of A Lonely Tree Was Realized And Forest Came Into Being. All Who Lived There Were Content And A Massive Canopy Of Branches Offered Protection To All Who Sought To Settle There. It Was Peaceful, Still, Silent And Beautiful.

Buffalo And Elephant Wandered As Was Their Nature. Paths Criss-Crossed The Plains And Led To Far Off Destinations – And Dreams Yet To Be Fulfilled. Tree Now Had Many Cousins And Some Chose Not To Be Part Of The Forest. Instead They Stood By The Paths – Guardians Of The Secrets Of The Migrating Animals And Their Sky Dancing Feathered Friends.

And Earth Surveyed The Land And Felt That The Creatures Needed A Brave Being To Stand As An Example Of Courage – Strength – Family And Nobility. So Lion Came To Live On The Plains. His Mighty Roar Announced His Presence But He Was Still Possessed Of A Gentle, Loyal Heart And A Deep Love Of Family.

Elephant Towered Above All Creatures On The Plain And In The Forest – So Earth Made Plans For Another Magnificent Being. Different From Elephant But Still Powerful And Commanding. And Before Long Rhinoceros Followed In The Foot Falls Of Elephant. At First They Were Vary Of One Another But They Soon Learned That Their Differences Were Few And Their Shared Love Of Family Was Great. Rhino Was Welcomed.

When Sun Had Scorched The Ground And Water Was Scarce – Sky And Cloud Engaged In A Merry Waltz And Great White Clouds Grew Dark And Heavy. Elephant – Leopard – Bird – Buffalo – Lion And Rhino Knew That Rain Would Visit Soon. They Lifted Their Heads And Sniffed The Wind And Waited.  

From High In The Sky Bird Looked Down On Earth And Wondered Why The Great, Feathered 2 Legged Being Didn’t Soar In The Clouds – But Ostrich Was Content With Her Grounded Chicks And Her Powerful Presence On The Plain. It Was Peaceful On Earth.

Tree Stretched And Reached Up To Cloud And Gave Thanks For Sun – Sky – Rain And Bird. All Things In The World Of Tree Were Serene. Tree Was Never Intimidated By Wind For Her Trunk Was Strong And Flexible.  She Was Happy To Give Shelter To The Creatures Who Were Protected By Her Mighty Branches. Tree Carried A Special Place In Her Heart For Leopard. They Had Been Friends For A Very Long Time.

And Forest Was Lush And Green – A Safe Haven For Those Who Landed On Her Branches – Took Shelter By Her Gnarled Roots And Found Homes On The Ground Under Her Canopy Of Leaves.   

And On A Day Like Any Other – Water Offered Up A Fabled Creature Named Hippopotamus. He Knew Instinctively That Bird Would Share His Life And Groom His Great, Pitted Hide. Hippo Was Not To Be Trifled With And The Animals Welcomed Him – But Instinctively Gave Him A Wide Berth When They All Visited With Water. It Has Always Been Thus And Will Be Forever More. Hippo Is A Solitary Soul.

One Day Rhino Looked At His Reflection In Water And A Chill Ran Down His Burly Spine. It Was A Glorious Summer Day – Warm – Bright And Sparkling. Sun – Sky And Cloud Were In Their Proper Places – Forest Was Satisfied To Be Standing Tall. But Rhino Felt Darkness Settle In His Soul And He Learned What Fear Could Do To A Contented Heart. 

Rhino Called Out To Lioness And She Said – “Yes I Have Seen It – But I Don’t Know What It Is”. It Is Gazing Up At Tree. It Has Eyes Like We Do But It Is Small. It Has No Wings Or Fur And It Stands On Two Legs And Walks With Its Head Upright. But It Does Not Test The Wind. I Am Not Sure It Can Be Trusted. We Must Be Careful. I Will Call Elephant – Buffalo – Bird – Ostrich – Leopard And Rhino. Perhaps We Should Send Hippo To Examine It.

The Two Legged Creature Had Arrived At The Base Of Tree. It Picked At Her Bark And Assessed Her Girth And Judged Her Height. It Gazed At Her Branches And Leaves – Then It Snapped Off A Twig – Smelled It And Casually Discarded The Broken Bits On The Ground. A Piece Of Tree Had Been Destroyed. Earth Felt A Ripple Of Discord. Tree Was Rooted And Could Not Move. But Rhino And Lioness Left The Path And Moved Silently – Deep Into The Forest.

Elephant Came Walking With Her Friends – Feet Testing The Ground – Feeling The Fear Of Rhino And Lioness. Leopard Knew That Times Were Changing And Bird Alighted On Tree And Felt Her Branches Tremble. Hippo Forswore His Usual Gruff Disposition And Welcomed Ostrich – Rhino And Buffalo To Their Circle. Lion Appeared And Said Simply – “It Is Not Welcome Here” – And The Wisdom Of Lion Reverberated Around Forest – Into The Sky – Across Water – Up To Cloud – Sun – Moon And Eventually To North Star. The Holy Ground Of Tree And Animal Had Been Violated – And Everything Changed.

Animal And Nature Had Worked Out The Fine Beautiful Balance Of Life & Death – Predator & Prey – Decay & Renewal – Want & Need. Respect For Life Was Deep, Understood And Accepted. Joy And Sorrow Touched The Lives Of All Those In The Forest. Then Man Came And The Destruction Of Nature And Animals Began. It Has Continued Unabated For Centuries. Many Men Are Filled With Greed And A Lust For Power. They Are Possessed Of A Cruel Nature And A Black Soul. Sun – Stars – Air – Water – Cloud – Forest – Path And Ground Are Not Safe. Even Wind Is Harnessed In His Grasp. It Is A Dark Time On Earth. But Tree Stands Like A Sentry And Guides Those Of Us Who Care To Meet With Nature.

With A Clarion Call – Elephant Has Asked Us For Our Help And We Will Not Disappoint Her.

March On World Animal Day – October 4, 2014 – They Are Depending On Us!

 Thank You Fred!