Israeli elephant researcher Yeheskel Shoshani was among those killed in a possible terror attack on a minibus in downtown Addis Ababa on Tuesday, Israeli media reported.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry said it is unclear whether the explosion was terror-related and if Shoshani was aboard the minibus when it exploded.
Three people were killed and nine others were injured in the explosion, which occurred as the minibus was traveling on the road that runs between the Hilton Hotel and the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry, an Israeli website reported.
In a recent interview, Shoshani told of finding the corpse of a large elephant that had been shot by hunters. ” It was a large male, and the poachers wanted its ivory, so they sawed off its head,” he told Haaretz. “When I saw that, I thought about the last moments in the life of this elephant. Elephants have language – they talk to one another with sounds that we can’t hear. I asked myself what sound he made a moment before he died.”
4 responses so far ↓
Prof. Peter Schmidt // May 22, 2008 at 5:56 pm |
Prof. Hezy Shoshani was a close and dear friend. His death removes one of the most passionate protectors of elephants on the globe–a loss that touches all animal life and humankind.
Besides being a friend and neighbor in Eritrea, he was also a wonderful professional collaborator. His identification of fauna species from excavations of an ancient civilization in Eritrea dating to 800–350 BCE were a major contribution to the prehistory of the Horn.
He was a much loved mentor to many students in Eritrea, and he was a priceless friend who knew no limits to loyalty and companionship.
Peter Schmidt
Professor of Anthropology, University of Florida
ruth // May 24, 2008 at 12:44 am |
RUTH, SEND MY CONDOLENCES
Moralizer // June 20, 2008 at 4:21 am |
Somehow i missed the point. Probably lost in translation
Anyway … nice blog to visit.
cheers, Moralizer!
Michael // October 6, 2008 at 5:10 am |
Hezy was my 7th grade science teacher’s husband. He once gave a presentation at my school and I think there are few who would forget his enthusisasm for elephants. I’m very saddened to hear of his passing.