GP gets mad at what happens to our biggest land friend, the elephant. We certainly don’t like seeing the giants exploited on eBay. Back in July, China got the okay to import ivory of endangered elephants, but sure enough, products and sculptures made of smuggled ivory have found their way into China.

On Nov. 5, 2008 smuggled ivory sculptures were seized by the customs of Hangzhou, the capital of east China’s Zhejiang Province. Some 306 pieces of smuggled articles were seized by Hangzhou customs, then transferred to Zhejiang Museum of Natural History on Wednesday.

Just so smugglers will know their actions will not be tolerated, the precious articles will be shown to the public in the museum! They will be treated before shown, but, what in the world? They will be shown because of why? I am sure the display will discourage smugglers from doing any such future activities … NOT!

Good grief. Can someone tell me what China has on their mind by displaying these items? Maybe, just maybe, somebody smuggled these things in under a tunnel dug into the Great Wall of China.

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“What’s that in your pocket, Alex?”

“An elephant.”

“Whatcha doing?”

“Smuggling.”

Five elephants were smuggled from their home in Yunnan Province a few years back. An animal protection center in South China rescued them and returned them to a animal protection center. Three years later, four of the gentle giants are back home.

This causes me more questions than answers.

First. How do you smuggle an elephant? (Remember the elephant jokes?)

“What did Tarzan say when he saw the elephant with sunglasses on?”

“Nothing – he didn’t recognize them.”

“How do you put four elephants into a VW Beetle?”

“Easy – two in the front and two in the back.”

Seriously, how does one smuggle five elephants?

And, why did it take three years to get them home after they were found?