Chapter 155: Incineration
Gunfire erupted in northern Kenya, and as the shots echoed, the wildlife of Africa fell victim to the ensuing fire. The East African colony had set fire to clear pastures, affecting animals such as bison, lions, warthogs, hyenas, leopards, and zebras on the African grasslands.
The fires raged, and animals, whether they managed to escape or not, suffered. Some unfortunate creatures were consumed by the flames, while others lay wounded and suffering on the charred land.
In East Africa, the lives of immigrants had normalized around three activities: farming, fighting, and setting fires.
Farming was essential for survival and development in East Africa. Conflicts with indigenous forces often led to warfare, as the acquisition of land was a primary goal for the colony.
Setting fires was a peculiar aspect of East African colonization. Fires were used to clear land, including residential areas, and to reshape the living environment for animals. It was a time-saving and efficient method, giving the landscape a primitive, slash-and-burn appearance.
Ernst did not hesitate to reshape the ecosystem in East Africa. The land had been occupied by both humans and wild animals, and conflicts of interest arose. Ernst's goal was to disrupt the local ecosystem and create a safer environment for agriculture and livestock.
Africa was a breeding ground for various diseases, not only for humans but also for animals. Ernst was particularly concerned about diseases like African swine fever and African horse fever.
African swine fever was considered an "AIDS" for pigs, an incurable disease for over a century. When Ernst arrived, there was still no known effective vaccine. The disease was highly contagious, spreading widely and causing high mortality rates in infected pigs.
Similarly, African horse fever was transmitted by parasites like Culicoides. Ernst knew that engaging in animal husbandry in Africa required measures to prevent the spread of such diseases.
One effective way was to set fires to clean up the pastures, eliminating both animals and parasites that posed threats to livestock. When the rainy season arrived, new pastures would grow, offering a safer environment for cattle and horses.
While settlers conducted controlled burns to manage the land, they also followed strict regulations to prevent the consumption of wild animals. Local indigenous people had faced serious health issues due to consuming infected wildlife, and the immigrants took these lessons to heart.
Andre shared a cautionary tale about an indigenous person who suffered severely from parasites after consuming wild game. The incident served as a sobering lesson, reminding the immigrants to follow orders diligently and avoid risky behaviors.
In the evening, settlers collected animal carcasses and piled them on firewood. Kerosene was poured over the carcasses, and a flick of a lighter ignited a blazing fire. The dead animals turned to ash, and the grasslands, once scorched black, would rejuvenate with the coming rainy season. However, the original wild animals would be absent, replaced by livestock raised in East Africa.