Dear readers,
In this novel, I describe the near extinction of the mythical creature, the unicorn, at the hands of the humans. However, this story is not really fantasy. The elephant and rhinoceros endure this everyday. Poachers, in impoverished African countries kill thousands of elephants and rhinos each year for their tusks and horns bound for Asian markets.
Since 1979, the elephant population has declined from 1.3 million to 400,000 today. That means each year, some 35,000 elephants are destroyed. Proof is the 30 tons if illegal ivory seized around the world each year. It has been estimated that 70% of the elephant population has been massacred over the past ten years.
The rhino population has decreased significantly as well with 1,215 poached in 2014 alone. That equates to one rhino killed every eight hours, their horns smuggled into China and Vietnam as medicinal cures for cancer and other ailments even though they’ve been proven to contain no medicinal value whatsoever. In 2011, the Western black rhino was declared extinct, and three other species declared endangered.
What can you do to help? Simple.
Never, ever buy anything made of ivory. If someone offers you a gift of jewelry or a carving made from a tusk, don’t accept it – for any reason.
If you hear of anyone using rhinoceros horn as medicine, please share your knowledge about the endangered status of rhinos with them.
Support PACE, an organization that educates people in African communities on the conservation of wildlife. www.paceproject.net
Like Save the Rhino’s FB page as well as Tusk Trust’s to keep up-to-date on any news. https://www.facebook.com/savetherhinointernational. Tusk Trust is an organization begun in 1990 that has raised millions of dollars in support of endangered species. In 2005, the Duke of Cambridge, Prince William, became a patron. http://www.tusk.org/about.asp. Prince William is also an ambassador to the organization, United for Wildlife. http://www.unitedforwildlife.org/#!/news
Remember, you can make a difference.
The Shadow of the Unicorn: The Legacy comes with a 36-page reproducible study guide (complete with answer key) free for download from Ms. de Montigny’s website at: http://www.suzannedemontigny.com/books.php
Suzanne de Montigny wrote her first unicorn story at the age of twelve. Several years later, she discovered it in an old box in the basement, thus reigniting her love affair with unicorns. A teacher for over twenty years in Vancouver, B.C., she learned she could spin a good tale that kept kids and teachers asking for more. The Shadow of the Unicorn: The Legacy, is her first novel.
The Shadow of the Unicorn: The Legacy was the 2012 recipient of the Gold Global E-book Award for Best Fantasy/Alternate History. Her teen novel, A Town Bewitched was awarded first prize in the Dante Rossetti Award for Best Coming of Age Novel.
Suzanne lives in Burnaby, B.C. with the four loves of her life – her husband, two boys, and Buddy the dog.
Please visit Suzanne’s website at: http://www.suzannedemontigny.com
You can also find her on Facebook at: https://facebook.com/unicorngirl52
And can follow her on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/sfierymountain
And last but not least, here is her blog: http://suzannesthoughtsfortheday.blogspot.ca
