Animal Migrations

by Gene Shelburne

In my last column I shared part of my answer to a letter from seven-year-old Levi, who asked me about continental drift. He wanted to know if I thought it happened. But he raised that question to set up an even harder one.

“If Noah was in Africa,” Levi wondered, “how would he have gotten the animals in North America over there?” And he urged, “Please tell me as soon as you can.”

What would you have told him? Here’s what I wrote.

“I don’t think Noah was in Africa, Levi. Look at your map and I think you’ll find Mount Ararat up on the border between Turkey and what used to be Russia, not very far from northern Iraq.

“But your question is still a valid one. How could those animals spread out into North America if they got turned loose on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean? That’s what you’re wondering, isn’t it?

“This is a tough question, Levi, and I’m not sure I know the answer. Some folks have supposed that the tips of Russia and Alaska once were joined and that the animals and people migrated across this land bridge where the Bering Strait is today. That’s possible.

“Another possibility is that somebody hauled them over here on a boat. Way early in Bible days people were sailing all over the world. Solomon had sailors bringing him peacocks and monkeys. And a few years ago some fellow proved that the Egyptians were sailing all the way to South America in papyrus boats way back before the time of the Incas and Aztecs.

“So it’s possible, Levi, that some of the basic animal species moved from continent to continent aboard ships.

“Ancient people certainly were busy hauling animals across oceans. Hannibal transported elephants from Africa to Europe to fight battles before Jesus was born. I bet that anybody who ran into one of those elephants in Italy or Austria wondered how that bugger got there!

“Now I’ve told you more than you wanted to know about both your questions, Levi. I’m curious to know what you think.

“Thanks for taking time to write to me. You’re one of my very special friends.” Why is Levi asking me questions like this? Because he believes the Bible. And he’s trying to make it fit what he’s learning about the world around him. If the facts he learns do fit, he’ll be O.K. If they don’t fit, then what?