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During this little trip I thought a lot about the life of animals in the city, thanks in part to Jules Verne ‘s beautiful 20 Thousand Leagues Under the Seas that I had with me.
In 20 Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, among the many insights it can give, besides the brilliant foresight on technological evolution, the contrast of 2 characters regarding animals is interesting. Captain Nemo kills animals only out of necessity, the flapper Ned Land also does it with relish; it is terrible when the slaughter of helpless animals in the remotest lands of Antarctica is recounted because they do not bother to run from man, having never seen him and not knowing that he is dangerous.
On earth we humans are the most dangerous animals who kill the most, whether out of necessity, mistake or otherwise. Marrakesh is emblematic about the condition of animals in the city; it is full of both humans and animals who are born, live and die there; even in competition. There are the humans who have established themselves and bargain with wealthy Western tourists, such as beggars.
The cats of Marrakech
There are the super-savvy cats who between fights, thefts and ruffling do very well in alleys (but the average life span is 4 years versus 18 for domestic cats); but for the sick or inexperienced, the famous 7 lives are short-lived.
I was just outside the most central part of the walls, where the roads are wider and so there are cars and trucks. I saw him for a couple of seconds, a cheerful wad of fur a few weeks old. I had just passed between a stopped sputtering car behind a truck that was unloading fruit at a stall. The truck drove off just as the kitten passed in front of one of the rear wheels, a meter away from me. His spine was turned 180 degrees; I don’t know if he was crying in pain or perhaps in despair at not being able to move; his little paws were flailing convulsively on their own.
In a split second in me horror was joined by cowardice; someone should have eased his pain; I was frightened to have to do so. Fortunately for me, I was not the only one to witness that heartbreak and a gentleman intervened; I continued on my way without stopping. I saw the little body again on my way back, among the garbage, next to a pizza box.
Home Life and death in the Medina – things to do in Marrakech
Previous stop The medina of Marrakech, intoxicating through alleys and squares
Next stage Getting around Marrakech and Essaouira, technology essential
Trips taken, travel stories divided by continent
Anecdotes, divided by type in travel narratives
Countries visited in my travel stories
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