The Plush-Toys of Tsavo

I understand the case for the repatriation of artifacts plundered from conquered nations during the golden era of western imperialism, when it was said "the sun never sets on the British Empire". I even attended a party in Washington a couple years back when Ethiopia celebrated the recovery of the Obelisk of Axum from Italy.

So I understood the sentiments expressed when I read this morning that Kenya is trying to recover the "Man-Eaters of Tsavo" from the Field Museum in Chicago.

As interested as I was to read this, I can't say that I had any strong feelings either way, until I saw this for sale at the Field Museum. For $30USD you can buy your child a plush representation of the lions that killed over 140 people in 1898. Welcome to the land of merchandising where every curiosity has the danger and savagery marketed right out of it. Instead, we give our kids plush cuddly toys.