Humans are developing vaccines in record time and planning to go to Mars but we remain callous and cruel towards beautiful animals who mean no harm.
A German artist known online as Jenny Jinya has been tackling this issue for quite some time now. Whether she's talking about orcas, parrots, or elephants, her comics remind us that sadly, a lot of the time when the Grim Reaper comes to take animals to the After Life, it's because of humans.
And this one is no exception—the story is about a lonely swan who had to witness her precious eggs get brutally smashed. "I read about this a while ago and it still breaks my heart," Jenny wrote when uploading the comic. "The only message I have here is don't be cruel."
Image credits: jenny_jinya
Image credits: jenny_jinya
Image credits: jenny_jinya
Image credits: jenny_jinya
Image credits: jenny_jinya
Image credits: jenny_jinya
Image credits: jenny_jinya
Image credits: jenny_jinya
Image credits: jenny_jinya
These events took place in the UK in 2020. A group of teenage boys killed the unborn cygnets after hurling rocks and bricks at them, and the mother was found dead earlier this week, not long after the father swan disappeared, Manchester Evening News reported.
"Even though the incident occurred last year, I read about it only recently," Jenny told Bored Panda. "Like everyone else, I was deeply shocked, angry, but also incredibly sad. For weeks, it just didn't let me go, I kept seeing this sad, lonely swan that had lost everything in my mind."
Witnesses said the group was aiming for the island where the swans had made a nest and three of the six eggs were left smashed.
Later, wildlife activists who had been keeping an eye on the swans said more eggs had been lost, and only one remained.
They added that the father swan left the nest and had not returned since. It is believed he had been driven away by stress.
The mother swan had been harassed by moor hens, ducks, and a dog since her unhatched eggs were attacked and she lost her partner. Soon, the activists found her dead in her nest.
"There's not much I can say really," activist Sam Woodrow said. "She probably died of a broken heart as she had a partner for life and he was driven away by stress."
According to Swan Lifeline, it has been known for swans to die of a broken heart if they lose their partners—swans generally mate for life.
The artist said that sometimes it's really hard to imagine that people will one day be kinder to animals but the comments and messages she receives from people actively fighting for animals every day always cheer her up. "Be it vets, shelter workers, or private people who volunteer, such incredible, selfless commitment that is never in the news and gets far too little attention gives me so much hope. There are incredible people out there and I applaud them."
Even though she remains productive, Jenny said Germany, the country she lives in, currently is in its second lockdown and the pandemic has taken a toll on her creative process. "At the beginning, I was still optimistic because I thought I would at least have more time for my comics during the lockdown. But now I have a hard time maintaining a work-life-balance when I don't have other options than work. I'm trying to keep myself busy with gardening and houseplants on the side now. Plus, my dog is always happy about all the extra walks."
People were really sad to learn this had actually happened
