By Emma Grass

The Disappearance of the Canadian Unicorn

To those of us who grew up with the presence of these beasts as a common occurrence, the disappearance of the Canadian unicorn can seem like a surreal ordeal. Nevertheless, the fact that unicorn numbers are lower than ever before is as real as the unicorns themselves. Due to habitat loss, poaching, and climate change, future generations may never experience the joy of seeing this creature in the wild, but we can make a difference. With your help, there is hope for our beloved unicorn.

It is well-known that unicorns are well in tune with nature. Their natural habitat is the wide, rolling plains of Saskatchewan and Manitoba and in the case of the exceedingly rare mountain unicorn, the rolling hills and jagged mountains of Alberta and British Colombia. The unicorn flourishes in wide open spaces. Sadly, recent urban and agricultural development would see a loss of these vital terrains. The growing human population of the Earth and in Canada needs to be supported; we need space and nourishment, it just seems a shame that it should come at the cost of our country's natural wonder. Part of the reason the unicorn flourishes in these terrains so, is this is the natural growing site of the unicorn's favourite food, twinklestuff. Twinklestuff is a rare flower, taking that shape of what resembles a silver seashell. This plant is the most adept at nourishing unicorns, as it is chock-full of essential vitamins and minerals such as fairy dust, rainbow sparkles, and children's laughter. Twinklestuff is possibly in more urgent risk of dying out than unicorns, due to poor usage and regulation of farm pesticides. About thirty years ago, there was an epidemic of the pesky plant, knuckleimp, a plant similar to twinklestuff, but with the vital difference of choking out any plant that crosses its path. A special formula for an effective knuckleimp pesticide was quickly whipped up, and distributed throughout Canada's farms. The formula, however, was sloppy, and killed just as many twinklestuff plants as it did knuckleimp. Since then, many planting projects to bring back twinklestuff have been tried and failed. It could seem we will never have a bounty of twinklestuff, or unicorns, as we once did.

Unicorn poaching is also a big problem. The ivory of a unicorn's horn is even more valuable than that of elephants or rhinos. Unicorns weren't hunted for their horns until the Europeans settled in North America, it was then that unicorn fashion became even bigger than the beaver top hat. Unicorn fashion died out around the 1930s as rumor was spread of its properties in black magic and the unluckiness of having unicorn ivory in your home. In the early 1980s, unicorn fashion was brought back by the popular music group, Silverhoof, who were known for wearing platform shoes largely made of unicorn ivory. In 1993, unicorn hunting was outlawed and unicorn fashion once again died out. Today, there is a large underground black market for unicorn ivory in Canada. Unicorn poachers make their biggest trades with traders in Mexico and Colombia, who make key chains and magnets out of the stuff, selling them to tourists and claiming they are rare seashells. Unicorn poachers are known to be nefariously hard to catch and bring to justice, as a unicorn body without its horn disappears in 34 hours. Not to mention, Canadian law enforcers just do not try hard enough in their efforts to protect the unicorn, and the most punishment a unicorn poacher can get is five months in prison. This once again proves that natures – and unicorns' - greatest enemy is man.

To save the unicorn, several steps may be in order. The first starts in the home. The unicorn, as well as all animals, would greatly benefit from an effort to reduce waste and pollution. Reduce, reuse, recycle, buy organic, and drive less. If all Canadians tried their hardest to care for the environment, the world would be a lot better off. A good suggestion would be to bring together groups of neighbours and friends, and go around planting local plants, such as twinklestuff. Have a fundraiser to help support your favourite conservation organisation. Write to your senators about bringing about a unicorn conservancy park. These parks would be considered national parks, and would provide to perfect place for unicorns to feed and breed. Opening up a tourist option would also boost the economy, provide jobs, and provide an opportunity for people to learn. Of course, if a tourist opportunity is opened, strict rules would have to apply. There should be a limit to the number of vehicles and construction allowed, and things such as littering, hunting, fishing, fires, and destruction of nature would be strictly prohibited. If we all work together, the difference would be gargantuan.

As prior mentioned, unicorn poachers are nefariously hard to catch. The obvious solution would be to put extra protection around the borders, thereby preventing trade. If the appropriate resources are provided, known existing unicorns can be tagged and monitored using GPS. This would notify unicorn experts of herding patterns, breeding habits, diet, and so much more valuable information; it would also alert authorities if a unicorn is straying too close to society, or if a unicorn is captured. Recently, it has been discovered that a unicorn being separated from its horn gives off unique electromagnetic waves, similar to common radiation. There is a machine that can locate the source of these waves when release, thereby leading us to the poacher's shop. In order for this to work, law enforcers must be given the appropriate funding and equipment. Anyone can help by writing to their senators about providing this necessity. Also, when you go traveling, be aware of your purchases and where they come from. Only buy ivory and the like if it has the Unicorn Conservancy Fund stamp of approval. Remember, owning any unicorn product is illegal.

Unicorns are a source of magic and imagination, two rare things that, if the unicorn dies out, we may never get back. The well-being of unicorns and nature depends on you. Think of the unicorn next time you are at a grocery store, choosing organic or not; or the next time you can walk or bike instead of drive. Unicorns depend on us, and it is up to us to make the choice to protect them.