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“How do I launch an elephant out of a cannon?” – In quest of a cannon
Alright, there are several approaches to this. If your goal is to launch a living elephant and keep it intact, you will require a significant amount of gunpowder and an ENORMOUS cannon. The importance lies in the cannon size since ultimately, you want to ensure that the elephant fits within it.
With elephants weighing between 8,000 to 13,000 pounds, I’d say that if you possess sufficient force to eject the elephant from the cannon, you might find an elephant simply two feet away, but unfortunately, with a singed rear. If your intention is to utilize additional firepower to propel the elephant farther away, you may end up with a non-living elephant, which would be a very charred (and deceased) specimen. Should you opt for this method, be ready to receive numerous animal mistreatment complaints — ethically, it may be wise to steer clear of this option.
On the other hand, if launching a living elephant isn’t essential, you could place parts of an elephant (RIP) into a standard-sized cannon with common quantities of gunpowder. However, be prepared for animal cruelty complaints regarding this method, as one must consider where these elephant parts are sourced from. The black market? From poachers? Obtaining ivory is definitely out of style. Again, ethically, you may wish to avoid this avenue too.
A more conventional approach could involve using a simple cannon, like those you might envision mounted on castle walls during medieval times. However, these are generally reserved for cannonballs targeted at adversaries who dare to approach. To maintain our elephant motif, we could wrap the cannonballs in elephant hide. This would fulfill a more aesthetic role than a functional one, so unless you’re keen on showcasing stylish cannonballs, you might want to pass on this idea.
Considering the weight of an elephant, I will recognize it’s you, a fellow elephant enthusiast, attempting to experiment with cannons and elephants when I receive my UCSD Timely Warning: Earthquake. It would be difficult for this project to remain a secret in your backyard, so I recommend utilizing someone else’s space. Some locations near San Diego to consider are Anza-Borrego Desert, Barstow area, or Borrego Springs. My primary advice is this: do not attempt to launch elephants at home. These deserts possess low population densities and flat terrains, providing an ideal setting to create your own elephant-themed Area 51 in Southern California!