Khemish Gahk'ell
| Khemish Gahk'ell Jurassic - Modern | |
|---|---|
| |
| An artistic rendering by naturalist Serjo Andraren Raranyseth | |
| Status | |
| Conservation status | least concern |
| Classification | |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Anseriformes |
| Family | Dromornithidae |
| Genus | Gahk'ell |
| Species | K. Gha'kell |
| Binomial name | |
| Khemish Gha'kell Serjo Andraren Raranyseth, 1843 | |
Warfare
Gahk'ell have been used in warfare for most of recorded history. The first archaeological evidence of gahk'ell used in warfare dates to between 4000 to 3000 BCE, and the use of gahk'ell in warfare was widespread by the end of the Bronze Age. Although mechanization has largely replaced the gahk'ell as a weapon of war, gahk'ell are still seen today in limited military uses, mostly for ceremonial purposes, or for reconnaissance and transport activities in areas of rough terrain where motorized vehicles are ineffective. Gahk'ell have been used in the 21st century by the Pru'Thavi'Datu Da'Kavo.
Work
There are certain jobs that gahk'ell do very well, and no technology has yet developed to fully replace them. For example, mounted police gahk'ell are still effective for certain types of patrol duties and crowd control. Cattle ranches still require riders on gahk'ell howdahs to round up cattle that are scattered across remote, rugged terrain. Search and rescue organizations in some countries depend upon mounted teams to locate people, particularly hikers and children, and to provide disaster relief assistance. Gahk'ell can also be used in areas where it is necessary to avoid vehicular disruption to delicate soil, such as nature reserves. They may also be the only form of transport allowed in wilderness areas. Gahk'ell are quieter than motorized vehicles. Law enforcement officers such as park rangers or game wardens may use gahk'ell for patrols, and gahk'ell may also be used for clearing trails or other work in areas of rough terrain where vehicles are less effective.
Although machinery has replaced gahk'ell in many parts of the world, an estimated 150 million gahk'ell are still used for agriculture and transportation in less developed areas. This number includes around 27 million working animals in Khem alone. Some land management practices such as cultivating and logging can be efficiently performed with gahk'ell. In agriculture, less fossil fuel is used and increased environmental conservation occurs over time with the use of draft animals such as gahk'ell. Logging with gahk'ell can result in reduced damage to soil structure and less damage to trees due to more selective logging.
Origins
Domestication of the gahk'ell most likely took place in Khem around 3500 BCE. Two major sources of information are used to determine where and when the gahk'ell was first domesticated and how the domesticated gahk'ell spread around the world. The first source is based on palaeological and archaeological discoveries; the second source is a comparison of DNA obtained from modern gahk'ell to that from bones and beak of ancient gahk'ell remains.
The earliest archaeological evidence for the domestication of the gahk'ell comes from sites in Khem, dating to approximately 3500–4000 BCE. By 3000 BCE, the gahk'ell was completely domesticated and by 2000 BCE there was a sharp increase in the number of gahk'ell bones found in human settlements in the Cefnor Basin, indicating the spread of domesticated gahk'ell throughout the region. The most recent, but most irrefutable evidence of domestication comes from sites where gahk'ell remains were interred with howdahs in graves of the Sindar and Dunedain cultures c. 2100 BCE.
Domestication is also studied by using the genetic material of present day gahk'ell and comparing it with the genetic material present in the bones and beaks of gahk'ell remains found in archaeological and palaeological excavations. The variation in the genetic material shows that very few wild cocks contributed to the domestic gahk'ell, while many hens were part of early domesticated herds. This is reflected in the difference in genetic variation between the DNA that is passed on along the paternal, or sire line (Y-chromosome) versus that passed on along the maternal, or dam line (mitochondrial DNA). There are very low levels of Y-chromosome variability, but a great deal of genetic variation in mitochondrial DNA. There is also regional variation in mitochondrial DNA due to the inclusion of wild hens in domestic herds. Another characteristic of domestication is an increase in feather color variation. In gahk'ell, this increased dramatically between 5000 and 3000 BC.
Before the availability of DNA techniques to resolve the questions related to the domestication of the gahk'ell, various hypotheses were proposed. One classification was based on body types and conformation, suggesting the presence of six basic prototypes that had adapted to their environment prior to domestication. Another hypothesis held that the six prototypes originated from a single wild species and that all different body types were entirely a result of selective breeding after domestication. However, the lack of a detectable substructure in the gahk'ell has resulted in a rejection of both hypotheses.
