Introduction to the Roosevelt Brothers’ Expedition
The big hunters and adventurers of the roaring 1920s included the two oldest sons of Teddy Roosevelt, America’s 26th President, former New York governor and one of the most energetic and most famous personalities in the country. The Roosevelt family had financed museums to fill their halls with exhibits of practically every big animal that is known to humans, but one creature remained elusive: the huge black and white panda.
The Legendary Creature
Ted Jr. and Kermit Roosevelt encouraged their legendary line to step into their father’s footsteps with great games, who had brought the killings of lions, tigers, elephants and bears back to New York City’s American Museum of Natural History. The brothers made their way to fame and made their way to remote and inhospitable Himalaya mountains in Asia, which still had to be researched by Westerners. Their goal was to find the panda, an animal that many believed did not exist.
The Journey Begins
In 1929, the determined Roosevelt siblings began an expedition to finally find this difficult-to-grasp bear, more legend than fact, in the inhospitable bamboo forests of the Tibetan plateau in the high Himalaya. The brothers were accompanied by naturalists, trackers, leaders, interpreters, and scientists and financed by the Chicago’s Field Museum and a wealthy donor.
Challenges and Obstacles
The path that crossed China and Tibet was bleak and forbidden with its intense wind, snow, and ice. There was "no tent that was strong enough" to withstand the mountain gusts, and not a fire that was hot enough to heat the explorers. The brothers faced numerous challenges, including treacherous glacier crossings, bandits, and harsh weather conditions. Despite these obstacles, they were driven by their ambitions to find an animal in the clouds that was considered the most demanding trophy of the earth.
The Discovery
After harsh days and nights, the expedition was finally on the trail of the panda when reports about a white bear came from a nearby village. The natives regarded this animal as "a supernatural being, a kind of demi-god." The villagers had never tried to catch it and just agreed to take the white hunters in search of money. At the base of a tree trunk, panda scat was discovered with bamboo, which was known as the daily diet of the panda together with his rough white hair. A trace of paws in the snow and half-bamboo quickly led them to their ultimate destination. The panda was shot in sight, and the brothers finally achieved their goal.
The Aftermath
The discovery of the panda had a profound impact on the brothers. They had collected five thousand bird skins, two thousand small mammals, and forty large mammals, but the panda was the ultimate prize. However, the brothers soon realized that the panda was not the wild, warlike predator they expected. The gentleness of the panda had changed its meaning for the purpose permanently. The brothers were soon hit by diseases, and their expedition came to an end.
The End of an Era
Ted and Kermit Roosevelt’s lives were forever changed after the panda hunt. Ted came down with malaria and was admitted to a Saigon hospital, where doctors found that he had a disease caused by bacteria or parasites. Kermit’s shipping business was in bankruptcy, and he had to return to New York. The brothers were separated, and their relationship was never the same. Kermit struggled with alcoholism, and his marriage dissolved. In June 1943, he took his own life. Ted lived one year longer, but the panda hunt had left a dark shadow on their lives.
Conclusion
The Roosevelt brothers’ expedition to find the giant panda was a groundbreaking journey that marked the beginning of a new era in wildlife exploration. However, it also had a profound impact on the brothers’ lives, leading to a series of tragic events that ultimately ended in tragedy. The panda hunt had changed their lives forever, and they had unleashed a "pandamonium" that would have far-reaching consequences for the rare and elusive creature.
