Google Street View confirms Elephantitis strikes deer population in Canada
Let's all collectively thank the glorious bit of technology that is Google Street View for letting the world know about the rare and mostly undocumented breakout of Elephantitis in Canada's deer population. Unlike the human form of the disease which is generally characterized by the swelling of a single body part, deer Elephantitis apparently morphs the hapless affected creatures into real-life elephants. If you're driving in the area, extra caution is advisable.
It seems that this street sign was spotted by a Google Street View camera car somewhere in Vancouver. We're not sure how it got there or if it's nothing more than a funny prank, but it is most definitely real. Oh, and for the record, the proper medical term is really Elephantiasis (thanks, Wikipedia!).
[Source: Google Street View via Jalopnik]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Runner 5:36PM (10/08/2009)
Damn west coasters with their mild winters... (and no road salt!)
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TyWright 5:43PM (10/08/2009)
This is in North Vancouver at a common spot where deer are hit.
Since they put the signs up there have been less deer fatalities. Seriously!
TyWright 5:45PM (10/08/2009)
And it was put up by the city of North Vancouver. There's a hippo sign a few km down the road. If you come to the Olympics you'll see em.
Taglane 5:54PM (10/08/2009)
Imagine if you hit one of those things in your car...
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Taglane 6:19PM (10/08/2009)
...Oh wow...
akboss302 9:50AM (10/09/2009)
Wow, there's a headline you don't see everyday...
"bus crashes into 5-ton escaped elephant on mexican highway", lol.
joe t 7:04AM (10/12/2009)
how would one of those things get in there?
Karen Anne 10:08AM (10/12/2009)
I checked out the story also, and found it extremely sad as both the animal and people were killed.
But I have to ask (and pardon the language, I'm a bit put out over the poor elephant):
HOW THE HELL DO YOU NOT SEE A FIVE TON ELEPHANT!!!!????
dUN 5:58PM (10/08/2009)
I guess the elephant meant the SLOW down part...but, scientifically speaking, they are not slow at all they can reach speeds up to 40 km/h (25 mph), from wiki.
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Bud 11:36AM (10/12/2009)
Way To Go DUN,
that is exactly what that means,Some people get picture gesture and ignore reading.So seeing an elephant will grab their attention and slow them down cause we all know elephants walk slowly. I thin thats very clever and also gives humor.
Samurai Jack 6:29PM (10/08/2009)
You see deer crossing signs all the time, so your brain tunes them out. Elephants and hippos? Those you notice, because they shouldn't be there. Just the sorting out the dissonance probably makes you slow down.
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Joe 7:09PM (10/08/2009)
Yeah. Its the same reasoning behind make speed limits of 7mph or some random number like that. Makes you pay attention.
turbo-quattro 8:44PM (10/08/2009)
Joe-here in albuquerque there is a street with speed limit "18mph." I was pretty confused the first time I saw it, but it is because it is a very popular bike route and 18mph is a speed bikes can achieve easily. Might also just be to catch peoples attention, like you said!
Jim 6:42PM (10/08/2009)
it's "elephantiasis," but funny just the same ;)
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Karen Anne 10:19AM (10/12/2009)
Sorry, Jim, I'm just a bit "strange" this way, but live and learn, yes?
I, too, thought as you did about the word "elephantitis", but I don't bother with corrections (not to say you shouldn't), but I realize many times things are typos and folks don't proof-read and so on.
But here is why I'm replying to you:
"elephantitis" IS a word and without getting into all the scientific jargonese, basically it's the same thing as "elephantiasis"!
My curiosity gene gets to me and I have to check on this stuff! I have dictionary sites saved all over my poor comp and they get more use sometimes than any other website!
Hope this doesn't make you too angry with me! Just call me a research-aholic!
(and please pardon any typos...I'm not the greatest typist)
Donna 12:26PM (10/12/2009)
Thank you, Jim, for pointing that out. It was driving me nuts!!
Donna 12:34PM (10/12/2009)
Karen, I didn't see your post when I replied to Jim, but the word is elephantiasis, as he said. People may say "elephantitis", but they are wrong. It is a common mispronunciation.
jingram28 2:48PM (10/12/2009)
According to Wikipedia:
"Elephantiasis (/ˌɛləfənˈtaɪəsɪs, -fæn-/ [el-uh-fuhn-tahy-uh-sis, -fan-]) is a disease that is characterized by the thickening of the skin and underlying tissues, especially in the legs, male genitals and female breasts. In some cases, the disease can cause certain body parts, such as the scrotum, to swell to the size of a softball or basketball.[1] "Elephantitis" is a common mis-hearing or mis-remembering of the term, from confusing the ending -iasis (process or resulting condition) with the more commonly heard -itis (irritation or inflammation). The proper medical term is Elephantiasis,[2] and it is caused by lymphatic filariasis."
So, Jim, you are totally correct.
Karen Anne 3:21PM (10/12/2009)
Hello, Donna & jingram28!
True, the most commonly accepted word IS elephantiasis, BUT elephantitis is indeed a real word:
Main Entry: elephantitis
Part of Speech: n
Definition: an infectious tropical disease that is a form of filaiasis caused by parasitic worms which are transmitted by mosquitoes and which causes swelling in the genitals or thighs or breasts, etc.
Most dictionaries will have this spelling ('titis') with the definition, and many will tell you (including wickapedia) that it's a common usage that some use in place of 'tiasis' or because it's a common misspelling. Still and all, as I stated in my original post, I KNOW/KNEW it was elephantiasis but curiosity got me so I researched it.
So if anyone wants to use elephantitis, knock yourselves out...figuratively speaking of course! ;-p
Azael 6:55PM (10/08/2009)
Maybe its a, "Slow down for the infamous 'Republicanous Americanous' " sign. They don't know how to cross the street...
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