Long has the mystery of the elusive and entrancing fairy perplexed some of the greatest minds in the Western World.

Whether known as fairies, Little People, sidhe, elves, or Faerie(ii or y, for teenage Livejournalers only), they have fascinated our preeminent literary figures as well as those whose interests lie in the purely scientific, theists of the most extreme sort, and atheists likewise.

Truly, there is no corner of the human imagination into which they have not penetrated.

Various proofs were brought forward and each, in turn, mocked. Fossilized fairies. Mummified fairies. Even, in the ultimate legitimization that Western society offers, Retailed Fairies (free shipping to Neverland).

Each fell before the catcalls of the disbelievers.

Now, at last, positive photographic proof of the existence of fairies has emerged from the Dark Continent. This crystal-clear shot of a fairy conducting a conversation with two friendly meerkats is the first hint we’ve had of the so-called “Special Relationship” between the two species. Long have the inscrutable meerkat race been suspected of magical qualities, and now we have conclusive proof of the nature of that intercourse with the spiritual world within our own.

Let the naysayers mock if they dare!

This remarkable scientific document deservedly won special commendation in the behaviour (mammals) category in the prestigious Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, hosted by the UK’s Natural History Museum, and it comes to us direct from the not-at-all-given-to-mere-sentimentality-except-Polly-Toynbee-who-can’t-think-anyway Guardian newspaper. It was taken by Shem Compion on South Africa’s Tswalu Kalahari reserve, which is no doubt shortly to become a mecca for sidhezoologists from around the globe. Book your flight now: airplane optional!

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