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Record ivory seizures point to surge in elephant poaching
December 29, 2011
A record number of large ivory seizures have been made globally this year, pointing to a surge in elephant poaching in Africa to meet Asian demand for tusks for use in jewellery and ornaments, according to an international conservation group.
Traffic, which tracks trends in wildlife trading, said at least 13 large-scale seizures of over 800kg of ivory were recorded in 2011, compared with six in 2010.
By Jerome Taylor
January 14, 2011
A devastating upswing in rhino poaching by criminal syndicates armed with helicopters, night vision goggles and silenced rifles is threatening to roll back more than three decades of conservation work that brought the species back from the brink of extinction.
Figures released by the charity WWF show that the number of rhinos shot dead in South Africa increased by 173 per cent last year, a trend that has seen poaching reach a 15-year high across the continent.
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Tuesday, 11 January 2011 By Zephania Ubwani The Citizen Bureau Chief |
Poaching is among major problems facing Katavi National Park located south west of Tanzania. Elephants are the favourite animals targeted for their trophies as their tusks have a growing market in the Far East, said the acting chief park warden, Mr David Kadomo.
Refugees from Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and other countries have been blamed for wanton killing of the animals which, he said, has become worse in recent times. He revealed this in a report presented to a team of journalists from various media houses who visited the game sanctuary recently.
Said he: “The killing of wild animals for their trophies is now carried out for commercial interests, with elephant tusks being smuggled through neighbouring countries.”
Historically, the capture of wild elephants for wars and ceremonies and other human endeavours caused precipitous declines in populations of Asian elephants. Today, the capture of wild elephants continues, albeit on a much smaller scale, for the commercial sale of elephants to elephant-back safaris, zoos and circuses, causing the breakdown of complex relationships, lasting trauma and aggressive behavior.
The process of capture and training was, and still is, gruesome. Infants, calves and even adults were rounded up, separated from family and associates, hobbled and subdued through a process of physical and emotional abuse and reward. Similar capture, using helicopters, vehicles, immobilization drugs, ropes and winches, continues today. Photographs, video and eyewitness reports of the training of recently captured elephant calves show horrible abuse – calves are often held alone chained or in small cages, access to food and water may be withheld, and they are coerced with winches, or by pokes and jabs from a bull-hooks and other device. Check also ATE 2006. Statement on elephant capture. (168.97 kB)
Ken Bernhard and Bill Clark, Chief of Interpol Wildlife Crimes unit, are raising money for a DNA Forensics Lab to be headquartered at the Kenyan Wildlife Service.
A DNA Forensics lab will identify poached bush meat sold in local Kenyan storefronts.
Contributions for the DNA Forensics lab can be made to The Charles A. and Anne Morrow Lindbergh Foundation (Lindgergh Foundation), with designations to the Aviation Green Investment Program-DNA Forensics Lab.
Checks can be mailed to:
Lindbergh Foundaton
2150 Third Avenue North
Anoka, MN 55303
Or via credit card at: http://www.lindberghfoundation.org. Use the Donate Now button and select Aviation Green
E-mail info@actionnownetwork.com for a copy of the Proposal developed by the Kenyan Wildlife Service.
For additional information, contact:
Shelley L. Nehl, Managing Director/Grants Program Administrator
LINDBERGH FOUNDATION
phone: 763-576-1596
JANE GOODALL, ON WHY WE MUST TAKE ACTION
Trailer for Jane's Journey, coming this Fall.: A simple, powerful and eloquent statement on why we must all do what we can. Jane Goodall speaks for all of us. Watch this trailer, peruse this website, take action. Period.
ROOTS AND SHOOTS HERE (FOR YOUTH)
by JOHN NIELSEN
February 26, 2007
Ivory poaching is surging out of control in Africa, a new study says. But scientists say they've found a way to use DNA "fingerprints" to track down the poachers.
The study, which currently appears in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, says well-armed gangs of poachers have been killing elephants by the thousands. Black-market sales of elephant tusks were relatively rare five years ago but are now at an all-time high.
November 1, 2010
The authorities in Kenya say game rangers have shot dead three suspected elephant poachers in two separate incidents over the past week.
The Kenyan Wildlife Service (KWS) said one poacher was killed on Sunday night in a "fierce" gun battle in Isiolo.
It said two other poachers were shot dead last Tuesday in the Tsavo region.
By Jeffrey Gettleman
October 30, 2010
Every spring, out here on this endless sheet of yellow grass, two million wildebeest, zebras, gazelles and other grazers march north in search of greener pastures, with lions and hyenas stalking them and vultures circling above.
It is called the Great Migration, and it is widely considered one of the most spectacular assemblies of animal life on the planet.
But how much longer it will stay that way is another matter. Tanzania’s president, Jakaya Kikwete, plans to build a national highway straight through the Serengeti park, bisecting the migration route and possibly sending a thick stream of overloaded trucks and speeding buses through the traveling herds.
THE SERENGETI HIGHWAY (WEBSITE)
Many times throughout history has human development threatened the natural environment- and the wildlife in it. One such example is the proposed 'Serengeti Highway'.
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