A little one-on-one about Elephants

Removing Tusks
We are often asked: why not saw off the tusks of elephants in order to save them from poachers?

Cynthia Moss explains why:

There are many compelling reasons why it would not be practical, economical or ethical to immobilize every elephant to cut off its tusks.

• It's logistically difficult. Many elephants live in remote areas, hard to reach and work in. Darting is difficult and dangerous to both the elephants and the veterinarian team. 

• It's numerically impossible. In Kenya alone there are 37,000 elephants. Both male and female African elephants over 2 1/2 years old have tusks, say 30,000 individuals with some ivory. Even if you could immobilise at the world-record rate of 5 a day (which ATE did once in 2011!), the operation would take some 15 years of full-time work. And by that time, the first elephant would have re-grown meter-long tusks!

• It's expensive. Even if teams of vets and rangers could reach all the elephants, the cost of the exercise would be prohibitive. Among other things the drug is costly and difficult to obtain.

• It would be painful. There is a nerve that runs well down the length of an elephant's tusk. Cutting the tusk off would be painful, similar to you breaking a tooth. Remember that an elephant tusk is a modified incisor. Cutting beyond the nerve would still leave a third of the tusk in place.

• Finally, elephants need their tusks for feeding and digging and for defending themselves and their calves from predators.

Amboseli Trust for Elephants

Bad news on the Ivory front....spelt out!

Elephant Ivory sales creating ''Deadly New Currency in China''
PANA
In a world of economic uncertainty, elephant ivory has become a new investment vehicle in China, sparking an extraordinary surge in the number of elephants being killed for their ivory.

A new ivory market investigation report by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) shows that the legal sale of ivory stockpiles in 2008 has spurred the demand for ivory, particularly in China where ivory is increasingly coveted by wealthy Chinese as “white gold”.

“Elephant ivory has, in a manner of speaking, become a new currency in China,” said Grace Gabriel, Asia Regional Director for IFAW. “The escalating demand has sent the price of ivory soaring. Couple that with the strengthening of the Chinese Yuan (RMB) against an ailing US\$ dollar and suddenly, buying illegal ivory in Africa and selling it at a huge profit in China becomes an extremely lucrative business.”

IFAW says the blame lies firmly at the door of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) which, in 2008, gave the go ahead for the legal sale of ivory stockpiles by four southern African countries to China and Japan.

Since 2009 when China took delivery of its purchase, the market for ivory in that country - legally traded or not - has spiralled. Worldwide seizures of illegal ivory have matched the trend with the media reporting that 5,259 ivory tusks (a whopping 23 tons) were confiscated in 2011 alone.

The Chinese regulatory system, introduced in 2004, and intended to strictly control the domestic ivory market in line with CITES required conditions, has been rendered virtually impotent against the demand for ivory.

“Of the 158 ivory trade facilities visited in five cities by Chinese experts, 101 did not have government issued licenses and were operating illegally. Among licensed facilities the majority abused the ivory control system in some way,” said Gabriel, “The illicit ivory trading activities in both unlicensed and licensed but non-compliant facilities, outnumbered properly legal ones nearly six to one (135/23)”.

IFAW’s 2011 survey (the fifth in Asia in 10 years) shows clearly how illegal ivory, once smuggled into China, is easily laundered through the legal market. The report also sheds light on the strong economic incentive for Chinese engaging in ivory trafficking.

While the wholesale price per kilogramme of ivory in RMB has tripled (¥4,500-¥15,000) from 2006 to 2011, the RMB is increasing in value against the USD. In the overseas market where ivory is sourced, the strengthened Chinese currency provides more purchasing power to Chinese buyers who convert RMB to USD for ivory purchases.

This, coupled with the ease with which smuggled ivory can be easily laundered in the legal market, means huge profits for criminals involved in illegal ivory trade.

“The CITES stockpile sales were supposed to reduce the illegal trade and the slaughter of elephants by saturating the market with legal ivory; in fact, the exact opposite has occurred,” said Gabriel.

“Legal ivory imports have provided opportunities for illegal ivory to be whitewashed in China; the insatiable demand for ivory as an investment has tripled the wholesale price of ivory; and currencies in flux have mixed to create a lethal combination that is decimating wild elephant populations,” she said.

Founded in 1969, IFAW saves animals in crisis around the world. With projects in more than 40 countries, IFAW rescues individual animals, works to prevent cruelty to animals and advocates for the protection of wildlife and habitats.

 http://www.africanmanager.com/site_eng/detail_article.php?art_id=18506

Elephant Art

Introducing a new artist with a passion for Elephants!!

Karim Kara is a Kenyan born and bred, self taught, independent filmmaker and photographer. He, as a teen, was passionate about nature and the environment, which later led him to pursue and study ornithology. Following that knowledge gained, he consulted as an Ornithologist for Lafarge Ecosystems International.

Ever since he was 13 years old, his beating heart began taking wildlife pictures and slowly moved on to corporate and commercial photography & films. That later led to the birth of his little media company; Megapixels Productions.

Karim Kara has produced several short films and teasers for organizations, one which includes a film on the African Fish Eagle which was used as a plea for funding, for further research by The Peregrine Fund. Another being a full length anthropological documentary with The Colorado State University on The Maasai's Perspectives on Climate Change.

His heart still beats very strongly for the wildlife & conservation world and whenever his time allows he is out in the bush with his most favorite 'models'.

He uses his photography as a vehicle to educate people and to raise awareness about the dire situation that the animals, especially the Elephants, face in the ever so fast changing environment in Kenya.

A little while ago he was able to sit and observe these gentle giants from a very special secluded spot a few years ago, that now no longer exists. All these things combined make it a very personal, passionate calling for him and it shows in his photographs.

Most recently (2012) he was awarded Second Prize in the Film Category on Climate Change, for a contest held by The World Bank.

http://www.kenyatravelideas.com/karim-kara.html

Summit for the Elephants 2012

I know it is a bit of a short notice, but nevertheless. Please take a look and if you can, GO!!

The line up of speakers is fantastic and the news and updates you will hear and learn about will be incredible, in short, PRICELESS!!!


It is hosted at the Oakland Zoo
Location: Oakland Zoo
Maddie’s Center/Zimmer Auditorium, on the first floor
9777 Golf Links Road, Oakland, CA

March 28, 29, 30
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily
$250 general; $175 student

Price includes:
• Welcome reception on Wednesday evening at the Oakland Zoo
• Vegetarian or vegan lunch on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
Summit lunches presented by renowned Chef, Tanya Petrovna
• Complimentary shuttle service to and from the Oakland Zoo for conference attendees
• staying at the Hilton Hotel-Oakland Airport location.

Price does not include:
Other transportation, lodging, or any meals not mentioned.

Saturday, March 31
ARK 2000 SANCTUARY*
Optional excursion to PAWS’ ARK 2000 sanctuary in San Andreas, CA.
9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
$75 per person; includes transportation to and from San Andreas and a sack lunch.
Join PAWS directors, Pat Derby and Ed Stewart, for an intimate, behind-the-scene
tour of the first captive elephant sanctuary in the United States.
ARK 2000 shuttles will be available at two locations — Oakland Zoo and the
Hilton Hotel-Oakland Airport. When you register, please indicate at which location you
will be boarding the shuttle. Check-in will begin promptly at 8:45 a.m. Space is limited.
*ARK 2000 excursion is open to conference attendees/speakers only.

And the Speaker's are:

• Pat Derby and Ed Stewart: Founders, Performing Animal Welfare Society
• Joyce Poole and Petter Granli: Founders, ElephantVoices
• Jan Creamer and Tim Phillips: Founders, Animal Defenders International (ADI)
• Matt Rossell: Campaign Director, Animal Defenders International (ADI)
• Kartick Satyanarayan and Geeta Seshamani: Founders, Wildlife SOS India
• Caitlin O’Connell-Rodwell: Founder, Utopia Scientific
• Joel Parrott, DVM: Executive Director, Oakland Zoo
• Colleen Kinzley: Director of Animal Care, Conservation and Research, Oakland Zoo
• Gina Kinzley: Senior Elephant Keeper, Oakland Zoo
• Guy Lichty: Curator of Mammals, North Carolina Zoo
• Member, Steering Committee for the Elephant Taxon Advisor Group/Species Survival Plan
• for the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA)
• Rob Atkinson: CEO, The Elephant Sanctuary (TES)
• Keith Lindsay, Ph.D.: Researcher/Conservation Biologist, Scientific Advisory Committee,
• Amboseli Elephant Research Project (AERP)
• Dagmar Gerdes: Operant Conditioning Manager/Protected Contact, San Juan de Aragon Zoo, Mexico
• Cindy Machado: Director of Animal Services, Marin Humane Society
• Gail Laule: President, Active Environments
• Margaret Whittaker: Consultant, Active Environments
• Katie Maneeley: Founder, The Animal Agency
• Anna Ware: Board of Directors, Atlanta Humane Society
• Deborah Robinson: Volunteer/Elephant Campaign, In Defense of Animals (IDA)
• Catherine Doyle: Elephant Welfare Specialist/Campaign Director, In Defense of Animals (IDA)
• Ariel Fagan: Tufts University, Veterinarian Department
• Cherie Travis: Executive Director, Chicago Commission On Animal Care & Control
• Winnie Kiiru: Research Associate, Amboseli Elephant Research Project (AERP)
• Sofie Goetghebeur and Tony Verhulst: Founders, Elephant Haven (European elephant sanctuary)
• Adam M. Stone: Assistant Curator of Behavioral Management, Elephant Program Manager, ZooAtlanta
• Leonie Vestering: Wilde Dieren de Tent Uit (Dutch association against the use of wild animals in circuses)
• Linda Faso: Las Vegas Animal Advocate
• Martha Golar, Esq.: Association of the Bar of the City of New York, Animal Law
• Delcianna Winders: Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement, PETA
• Denise M. Sofranko, DVM: Field Specialist for Elephants, USDA, APHIS, Animal Care
• Sharon Niel: Conservationist, Researcher and Author

CONFERENCE CONTACT INFORMATION
Kim Gardner, event coordinator: 916/488-3991
E-mail Kim Gardner: kgardner@pawsweb.org
PAWS office: 209/745-2606
E-mail PAWS: info@pawsweb.org
PAWS’ website: www.pawsweb.org

A special fundraiser for Elephants & ElephantVoices with Dr. Joyce Poole

CELEBRATE ELEPHANTVOICES’ 10TH ANNIVERSARY WITH US!

Join us for an inspiring afternoon with this world-renowned biologist and elephant advocate as she brings you closer to the world of the Asian and African elephant:

Learn about Elephant Partners, a unique program that uses web technology and citizen science to monitor & protect the Maasai Mara elephants.

Get a special sneak-peek of “War Elephants”, National Geographic Wild’s upcoming documentary featuring Dr. Poole, her brother Bob and the elephants of Gorongosa, Mozambique.

Hear about ElephantVoices’ work for elephants in captivity.

Sunday, March 18, 2012

2:00 p.m. VIP Reception

3:00-5:30 p.m. Event Reception & Presentation

Hors d’oeuvres and drinks at the Home of Patty Shenker and Doug Stoll

971 Enchanted Way, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272

$150 VIP Reception

Meet Dr. Poole & ElephantVoices’ co-founder Petter Granli one-on-one; receive a beautiful elephant photo

$75 Event Reception & Presentation

To RSVP for this event:

Call 323-301-5730 or email davidkca@earthlink.net

To make a reservation - space is limited! 

If you cannot attend, please make a donation today by visiting www.elephantvoices.org

All proceeds go directly to ElephantVoices, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization

African Elephants

It has been said, that African Elephants are destructive to the environment in which they live....

Overpopulation and farmers getting deeper and deeper into forests and other animal habitats are usually the result of old migration routes being cut off, forcing elephants and other animals into unnatural reserves - like the Masai Mara.

Their massive appetites can appear to be destructive in those places (Adults may consume up to 170 kg of plant material and dedicate up to 18 hours to this activity daily).

But there is something to be said about their role in the regeneration of the forest by spreading the seeds of many species. For example, Acacia seeds sprout much better after being eaten and dunged by elephants than if they simply fall to the ground. The ever grateful Dung beetles tackle the football-sized elephant droppings, break them down into little pellets and pull them into their burrows where the seeds germinate.

Elephants also dig up dried-out water holes with their tusks and feet, which provides moisture for other animals.

It seems, in fact, that the number of plant species is falling in the regions where elephants no longer live and recovering in other areas where the elephant is more often.

In 1987, two-thirds of Kenya elephants had been brutally killed and butchered for their ivory. Poachers went unrestricted despite a ban on hunting. Especially Tsavo National Park, once a glorious kingdom where elephants roamed free, became a place of agonizing solitary death of hundreds of defenseless elephants killed by human greed.

As the herd numbers plummeted into the hundreds it became a time for desperate action. A shoot-to-kill policy for military rangers with appropriate training and equipment was enacted and enforced. When Richard Leaky was nominated by the President of Kenya as the new Director of the Wildlife Department in 1989, he decided to let actions speak louder than words and work begun for a BIG Ivory fire.

On July 18, 1989 twelve tons of ivory, worth over three million dollars and representing almost 2,000 dead elephants, where set ablaze in the Nairobi National Park and set an unprecedented example of coherence.

It seems that we are in desperate need (2011) to do something similar again, as poaching still sores and elephants keep dying for their ivory in insane numbers.

Considering the damage we as humans cause this planet, and comparing that to the destruction elephants do to the environment, the damage doesn’t seem all that great. Maybe we can find a way to live on this globe side by side, with a minimum of damage to the environment and help keep these incredible animals alive.

Elephants are the most engaging of all animals to watch and have always fascinated people. It might be because their interactions, behavior patterns and personalities have so many human-like parallels. They are very social, frequently touching and caressing one another and entwining their trunks. Also their extraordinary memory, their anatomical uniqueness, their great intelligence and the way they communicate have fascinated us all for a long time.

The most common way for elephants to communicate is through blare sounds, which are produced through their trunk, and people who have heard that sound while visiting Africa will never forget it. They also emit infrasound at frequencies between 5 and 28 hertz, that are to high for humans to hear. These sounds can travel anywhere from 2.5 miles up to 6 miles. The elephants were the first terrestrial mammals known to make use of this phenomenon.

The age-old myth, that elephants carry the tusks and bones of dead elephants to the secret 'elephant burial grounds', and also when they are getting old, to go there to die, has no factual base.

Elephants do demonstrate a large concern for members of their families, take care of weak or injured members and appear to grieve over a dead companion.

DID YOU KNOW:

•     That elephant babys are born after a 22 months pregnancy, with the whole family in attendance and a mere weight of about 220 pounds?
•     That they use their tusks as either ‘left-’ or ‘right-handed’, the same as humans prefer one or the other hand?
•     That the trunk of an African elephant weighs as much as two adult men, which makes it understandable why some elephants curl them over one of their trunks from time to time?!
•     That the footprint of an elephant looks very much like a fingerprint, with distinct crisscross patterns of bumps and streaks?
•     That an elephant can smell water up to 12 miles away with its trunk?
•     That the absence of tusks in African elephants is becoming more frequent, which seems quite clearly a genetic response to the preferences of hunters for those with the largest tusks?
•     That a tusk can suffer painful tooth decay?
•     That elephants do not sweat as they have no sweat glands?
•     That the ears of an African elephant are almost 3 times bigger than those of the Asian elephants?
•     That the matriarch remembers the location of all the year-round water sources in the herd’s territory? 

http://www.kenyatravelideas.com/african-elephants.html

Efforts to reduce poaching in Kenya

Some good news on the efforts to reduce elephant poaching from Kenya! 

On Thursday Feb 23, 2012 the NATION reports that Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) has launched a campaign to protect elephants from poachers. It is a 10 year plan providing a roadmap for conservation and managements of elephants in the country.

“Forestry and Wildlife minister Noah Wekesa told the launch ceremony that the increase in poaching and the level of organisation among illegal ivory traders were worrying.  

“In the light of these worrying trends, we would be calling on the international community to support total ban in  ivory trade in the coming Conference of Parties to the United Nations Convention on Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites) and listing of African elephants on Appendix I of Cites,” Dr Wekesa said.”

It was noted that Kenya lost 278 elephants in 2011 to poachers compared to 177 in 2010. At the same time eight tones of illegally acquired ivory were seized over the last three years.

“The function at the Ivory Burning Site Campsite in Nairobi National Park was attended by conservationists, including representatives of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN),Save the Elephants (STE), African Conservation Centre (ACC), universities and other research institutions, communities from different conservation areas and county councils.

The elephant strategy seeks to maintain and expand elephant distribution and numbers, enhance security to elephants, reduce cases of human-elephant conflict and increase the value of elephants to people and habitats.

The strategy seeks to address emerging problems and threats facing elephant conservation in the country. It aims to achieve this by engaging communities living adjacent to protected areas on the importance of protecting the species through education and awareness.”

All in all it sounds like a fantastic project and initiative. Let’s hope it will work on the ground as good as it sounds!

http://www.nation.co.ke/News/Drive+to+stem+elephant+poaching+launched+/-/1056/1333702/-/view/printVersion/-/5jhvya/-/index.html

http://www.africasciencenews.org/en/index.php/entertainment/52-environment/315-kenya-launches-10-year-national-elephant-strategy