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This document provides a summary of issues related to elephant poaching and ivory trafficking. It discusses how banning ivory is crucial to ending the elephant extinction crisis as the illegal ivory trade is responsible for the deaths of thousands of elephants each year. While progress has been made, such as publicly destroying ivory carvings in New York City, banning domestic ivory trade in the US will be an important next step to reduce demand and deter poaching. The document advocates for growing support of bans from governments and the public.
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Wildlife_FINAL
- 1. An Independent Supplementby Mediaplanet to USA Today august 2015 Actress Lupita Nyong’o speaks up for thevoiceless as an international elephant ambassador. Saving Our Wildlifesavingourwildlife.com ONLINE Jointhepetition forAfrican elephant protection INSIDE Oceanadetails thepressing needtopreserve ouroceans
- 2. >>SAYNO!>>SAYNO! TOAWORLDWITHOUT ELEPHANTS Once, millions roamedacross Asia and Africa. Far fewer remain today. Make your voice heard! Join National Geographic explorer Daniel Raven-Ellison on his mission to save these magnificent creatures in Mission: Elephant Rescue, with true stories about the challenges they face and ways kids can help. • Fascinating stories, facts, and photography • Field reports from National Geographic explorers • Hands-on rescue challenges and activities Discover resources for the Mission: Animal Rescue book series online at: natgeo.com/kids/mission-animal-rescue AVAILABLE WHEREVER BOOKS ARE SOLD BOOKPURCHASE HELPSSUPPORT ANIMALSAND THEIRHABITATS. © 2015 National Geographic Society I tisn’tunusualtohearfrom wildlife conservationists that they entered their field expecting to work primarily with animals only to find that some of the most important parts of their job involve working with people. Straight to the source In most cases, major threats to endangered species are manmade. Our ever-expanding human foot- print has remote and long-term effects and encroaches ever deeper intowild habitats.In the Himalayas, herders kill snow leopards that they believe have eaten their livestock. In Mozambique, local people set traps to capture bush-meat like antelopes and inadvertently kill lions. All over Africa,poachersslaughterelephants for their ivory. With fewer wild places, con- flict occurs as animals raid crops, predate on domestic animals or compete for basic resources such as habitat or water. Furthermore, an increasingly lucrative market for wildlife parts has intensified poaching pressure. As the world faces a likely sixth mass extinction event, the ecosystems we depend on become more fragile, putting human populations at risk. The status quo is a lose-lose scenario for people and animals. But it could be awin-win. in this issue 2 Human Touch: Solutions for Wildlife Conservation savingourwildlife.com People and wildlife that share the same home must depend on one another in order for both to thrive. Jean-Gaël Collomb, Ph.D., Executive Director, Wildlife Conservation Network read more on savingourwildlife.com Supply and Demand The keyto ending the slaughter ofAfrica’s dwindling elephants? Increase awareness, devalue ivoryand collapse the global demand. P8 Cheetah Crisis Coexistingwith cheetahs isn’t just keyto their survival.Protecting one of theworld’s most iconic big cats has implications for our future aswell. P5 Beyond Sympathy Discover the true cost of a carcass—and how standing up for elephants is both a humane and profitable choice. #SayNoToIvory Turning it around Humanswho bear the costs of living in close proximity to wildlife also have the potential to be its strongest allies. By working with local people to improve their livelihoods and meet the aspirations they have for themselves and their children, we can turn wildlife conservation from conflict to opportunity. Numerous examples demonstrate that a com- munity-focused approach towildlife conservation is essential for wildlife and people to coexist and thrive. Acting on their belief that hungry people cannot care about conser- vation, the Niassa Lion Project in Mozambique started a guinea fowl breeding program introducing a new food source.Fewer people hun- ting for bush-meat means fewer lions caught in snares. Conservationistsalsohelpherders tobuildbetterfencestoprotecttheir livestock or to use new technologies like flashing lights that keep snow leopards or other predators away. In Namibia,legislation empowers local people to manage and benefit from wildlife through tourism, creating a strong constituencyforhealthywild animal populations. There is no one-size fits-all-solu- tion for wildlife conservation, but there is no doubt that working from the ground up with communities is essentialforlong-lastingsolutionsto save wildlife. n Publisher: Lane Wollerton Business Developer: Jourdan Snyder Managing Director: Luciana Olson Content Manager: Lauren Hubbard Lead Designer: Alana Giordano Designer: Kathleen Edison Copy Editor: Sean Ryan Contributors: John Calvelli, Jean-Gaël Collomb, Grace Ge Gabriel, Laurie Marker, Russell Mittermeier, Oceana, WildAid Send all inquiries to editorial@mediaplanet.com Cover Photo: Kristian Schmidt/ Courtesy The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust All photos are credited to Getty Images unless otherwise credited This section was created by Mediaplanet and did not involve USA Today or its Editorial Departments. Please recycle after readingStay in Touch facebook.com/MediaplanetUSA @MediaplanetUSA @MediaplanetUSA pinterest.com/MediaplanetUSA
- 3. Looking Out forOur Endangered Allies By Russell A. Mittermeier, Ph.D., Executive Vice-Chair, Conservation International Everyone knows that it’s important to protect wildlife. But if someone asked you why, could you answer—or would you believe that fighting climate change is one reason? Species have a crucial role to play in ensuring a stable climate. But this role is often overlooked when researchers or governments assign values to the benefits that nature provides, such as fresh water, food supply and recreation. This could leadustounderestimatethethreat that the looming extinction crisis posestolifeasweknowit. Unsung amphibians Take the humble salamander: these amphibians are often overs- Advocacy 3MEDIAPLANET hadowed by their noi- sier frog relatives, but chances are they live in your back yard— moresalamanderspe- cies exist in the U.S. than anywhere else. Woodland salaman- dersplayanimportant roleinthecarboncycle by eating the insects that tear apart and eat leaves, which releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. With fewer insects, more leaves stay on the ground, decomposing and directing their carbon into the soil instead of the air, where it contri- butes to climate change. The bad news? Many salamander popula- tionsappeartobedeclining. Seedier matters Another example involves tropi- cal fruits. As a primatologist, I’ve spent more than 45 years working in tropical forests and have seen firsthand the role of large fruit- eating animals, or “frugivores,” in Links in the chain Itturnsoutthatonlytheseanimals candispersesomeofthehardwood seed species that are most effec- tive in removing carbon from the atmosphere. Unfortunately, many of these animals are heavily hun- ted and in some cases no longer existinsomeforests.Removethese species,andbeforelongyoureduce the potential of these forests to slow climate change. It’s clear that the risks of ignoring the role of species are potentially huge. In thewords ofAldo Leopold,an early conservationist:“Tokeepeverycog and wheel is the first precaution of intelligenttinkering.” n dispersing the seeds of hardwood trees. This includes primates such as spider monkeys but also large birds such as toucans, curassows and even forest-dwel- ling tortoises. When you eat a fruit, you eat around the pit or seed. Not so for many of these animals. Rather than removing the edible part from the seed—a laborious process—many animals simply swallow the fruit whole, digest the sweet part and then disperse theseedintheirfeces.Someseeds, in fact, won’t even grow unless they have passed through the gut of one of these animals! PHOTO:ConservationInternational CENTER FOR CONSERVATION OF THE AMERICAN BURYING BEETLE USA–Midwestern States CENTER FOR AVIAN HEALTH IN THE GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS Galápagos Islands CENTER FOR CONSERVATZION OF CARNIVORES IN AFRICA Africa CENTER FOR CONSERVATION IN FOREST PARK USA–Missouri RON GOELLNER CENTER FOR HELLBENDER CONSERVATION USA–Missouri CENTER FOR CONSERVATION IN THE HORN OF AFRICA Africa CENTER FOR CONSERVATION OF THE HORNED GUAN IN MEXICO Mexico and Guatemala INSTITUTE FOR CONSERVATION MEDICINE Worldwide CENTER FOR CONSERVATION IN MADAGASCAR Madagascar CENTER FOR NATIVE POLLINATOR CONSERVATION Worldwide CENTER FOR CONSERVATION IN PUNTA SAN JUAN, PERU Peru SAHARAN WILDLIFE RECOVERY CENTER Africa CENTER FOR CONSERVATION IN WESTERN ASIA Western Asia Today. Tomorrow. Together. Animals Always. The conservation efforts of the Saint Louis Zoo, both through our WildCare Institute and Institute for Conservation Medicine, are far-reaching. We work to ensure animals as well as people, across the globe, continue to survive and flourish side-by-side for years to come. Please join the Saint Louis Zoo and our more than 180 partners in creating a sustainable future for us all. Visit us at stlzoo.org/conservation. stlzoo.org/conservation
- 4. Elephant Poachers: The Strugglefor Ceasefire news Banning ivory is crucial to ending the elephant extinction crisis. As hundreds of intricately carved ivory statues flowed up a conveyor belt and into a rock crusher in the middle of Times Square last month,millions around theworld werewatchingastrongstatement againstwildlife trafficking. Grounding concern The global ivory trade is currently responsible for the brutal slaugh- ter of as many as 35,000 elephants per year in Africa. That is 96 elep- hants per day, or 1 elephant every 4 15 minutes.As long as there is any market for ivory, armed criminal groups will continue to illegally kill elephants for profit. Banning ivory products is the next step. Surveys have shown that the number one thing that could deter people from wanting to own ivory is making it illegal. Once possessing ivory is seen as unacceptable, the public demand for itwillwane. Growing support Based on input from the President’s Advisory Council on Wildlife Trafficking, we expect the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to soon issue a rule restricting domestic interstate trade in ivory. Urged by grassroots conserva- tion coalitions like 96 Elephants, some states are rushing to fill in the gaps by passing laws that stop trade within states that is not covered by the federal regulations. New Jersey and New York led the way last summer, and California is poised to become the third state to ban ivory if Assembly Bill 96 is signed into law this year. Similar efforts are under way in a dozen more states. Leading by example While the U.S. does not approach China in the magnitude of ivory consumption, we have little stan- ding to call for action on the part of China or any other ivory consu- ming nation if we have not done all we can to stop the ivory trade here at home. As long as there is a price tag on those tusks and ivory trinkets, poachers and traffickers will con- tinue to kill elephants. By imple- menting strong ivory bans at the federal and state level, we show the world that ivory holds no value to people unless it remains onanelephant.Ifwetrulywantto save the world’s remaining elep- hants,we can do no less. n By John Calvelli, Executive Vice President, Public Affairs, WCS; Director, 96 Elephants savingourwildlife.com Mozambique burned more than two tons of ivory on July 6, 2015. Photo: Nuno Noronha TAKE A STAND 96 ELEPHANTS ARE KILLED IN AFRICA EVERY DAY
- 5. awareness The cheetah popuationis one-tenth what is was 100 years ago and on a crash- course for extinction. The cheetah is the oldest of all the African big cat species. Once found throughout Asia and Africa, cheetahs are now only scattered in several countries in sub-Saha- ran Africa, with fewer than 100 remaining in Iran. Cheetahs are threatened by human-wildlife conflict, habitat loss, poaching and indiscrimi- nate trapping and shooting. This is because most cheetahs live on farmlands sharedwith people and livestock. On top of this, approx- imately 300 cheetah cubs are smuggled out of the Horn ofAfrica each year to supply the illegal pet trade, primarily destined for Racing to Save the Wild Cheetah 5MEDIAPLANET Middle East Gulf States.Five out of sixcubswilldiealongtheway;the remainder will likely suffer from poor nutrition and lack of health care and die prematurely. Built for speed, cheetahs are equipped with blunt, semi-tracta- ble claws (think spiked shoes on a world-classsprinter)andtailsthat act like rudders. They are icons of pop culture, with many busines- ses, sports teams and celebrities referencing them through their brands. Despite their unique qua- lities and popularity, cheetahs have sadly become Africa’s most endangered big cat. There is hope Through diligent efforts of com- mitted conservationists,strategies to mitigate conflict are making a difference.Some examples include the advancement of conservan- cies, which are community-based partnerships that manage wild- life populations, job training to enhance livelihoods and the adop- tion of livestock guarding dogs. In Namibiawherethesestrategiesare being applied, the cheetah popu- lation has stabilized and is in the process of growing. Namibians are learning to co- existwithpredatorsandprey.They understand wildlife brings tre- mendous value in driving eco-tou- rism.Theyknoweachspeciesplays a role in maintaining the delicate balance of the ecosystem. Using newtechnologiestocommunicate, we can share these solutions with other conservation organizations and people everywhere who wish tosavethismagnificentspeciesfor futuregenerations. n By Dr. Laurie Marker, Founder and Executive Director, Cheetah Conservation Fund
- 6. Photo:KristianSchmidt/courtesyTheDavidSheldrickWildlifeTrust inspiration A Voice for theVoiceless 6 The Race to Protect Our Wildlife SincelifebeganonEarththerehavebeenmajorevents thathavecauseddevastatingmassextinctions—ice ages,volcaniceruptions,meteorstrikes.Today, humanconsumptionthatoutstripsthesupplyofresources, alongwithalackofcareforwildlifeandhabitatsiscausing anothermassextinctionevent. Wildlifeisthreatenedbypoaching,overfishingand habitatdestruction.Mammals,fish,birdsand insectsalsoabsorbthesametoxicpollutantsin theairandwaterthathumansabsorb.Plasticpollutionin theoceans,forexample,iscausingmasscontaminationthat feedsupthechainfrommarinelifetohumanlife. This is the good news:There are millions of childrenwho lovewildlife,feel the injustice of habitat being lost andwant to help protect animals and their habitats.All they need is some guidance to help them take action and the knowledge that they really can make a difference. Electroniccommunicationshavehelpedrightsocialwrongs fordecades.Socialmedia,streamingvideoandinstant messagingcangalvanizepeopletowardeco-consciousness. Creatinginstantforumsforcrimesagainsttheenvironment, suchasworldwidedocumentationofplasticwaste,willraise awarenessandideallygenerateaction. Daniel Raven-Ellison National Geographic Explorer, Co-Author, “Mission: Elephant Rescue” Paul A. Pereira CEO and Chairman of the Board, MHG What are some of the top issues facing wildlife preservation efforts today? How can we galvanize young people to be proactive about conservation? savingourwildlife.com MEDIAPLANET Go inside Lupita’s visit and see how your choices impact elephants at savingourwildlife.com Academy Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o steps into a new role as a Global Elephant Ambassador of WildAid in an effort to push poaching into the history books. By WildAid D ozens of elephant families are fortunate enough to roam the Amboseli National Park park, one of the increasingly few places in Africa where elep- hants have been relatively protec- ted from the rampant poaching that on average claims the lives of nearly 100 elephants a day. Bigger, happier family OneAmboselifamilyhasaspecial, recent addition—a plucky year- old calf named Lupita. She is, of course, named for actress Lupita Nyong’o, whose stirring perfor- mance in “12Years a Slave” earned her anAcademyAward in 2014. Nyong’o observed her name- sake baby elephant on a recent trip throughhernativeKenyawithWil- dAid,whichworkstoendtheillegal wildlife trade by dissuade consu- mers from buying ivory and other products.“Shefollowedhermother closelyandgaveoutaloudtrumpet when she wouldn’t stop to breast- feed,” Nyong’o recalled during a keynote address at a June event in Nairobi. “Lupita was being stub- born—that made me proud. I like a girl who knows what she wants.” Threats from every side Commercial ivory has been banned for a quarter-century. But ivory’s allure hasn’t faded. Growing afflu- ence in China has created a new class of ivory consumers, and a “one-off”saleofAfricanivorystock- piles to China in 2008 both elevated demand and provided a smokes- creenfortheillegaltradetoflourish. The ivory trade persists elsewhere too—even in the United States, the world’ssecond-largestmarket. Across Africa, an estimated 33,000 elephants are killed annu- ally for their ivory, profiting militant groups and internatio- nal criminal syndicates. That’s why Nyong’o is speaking out for Kenya’snaturalheritage,ofwhich elephants are a crown jewel. A face for the cause As a global elephant ambassador, Nyong’o will appear in public ser- vice announcements and print campaigns to be distributed inter- nationally, from Africa to East Asia and the U.S. Some of these campaign messages will feature another stop on Nyong’o’s recent journey:TheDavidSheldrickWild- lifeTrust’s Nairobi elephant orpha- nage, where she had a once-in-a- lifetime opportunity to bottle-feed an eager orphan. “It is time to ban sales of ivoryworldwide,” Nyong’o said, “and to consign the tragedy of the ivory trade to history.” n
- 7. Ivory Sales inthe u.S. Help drive the slaughter. That has to end. BanIvoryImports.org Center for Biological Diversity
- 8. PHOTO:InternationalFundforAnimalWelfare insight O ne elephant iskil- led every 15 minu- tes for the ivory trade. As a long- living and slow- breeding species, elephants can’t survivethisrampantslaughter.To reverse this tragic trajectory, we have to smash every link on the bloody trade chain from poaching to trafficking to demand. Breaking the mold The last part of the equation is crucial. If no one wants to buy ivory, then elephants will not be poached. This brings us to China, currently the world’s largest con- sumer of ivory. Here, the demand for ivory and corresponding price tags have reached an all-time Can Stigmatizing Ivory Save the Elephants? Strong laws, vigorous enforcement and meaningful penalties will help stigmatize ivory consumption, reduce the ivory trade and ultimately save elephants. 8 high due to a booming economy, market availability and consumer ignorance. Surveys show that 70 percent of Chinese were not aware that elep- hantsdiewhentheirivoryistaken. The word “ivory” in Chinese lite- rallytranslatesto“elephanttooth,” making it very easy to believe that their ivory might fall out like human teeth and grow back. Illuminating the issue Evaluation shows that public awareness campaigns revealing the brutal origins of ivory redu- ced the consumer group with the most propensity to purchase ivory by half. NGO campaigns can erase ignorance but cannot eradicate greed. Striking at the heart of wildlife crime requires enhan- ced laws to remove grey markets where ivory is legal to trade in some cases and illegal in others. Grey markets not only provide cover for illegal trade, they con- fuse consumers, who often incor- rectly assume market availability for legality. Ivory markets any- where are a threat to elephants everywhere. Taking the stand Global e-commerce and techno- logy giants Alibaba, Taobao, eBay and Tencent led the way in ban- ning online trade of ivory. Celebrities, from pop icons to religious leaders, from sports stars to business tycoons, are voicing their concern for elep- hant survival, motivating a social movement calling for the govern- ment to impose a ban on ivory trade to help stop poaching of elephants. Buoyed by the increa- sing public support for banning ivory trade, the Chinese govern- ment destroyed contraband ivory, suspended ivory imports for a year and pledged to halt commer- cial ivory trade. Strong laws banning ivory trade combined with vigorous enforcement and meaningful penalties will increase the risk of illegal trade, stigmatize ivory con- sumption, supporting demand reduction efforts. As a native,I am proud of the collective commit- ment within China to protect this majestic species. This is the type ofmomentumwe’vebeenstriving for. All of the progress gives me hope that we can end the ivory trade before it’s too late. n By Grace Ge Gabriel, Asia Regional Director, Internatio- nal Fund for Animal Welfare savingourwildlife.com MEDIAPLANET Grey markets not only provide cover for illegal trade, they confuse consumers, who often incorrectly assume market availability for legality.
- 9. DISAPPEAR DON’T LET THEM EVERY15 MINUTES AN ELEPHANT IS KILLED FOR IVORY YOU CAN HELP THEM IFAW.ORG/HELP
- 10. advocacy 10 The world’s oceansare in trouble. Yet we can restore the health of our oceans with better management and immediate action. Our oceans cover 71 percent of the globe. They are home to most of the life on our planet and are essential to regulating our earth’s natural systems. They are also vital to our well-being and sus- tenance, and providing income and food to hundreds and millions of people across the globe. Heal- thy oceans sustain, nourish and inspire us. In peril Unfortunately, overfishing and poor management practices have altered or destroyed marine eco- systems and driven many species to the brink of extinction. Scien- tists report that the annual catch of ocean fish peaked in the 1980s and has declined eachyear since. Researchers estimate that sea creatures weighing a total of 2 bil- lion pounds are captured, killed and discarded every year. This by- catch includes vulnerable marine animals like dolphins, whales, sharks and sea turtles. Destruc- tive fishing practices such as bot- tom trawling destroy underwa- ter habitat, further jeopardizing ocean creatures. Turning the Tide: Can Ocean Destruction Be Reversed? canturnthetideforthehealthand abundanceofouroceanstoensure their health, productivity and beauty for generations to come. n savingourwildlife.com MEDIAPLANET By Oceana Turning the tide The good news is that if we act now, we can reverse ocean destruction and save marine life. By focu- sing on three goals we can have a profound impact: avoidoverfish- ing by setting science based catch limits, minimize by-catch and protect habitat. These are achievable goals, especially when tackled country by country. Twenty-nine coun- tries and the European Union produce and control 90 percent of the world’s wild sea- food. By putting in place responsible fish- eries management in these places first, we canhaveahugeimpact in allowing fish stocks to recover. Personal touch Individuals can have an impact in protecting our oce- ans and marine life, too. You can make educated seafood choices by carrying a sustainable seafood guideinordertoavoideatingover- fished species. Instead of eating from the top of the food chain and consuming predator fish like tuna and salmon, opt for smaller “forage” species, which can make for more sustainable, affordable and abundant selections. Most importantly,start to speak uponbehalfoftheoceans.Votefor responsible ocean policy, contact your local representatives, and help spread theworld about ocean conservation.Together,wecanwe PHOTO:TimCalver/Oceana Twenty-nine countries and the European Union produce and control 90 percent of the world’s wild seafood.
- 11. SOLUTIONS FOR POLLUTION FREEOCEANS. Our oceans contain some of the planet’s most remarkable ecosystems that provide humanity with an abundance of resources and are extremely vital to our existence, but sadly they are in grave danger of being destroyed. Inadequate policies for waste management and pollution, on land and in the water are significantly responsible for the detrimental state that our oceans are in. Destructive un-recycled petroleum based plastics are getting into our oceans, as is evident in the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch” which is now disturbingly the size of Texas and continues to grow. Petroleum plastics, toxic in nature, take centuries to degrade, breaking into small particles that are often ingested by our marine life which die from choking, intestinal blockage or slowly sicken and starve. Two-thirds of our fish test positive for petro plastics and our marine ecosystems are catastrophically being affected with many species facing extinction. Studies indicate land-based items make up 49% of all marine pollution while commercial & recreational boating produces about 18%. Small items such as bottle caps, plastic utensils, and food containers cumulatively cause a destructive impact on our oceans. We utilize our oceans for so many essential things including medications. This has become necessary as infectious organisms have developed strains resistant to soil and plant based ones, and scientists continue to study the long-term effects toxic pollutants, consumed by marine life, have on our human health. Luckily, if we take action now, we can still reverse the damaging effects our oceans have endured. Working together to identify solutions is paramount for humanity, and MHG has those solutions. Education and awareness play a big part. As individuals become increasingly aware, they choose sustainable actions and behaviors like avoiding single use plastic items and speaking out for beneficial policies regarding ocean conservation and proper waste management for the earth. Products that replace plastics will save our oceans. In March 2015, the “OK biodegradable MARINE” certification became available from Vinçotte and was awarded to MHG for their plastic replacements. MHG’s “Fantastic Non PlasticSM ” is a totally biodegradable, renewable and sustainable polymer, fermented naturally from plant-based oils with formulation for products that are completely customizable and replace plastics. Vinçotte, renowned for extreme caution in awarding certifications, tested MHG’s product according to international standards and confirmed that it would naturally biodegrade completely in marine water instead of slowly disintegrating into smaller particles. The certification is the fifth one MHG has received from Vinçotte. Help us to provide solutions for healthier oceans.