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Stop the export of more baby elephants
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The killing of Cecil the lion attracted little attention within Zimbabwe, despite an international outcry. But this upcoming elephant deal is becoming far more controversial, seen by critics as a desperate attempt to sell off precious natural resources.
The Zimbabwean Government plan to capture a total of 170 elephants (aged between 2.5 and 5 years old) and sell them to safari parks across the globe in a desperate attempt to boost their economy. We are appealing to Zimbabwe's Permanent Secretary Prince Mupazviriho to cease trade immediately. Please take action too.
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Prince William to speak on China TV
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Prince William will make a rare speech on Chinese television to discuss the need to curb illegal wildlife trade. Palace officials said that William will record the speech in October for use on CCTV1, described as the station with the largest audience in China.
A palace statement says William is "grateful to have this opportunity to explain how people around the world must work together" to preserve wildlife.
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How one baby elephant beat all the odds
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This is Simotua. His shocking wounds were caused by a spear to his head and a rope snare around his foot, almost severing it completely.
A poaching victim, this 15-month-old was rescued by the DSWT in June having suffered for some time alone in the wild. Two months on and Simotua's wounds have nearly completely healed thanks to daily intensive treatment and tender loving care by his devoted Keepers.
Based on his progress, Simotua will go on to live an able life back in the wild. Keep updated on his progress by fostering Simotua here.
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A new, limited edition t-shirt has been created by the wonderful Kristin Davis. With the key message 'Say NO to ivory', this powerful design is available for just 2 weeks.
Don't miss your chance to buy one, with 100% profits to the DSWT, and know that your purchase will help fund their work to ensure elephants, unlike the tees, are here to stay!
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'Together we can save elephants from extinction'
iworry is campaign by The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
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Permanent Secretary Prince Mupazviriho Ministry of Environment Water and Climate 11th Floor Kaguvi Building
Cnr 4th Street/Central Avenue
P Bag 7753 Causeway Harare
Zimbabwe
Re: Capture of 170 elephant calves from Hwange National Park to China
Dear Permanent Secretary Prince Mupazviriho,
The world is watching and by helping these baby Elephants you can garner positive world wide media attention so please do this for the elephants, the ecosystem and of course your beloved Country.
As a supporter of the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, a wildlife conservation charity based in Kenya, I am writing to not only express my grave disappointment over the shipment of 24 wild elephants to a life of confinement and confusion in China, but to share my serious concerns regarding the planned export of an additional 170 elephant calves from Zimbabwe to China.
Following the death of Cecil the Lion, all eyes remain on Zimbabwe and the manner in which it protects its magnificent species. It is in the best interest of Zimbabwe to make strong and ethical decisions regarding its wildlife in order to prove to the world that it is capable of protecting its endangered species. Zimbabwe offers tourists the rare experience of watching elephants roam freely in their natural habitat, safe with their families. While some 100 elephants are slaughtered each day in Africa at the hands of poachers, Hwange’s elephants face a dire threat to their existence. It has been well-documented that parts of Zimbabwe have lost 75% of its elephants over the past 14 years to poaching. Although there has been a reported 10% rise in elephant populations within Hwange National Park in recent years, this only brings the total to 54,000 - a significantly low figure which in no way justifies the trade of young elephant herd members from the wild to safari parks in Asia.
It is not only Zimbabwe’s duty to protect elephants from poachers, but to conserve their wilderness and habitats, ensuring them a safe future in the wild. Should Zimbabwe fail to conserve its wildlife, tourism will inevitably decrease; as travellers choose to visit more sustainably managed wildlife parks and avoid controversial areas. Although it has been claimed that the live trade in infant elephants will contribute to the ‘conservation’ of the park, a detailed study performed by the DSWT’s iworry campaign found that an elephant generates more than $1.6 million USD through tourism during its lifetime. Elephants are worth 76 times more alive than dead, so is this trade even financially viable? Conservation and associated wildlife tourism can provide long term financial gains for Zimbabwe, the trade of 170 baby elephants, will offer only a one time financial incentive, which will soon be spent.
Regarding the elephant trade, in which you quoted, “... Now, if I am giving them to someone to look after them, not in a zoo, but keeping them alive, is one not being very much a conservationist by making sure that you are keeping these animals alive?” Conservation is not merely about ‘keeping an elephant alive’ it is the continued preservation of a species in their own habitat, for the benefit of many other means of wildlife, which owe their survival to the existence of elephants in a natural habitat. Removing an elephant from the wild has irreversible effects on the environment, wild spaces and ultimately the ecosystem, which humans rely so heavily on.
In addition, the quality of life for elephants in captivity, away from their herd, and without careful attention for their emotional state is extremely poor. Elephants are fragile animals and several of the 24 were reported dead after capture and relocation. As explored in numerous elephant behavioural studies and supported by Dr Dame Daphne Sheldrick DBE, who has hand-reared in excess of 190 orphaned
