Tees for Animal Lover
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We know, this video is too cute for words, which is why we will leave you to watch it in peace and feel all the warm and fuzzy feelings. But when you’re done, there’s something important you should know about this heartwarming scene. O.K. are you finished?
This video was shot at The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust’s (DSWT) Ithumba Reintegration Unit and the man you see playing with little Mwende, the elephant, is the Head Keeper, Benjamin Kyalo. You see life for all elephants is not as fun as this video makes it out to be.
Every day, 100 elephants are killed by poachers. They are shot, their tusks are removed and then sold on the black market – this industry is known as the illegal ivory trade. This brutal industry has brought elephants to the brink of extinction. Scientist estimate that if we continue at the current rate of slaughter, elephants will be extinct from the wild within the next 20 years.
But it’s not all bad new for elephants. China, the world’s largest importer of illegal ivory, instituted a ban on ivory – the ban means that “34 processing enterprises and 143 designated trading venues, with dozens to be closed by the end of March 2017.” Technically a global ban on the ivory trade was instituted in 1989, but because of loopholes in this law, the trade has been allowed to survive in modern times and China’s most recent ban is a big step in the right direction.
However, elephants are still at risk and while they are being killed for trinkets, the important role they play in their ecosystems is going unnoticed. Scientist believe that the disappearance of wild elephants could result in a complete collapse of the ecosystem as a whole. Elephants are essentially the gardeners of their ecosystem – they dig wells, turn over soil, and clear away dead plant matters so that new flora can flourish. N. Thomas Hakansson, a prominent scientist, states that apart from humans, elephants have a greater impact on the environment than any other species.
Mwende has grown up protected by ten DSWT/Kenya Wildlife Service Anti-Poaching Teams, six DSWT aircraft, a helicopter, and a Mobile Vet Unit. These teams serve and protect all of Tsavo’s resident elephants. Thanks to their hard and unrelenting work, this group of amazing people have helped over 200 elephants grow up safe and sound.
To help make this list possible for many other elephants by donating to The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Support the incredible work that they do. You can also make a difference by boycotting the ivory industry and any companies who participate in this foul trade.
MUST SEND IN TROOPS ON THE GROUND TO FIGHT THE WAR ON POACHING SACRED WILDLIFE NOW.
I have said this many times. Poaching is an economic crime. It will continue as long as the rewards are greater than the risk. You can reduce or eliminate poaching by increasing the risk. When the risk is greater than the reward, the poachers will think twice before they kill an elephant. Send out teams of of enforcers. Find a poacher, kill a poacher, leave the body hanging from a tree as a warning. What these elephants need is someone like Tom Horn, and licensing trophy hunters to hunt down and kill poachers can bring in money for elephant conservation. If you think I\’m nuts, then let\’s hear a better plan.
First – thanks so much for the attention you pay to Daphne and David Sheldrick\’s great operation. Facts: David was a professional hunter with great respect for ALL wildlife. Daphne followed suit after his untimely death, but focused on the African elephant. I have had lunch at The Thorn Tree with Finn Aagaard and Daphne. Finn is gone now, but we both tried to help The Sheldrick operation and other good operations to help wildlife that is losing their areas to roam. BUT LETS BE CLEAR ON POACHING – 90% of all elephant taken by poachers are done by workers for the government! They close down a certain area for a dishonest reason, and then turn their poachers lose. They ship the ivory in military trucks to the coast and then load them on ships to China – how could a native resident afford to do this? Again, 10 years of my life has been in the African bush, any professional hunter or photo safari guide will confirm this – IF – they do not use their names – otherwise, bad things will happen to them and their families – you are our only source to get the record straight! Please be helpful – THANKS – Lowell