The issue of elephant conservation has been on the forefront of public concern as of late, with significant steps being made to save the gentle giants from extinction. China, the world’s leading consumer of ivory, finally banned the sale of ivory this year after closing down ivory carving facilities last year, Hong Kong, the world’s leading retail market for ivory, banned ivory sales this year, Zimbabwe’s new president banned the export of live elephants, and the U.S. Federal Court upheld the Obama Administration’s ban on the import of ivory and other animal remains from so-called trophy hunts. Despite all this, however, poachers and the ivory trade are still plaguing the planet, and the above video is proof of this tragic reality.

The video, although very difficult to watch, was shared by Hemmersbach Rhino Force in South Africa in order for the world to see the brutal truth of how the ivory trade operates. A healthy bull estimated to be between 35-40 years old was found collapsed writhing in agony, struggling to breathe, and unable to move or defend himself. This was the fourth elephant to be found poisoned in the Lower Zambezi Valley in just the past few months.

Unfortunately, incidents like this are not uncommon with an African elephant being killed every fifteen minutes. At this rate, the species could go extinct in the wild by the end of the next decade. As Hemmersbach Rhino Force explains, educating the world about what really happens in the ivory trade can help the world change for the better, so please make sure to share this with your network!

Browse through some recent posts below:

Wales to Ban the Use of Wild Animals in Circuses!

The First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones announced today that the Welsh Government will ban the use of wild animals in circuses. In a statement released this morning, the Welsh Government said: “the way animals are treated is an important reflection of society and over the next 12 months, a bill will be introduced to ban the use of wild animals in traveling circuses on welfare grounds”.

Meet the Vegan, All-Female Anti-Poaching Team That Has Been More Effective at Defending Animals Than Any Other

eeking to answer these questions, Mander launched a program called “Akashinga” (meaning “the brave ones”) in 2017. The project’s goal? To recruit African women who come from disadvantaged backgrounds — abuse survivors, single mothers, abandoned wives, sex workers, and orphans — and train them to be wildlife rangers.

New Research Finds ALL Fish Tested in the Great Lakes Contain Microplastics

The research, led by Assistant Professor Chelsea Rochman, found that concentrations of plastics in areas of the Great Lakes are equal to or even greater than those reported in the ocean. Rochman and her lab team carried out studies in Lake Ontario, Lake Superior, and Lake Huron and found that nearly all collected fish contained microplastics.

Mass Grave of Greyhounds Shows the Impact of Failing to Ban Racing in New South Wales

Rescuers have discovered a slew of sick and emaciated Greyhounds, along with a scene straight out of a horror movie, a mass grave that held nine Greyhounds who had likely been left to suffer until their death before being tossed into a ditch like trash.