New Netflix Movie Starring Kristin Davis and Rob Lowe Raises Awareness About the Poaching Crisis of African Elephants

The popular streaming service, Netflix, rolls out plenty of original movies during the holidays. Viewers can get cozy to binge movies or ‘chill’ with their families as they get in the holiday mood. This year, one of Netflix’s original movies will not just get viewers in the holiday spirit, but it will get them thinking about Conservation and it will raise awareness for one of the world’s most majestic, yet most killed animals. Holiday in the Wild draws attention to the plight of African elephants by denouncing poaching and highlighting the great work done by sanctuaries and conservationists.

As can be seen in the trailer, Kate’s son has just left for college and her husband has just left her when she embarks on a journey to Africa. While there, she comes across a baby elephant whose mother was killed by poachers. Moved by the plight of elephants, after never realizing the extent that poachers go to for ivory, she decides to help out.

One of the things that Kate (played by Kristin Davis) goes on to learn in the movie is how much elephants are just like humans. Family (herd) is very important to elephants. They would literally die for each other as a recent tragic incident showed when a family of elephants died trying to save a baby elephant who fell down a waterfall. They comfort each other, cooperate, and protect each other. Like us, elephants feel grief, joy, and anger. They have been witnessed mourning lost loved ones.

Source: Villiers Steyn/Shutterstock

Despite their immense intelligence and clear span of emotions, elephants are unfortunately often exploited and killed. Rob Lowe‘s character, Derek, has a very wise line in the movie. He tells Kate that humans are actually the most dangerous animals out there in the wild.

Elephants are taken from the wild to be exploited and mistreated for the tourism industry, circuses, and zoos. They’re forced to undergo a process called phajaan, which literally breaks their spirit. Then they have to live their lives in captivity and isolation performing unnatural behaviors, suffering from depression and becoming physically ill.

But one of the worst plights of elephants, is that of poaching, which the movie focuses on. Elephants, especially African ones have gorgeous tusks that only they need. Nearly 100 elephants are killed every day for their tusks, all to use the ivory to make luxury products for humans. Ivory is often used to make piano and organ keys, chess sets, billiard balls, jewelry, and more. But elephants need their tusks. They aren’t useless and they have their purpose.

“Tusks are elongated incisor teeth, and one-third of the tusk is embedded within the skull of the elephant” filled with nerve endings. Elephants use their tusks to protect themselves and their herd from predators like lions, to dig water holes, and to rip off tree bark to eat. These tusks keep Africa’s bush healthy, being responsible for the existence of hundreds of tree and plant species.

As the movie shows, there are great sanctuaries and conservationists out there doing great work to help the animals. But at the core, poaching needs to come to a halt. That is difficult to accomplish, but having laws in place can help decrease the insane rates of poaching. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES) protects endangered animals, including African elephants. But some nations in Africa want to have the right to be legally involved in the ivory trade. Sign this petition to demand that CITES keep the ban on the ivory trade to protect these beautiful creatures!

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Lead Image Source: Villiers Steyn/Shutterstock