Poached elephants in botswana

[Damo]

With all the poaching, over fishing and environmental disasters we cause does anyone else think that one day the only animals on earth are going to be livestock and the domesticated? Wildlife will just cease to exist because of us, I know it's not uncommon for animals to be poached but whenever anything significant makes the news I can't help but to think. Extremely saddening especially when you feel utterly helpless.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-45396394

 

[Veganite]

Wow, that was disturbing.

More and more species are becoming extinct than ever before. I hate to think that you're right about wildlife extinction, but I've read that we're already headed towards the sixth mass extinction. I'm sure many climate deniers and wild game hunters would disagree.

Read HERE

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[Damo]

I'd read through your link but I'd like to sleep tonight, perhaps in the morning.

I'm sure many climate deniers and wild game hunters would disagree.

Blinded with ignorance, they'll realise they're wrong when it's too late unfortunately.

 

[Sax]

Headed towards? I thought it was established we were pretty well into the mass extinction by now. Wow, that's a depressing sentence to write.

You often hear poaching is caused by lack of local economic opportunity (it's the Africans' fault!). But the reason poaching is a remedy for that is 100% due to the greed, selfishness and utter inhumanity of the upper class around the world.

I hear the ground up bones of rich people have amazing healing properties.

 

[Lou]

Where are those lions when you need them?
https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/05/world/south-africa-poachers-killed-trnd/index.html

There is already a lot of progress on the tech front against poaching. the GPS stuff seems to have a lot of promise.
https://www.wired.co.uk/article/anti-poaching-technology-conservation-maasai-mara

It's not all bad news. There are many organizations, maybe the WWF as the best example that is really winning the war against poaching and wildlife extinction.

From the WWF
Facts and stats

• 26 – percentage increase of mountain gorillas over the past seven years
• 11,065 – number of rhinos in Africa in 1997. Now there are more than 21,000.
• 2022 – year by which we hope to double tiger numbers in the wild.

In the 1980s, Africa lost half its elephants to poaching – but since the international ivory trade was banned in 1989, numbers have begun to recover.

Lately, we have been discussing "vegan advocacy". Here is a simple thing to do: Join the WWF. Their annual memberships used to be pretty high, but now all they ask is for you to choose any amount to donate.

Some advocacy organizations spend a lot of money on membership drives and advertising. The WWF has a great track record of spending "your" money and getting results.

http://wwf.panda.org/get_involved/support_wwf/donate/

 

[Lou]

More good news.

Ok, sure, we are going to hell in a bucket. But I think it's healthy to focus on some good news whenever its possible.

According to the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), convictions of poachers has dramatically increased. "In Kenya, wildlife crime conviction rates have risen to 91% in 2017 from only 44% in 2013".

Yes, I realize there are some important data points missing. What is the number of arrests? What is the number of convictions? But when you are looking for good news you take what you can get.

I also like the AWF is crediting their "Canine Sniffer Units" and improved law enforcement training as the cause for the improved conviction rates. Law enforcement units including specially trained K9s are deployed at airports, border checkpoints, and in the field. Doggies are saving elephants!

https://campaign.awf.org/2018-canin...dium=web&utm_campaign=fy19care2&ms=B19Q04E05W