This Week's Elephant In The Room!

on
Victory for Elephants: U.S. Announces Near Total Ban on Commercial Ivory Trade!
 
Thank you for calling on the United States government to protect elephants by putting an end to illegal ivory sales. We have amazing news! On June 2, the Obama administration finalized new domestic ivory regulations that constitute a near complete ban on commercial ivory trade in the U.S. This sends a clear message to the world that the needless slaughter of elephants will not be tolerated by Americans or our leaders.

 While this is a historic step forward, there is still so much work to be done to protect elephants around the world. We appreciate you taking action to protect this precious species.

 Baby Elephant in Chains Shows How the Illegal Wildlife Trade Turns Animals Into Commodities. The illicit wildlife trade poses a serious threat to the survival of countless animal species around the globe. Pangolins (a little-known, scaly nocturnal animal) are the most widely illegally-traded mammal in the world. They are hunted for their meat and scales, which are believed in certain parts of Asia to possess medicinal properties. Rhinos’ horns are also believed to have medicinal benefits (despite being composed entirely of keratin – the same substance that forms human hair and nails). This is a recurrent theme that drives much of the demand for wildlife products: that exotic animals’ body parts have mystical, curative powers of some kind.

 This myth has been thoroughly debunked by sound scientific research. Sadly, this has not succeeded at stopping the rampant trade in rhino horn, elephant ivory, exotic animal flesh, and other illegal wildlife products. One African elephant is killed for their tusks every fifteen minutes – this equates to 100 dead elephants per day. Tragically, Africa has lost 60 percent of its elephant population since the 1970s, and many conservation experts fear that these majestic animals could soon be extinct. Rhinos, too, are at grave risk of extinction. An average of three rhinos are killed for their horns every single day. The Javan rhinoceros was declared extinct in 2011, while the Western Black rhinoceros suffered the same fate in 2013. The Sumatran and Black Rhino subspecies are currently classified as “critically endangered” by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Following the death of Nola – one of only four remaining Northern White Rhinos – last November, the outlook for this subspecies is also looking extremely bleak.

 Africa’s lions are steadily disappearing, their numbers having dropped by an estimated 50 percent over the last century. During the same time frame, 90 percent of the planet’s wild tigers have disappeared. In fact, there are now more tigers living in U.S. backyards than there are left in the wild! The illegal wildlife trade doesn’t just hurt animals. Proceeds from the sale of illegal wildlife poaching help fund terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab. The illegal wildlife trade has also been linked to human rights violations, slavery, and disease outbreaks.

 Wildlife photographer Patrick Brown has now launched a striking new project called “Trading to Extinction” in an effort to raise awareness about the gravity of the problem. Brown said, “For years, I have traveled across Asia to document the devastating impact of wildlife trafficking. I’ve witnessed how our planet’s rarest creatures are being hunted, trapped and slaughtered to feed a global black market in wildlife products. This project is my attempt to expose that trade.”

 This picture, taken from the series, reveals the horrendous ordeal that many endangered animals are forced to endure while in transit, never knowing that they are about to be sold – and most likely killed – for their body parts.
Stunning Photo Series Shows Us the True Impact of the Illegal Wildlife Trade
This image of a trafficked elephant exposes the bleak, heartbreaking reality behind the illicit wildlife trade. However, Brown ultimately wants “Trading to Extinction” to convey a message of hope and resilience. “Unfortunately, there’s still a long way to go,” he explained. “This trade is without any doubt flourishing. However, I finally begin to see a coordinated political fight-back. An extraordinary worldwide movement is bringing together people from diverse backgrounds in a bid to save our most endangered species before it is too late. I hope our efforts will not be in vain.”

 Elephant Handler Habib Omar.
Bullhook Use and Pacing Tiger at UniverSoul Circus
UniverSoul Circus has a long history of contracting with notorious animal abusers who have lengthy records of Animal Welfare Act violations.

UniverSoul is known for having some of the best human talent around, and it’s high time that it followed the lead of other big-name circuses by recognizing the change in consumer attitude and eliminating animal acts now. Please take action today for animals who are forced to travel with UniverSou: http://www.peta.org/action/action-alerts/universoul-circus-stop-cruel-elephant-acts/.  
Tell Greensboro Coliseum to Keep UniverSoul Out!
bo the elephant
Despite learning that UniverSoul Circus has a long history of working with notorious animal abusers, Greensboro Coliseum Complex officials are moving forward with plans to host this universally reviled circus in two weeks. Join PETA in urging the venue's management to insist that the circus perform without animals or not at all!

 UniverSoul Circus has a long history of working with notorious animal abusers who have lengthy records of Animal Welfare Act violations. The circus currently contracts with big-cat exhibitor Mitchel Kalmanson, who was cited twice within four months for denying exercise and adequate space to big cats while with UniverSoul. The cages were reportedly too small for the animals to make normal postural adjustments, and a handler admitted that the cats were kept caged 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for the entire four to seven weeks that they were on the road—and sometimes even longer. In addition, two elephants currently on the road with UniverSoul—Betty and Bo, who are exhibited by Larry Carden—have yielded over five years of reactive tuberculosis (TB) tests, suggesting that they are likely TB-positive. These elephants risk exposing arena and circus workers, members of the public, and other animals to TB. In addition, zebras, who are routinely part of UniverSoul's act, have escaped from the circus twice within the past six months alone and run amok through the streets.

 UniverSoul Circus is phenomenal without animals—its human acts are among the best—so it doesn't need to abuse living beings to entertain audiences and make a profit. Ask Greensboro Coliseum Complex officials to cancel UniverSoul's appearance unless it performs without animal acts.
Rally For Nosey!! It is that time of year where our beloved Nosey will return to Rock Creek, Ohio for her two month stay at the Medieval Faire. 

 She will be there Sat and Sun from July 9th through to August 14th, 2016, 11am - 7pm. 

 More details to come - what time we will rally specifically. http://medievalfaire.com/index.htm
In one week news outlets have circulated Nosey's story to at least three other countries. Only one question left to ask, why isn't the USDA in Nosey's home country on board?

GOOD NEWS! We're almost to our goal of 200,000!
ElephantRescue.net. Sign Here! Thanks to great people like you, we have 189, 604 signatures from people around the world.

 We need just a little more help to reach our goal of 200,000.

 This will help tremendously as we work to free Can the elephant from the hellish zoo where she is trapped.

 So please send our petition to your friends on Facebook, Twitter and all your social media. Email it to friends and family.

 On behalf of those who can neither speak nor defend themselves, I thank you with all my heart!
30 Amazing Elephant Facts. There's more to than you think!




Circus Knie: Stop (ab)using Indian Elephants🐘 & other animals in your show for good!!! ✒🔁
Petition sent to officials at APSARA - UPDATE: End Elephant Riding at Angkor
Now with more than 172,000 signatures, this petition has now been sent to officials at the APSARA National Authority.

 Since this petition began, many local businesses including hotels, restaurants, cafes and boutiques in Siem Reap have joined to create the "Ride Bicycles, Not Elephants" campaign which actively tells tourists NOT to ride elephants.

 Cambodia can be a leader in South East Asia by ending elephant riding and focusing on genuine elephant conservation - we must encourage the government to do so.

 We encourage local and international media to keep up the pressure and contact APSARA for comment.

 Thank you for signing and supporting this petition - together, we will end elephant riding at Angkor.

 Rehome Captive and Isolated Elephant.
Lucky-the-Asian-Elephant-By-The-Brit_2
Target: Kris Vehrs, Executive Director of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums
Goal: Release captive zoo elephant living in isolation to reputable sanctuary.
An elephant that was stolen from the wild has apparently been living by herself in captivity for years. We need to take action to ensure this innocent animal is rescued and rehomed in a proper sanctuary.
Lucky the elephant has been an attraction at the San Antonio Zoo for the last 50 years. Despite it being against the Association of Zoos and Aquarium’s accreditation standards, Lucky has reportedly not had any companions for the last three years. Being isolated has sadly been thought to take a toll on the elephant, as she has been observed by zoo visitors displaying stressful behaviors such as swaying her body back and forth. Lucky is likely showing these signs of stress because she does not have the ability to roam large areas or to interact with other elephants like she would if she was still living in the wild.
While Lucky would not be able to survive on her own because she has been relying on humans to help her survive for so long, she deserves to live the rest of her life just being an elephant. Urge officials to release Lucky to a suitable sanctuary. A good amount of her life has already been stolen; Lucky deserves to live the rest of her life in peace.
Dear Executive Director Vehrs,
Lucky the elephant was stolen from the wild 50 years ago and has been living in isolation at the San Antonio Zoo for the last three years. Because isolating animals is against the guidelines of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Lucky needs to be immediately released to a sanctuary that will provide her with proper care.
Elephants in the wild are able to roam massive areas of land. They also live in groups, as they are known to be highly social animals. When elephants such as Lucky no longer have these options they show major signs of stress, including swaying their bodies back and forth and constantly lifting their legs. In fact, Lucky has been said by zoo patrons to display these very behaviors. Although she will never be able to survive in the wild, allowing Lucky to continue living at this zoo is both cruel and unethical.
I therefore urge you to require that the San Antonio Zoo move Lucky to an appropriate sanctuary where she will be able to roam and interact with other elephants. As the people who write the guidelines for accredited zoos and aquariums, you should in no way support animals being stolen from the wild or isolated.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: The Brit_2
Elephant cries during rescue after 50 years in captivity; Elephant kills ivory poacher - Compilation
1. An elephant named Raju, who was abused in captivity for 50 years, cried when he was finally freed.

2. An ivory hunter is trampled to death by a wild African elephant in Charara National Park, Zimbabwe.

3. A video of a baby elephant adorably falling on her ass and, unable to right herself, receiving a helping trunk from the adults of her herd.

4. Baby elephant Hari Hi Way was caught on camera playing football with a log at Chester Zoo. The prospective soccer star wowed passers-by with some particularly awesome dribbling.

5. A herd of wild elephants went on the rampage in eastern India which began when villagers threw stones at the animals in a misguided attempt to frighten them away from their crops.
Elephants are the one of the most iconic and beloved animals in the world.

They're counting on you to survive
The 2008 ivory sale also corresponded with a 70% rise in the seizures of illegal ivory
Beautiful Photo Reveals the Undeniable Connection Between Humans and Elephants. Elephants’ undeniable air of dignity, wisdom and compassion, has led them to become one of the most revered animal species in the world. Few people who have watched members of an elephant herd interacting with one another in the wild or observed the loving bonds that they share could fail to be moved by them. In many ways, elephants’ emotional lives closely resemble ours. They, too, are closely bonded to their family members, never hesitate to help each other out during times of trouble, and grieve profoundly when a loved one dies.

 Sadly, we humans don’t always treat them with the respect they deserve.
African elephants are a lucrative target for the illegal wildlife trade, where their ivory tusks can command huge prices. During the 1970s and 80s, African elephant numbers dropped by over half, from 1.3 million to 600,000. This led to an international ban on the commercial ivory trade in 1989, which helped the population to stabilize and recover. In 1997, however, a limited amount of stockpiled “antique” ivory was permitted to leave Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, which drove up demand for these products once again. Now, poachers kill one African elephant every fifteen minutes: the equivalent of 100 every day. Between 2012 and 2015 alone, over 103,000 elephants were killed for their ivory. Africa has now lost 60 percent of its elephant population, and experts fear that the species may soon be extinct unless serious action is taken to curb the ivory trade.

 Asian elephants are also at risk of extinction thanks to extensive deforestation and habitat loss. The pygmy elephants of Indonesia, for example, are seriously threatened by the palm oil industry’s practice of burning down their forest homes to make way for palm plantations … and poisoning the elephants and other animals who stand in their way. Elsewhere on the continent, wild elephants are often taken away from their families and forced to work in the illegal logging and elephant tourism industries. A brutal training method known as “phajaan” – which involves confining the young elephant to tiny box and beating them until they learn to fear their captors enough to obey every command – is used to prepare the animals for their work in these industries.

 As if all this weren’t bad enough, humans also have a bad habit of forcing elephants to perform in circuses or languish in zoos for the sake of our entertainment. Circus elephants are typically treated horrendously – beaten with whips or stabbed with bullhooks in an effort to make them perform inane tricks – while an estimated 40 percent of zoo elephants suffer from obesity, due to a lack of appropriate exercise and stimulation. In both cases, the elephants are deprived of the ability to exercise their natural instincts and experience the close family and herd bonds they would enjoy in the wild.

 Clearly, we humans do not treat elephants with the respect they deserve. We could certainly do a lot better when it comes to our relationship with these majestic animals, as a new picture posted by elephant conservation group Elephantopia reveals.

 The photograph, which was taken in Kafue Elephant Orphanage, Zambia, reveals what the relationship between our species and these majestic animals ought to look like.
Beautiful Image Reveals How the Connection Between Humans and Elephants Ought to Be
The human race as a whole has a long way to go before our relationship with elephants is based on a foundation of genuine love and respect. Luckily, there is hope that the ivory trade could be on its way out. Last year, an important agreement was reached between China and the U.S. – the two biggest consumers of ivory products in the world – to take tougher action on the ivory trade and help save Africa’s endangered elephants. The stories of resilient elephants who have survived poaching attempts, as well as those of the brave people who work around the clock to protect them, give us reason to believe that all is not lost after all. At the same time, raising awareness about the plight of elephants who are put to work for our entertainment is vital to ending their captivity once and for all.

 For more information about the work of Elephantopia, check out their website or Facebook page. You can learn more about the plight of elephants across the world, and how you can help, by reading the articles below.
Image Source: Elephantopia/Facebook