Wildlife SOS, The Last Animals, TripAdvisor, Thomas Cook, STA Travel, Elephant Rides, Vote for this year's Elephant Pendant & 'Trust of The Town, A Benefit for Elephants' is announced in this Week's 'Elephant in the Room'

Elephants in India who are exploited for the tourism industry lead miserable lives of constant fear. For hours on end, these highly social animals are forced to carry tourists around on their backs under the scorching-hot sun – even when they're exhausted or in pain.

Over 100 travel companies – including TripAdvisor, Thomas Cook, and STA Travel – have taken a stand against this abuse by refusing to offer elephant rides. Now, we need your help to keep the pressure on India's Minister of Tourism to ban these cruel rides.What some tourists don't realise is that these animals are commonly torn away from their families, tormented and beaten into submission, and denied adequate nutrition.
Elephants deserve to be with their families in their native habitat, not held captive and exploited in the name of entertainment.
The Last Animals. For many Americans, wildlife trafficking can seem faraway and vague. It’s something that happens in Africa, China, and parts of southeast Asia, and only rarely might it touch our everyday lives. Of all the problems we face as a society today, the illegal wildlife trade might seem like one that the average concerned citizen would be least likely to impact.

But as nine states have already recognized, it is an issue that can hit unfortunately close to home, and it’s one that deserves attention from state governments, local businesses, and consumers everywhere. Because while the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service focuses most of its law enforcement power on items entering the country, for goods that are smuggled in, there’s an urgent need for state and local law enforcement to turn their attention to intrastate trade.

Asian songbirds and a bald eagle feather bustle recovered during Operation Jungle Book. Photo by USFWS.

In 2017, New Mexico came close to adding its name to this list of (then six) states that had passed their own trafficking bans. Whereas many of these state-level bans have focused on just elephants or rhinoceros or a handful of other high-profile species, New Mexico’s ban cast a much wider net.

Steve Oberholtzer, USFWS Special Agent in Charge, Office of Law Enforcement discussing the ivory trafficking with reporters. Photo Credit: Gavin Shire / USFWS


The Convention for International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) was established in 1975 through international treaty aimed at protecting imperiled plants and animals across the globe. The body continues to meet every three years and maintains three lists (or appendices) of species across the globe. Appendix 1 is reserved for the most imperiled species, and New Mexico’s ban would afford protections to the 1,200 species currently on that list.

And as much as any state, New Mexico has an important role to play. According to a study that Defenders conducted in 2015, from 2004–2014 El Paso, Texas and Nogales, Arizona were two of busiest ports of entry for illegally trafficked wildlife goods. Unfortunately, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not have any agents posted at New Mexico’s two ports of entry, essentially making our state a blank spot on the map for traffickers and necessitating that New Mexico’s law enforcement help fill this gap.


However, the bill was pocket-vetoed by then-Governor Susanna Martinez after passing both the Senate and the House. However, a nearly identical bill has been reintroduced this year as SB 38 and in late January, will begin navigating its way through New Mexico’s legislature once again.

With a new governor in office, the bill’s supporters are confident about its chances in 2019, but we also aren’t taking anything for granted. We know there are many environmental issues that both advocates and legislators will be working on, and it’s important that supporters of the bill make their voices heard to ensure it remains a priority.

A Chinese soft-shelled albino turtle and box turtles recovered during Operation Jungle Book. Photo by USFWS.

To this end, Defenders hosted two film screenings in Santa Fe and Albuquerque of The Last Animals, the award-winning documentary by photojournalist and director, Kate Brooks, which documents how the trafficking crisis is driving the extinction of elephants and rhinoceros. Since 2001, Brooks has worked in Pakistan, Iraq, and Lebanon documenting those ongoing wars, and she brings the gritty aesthetic those experiences instilled in her to this film.


At times the film can be difficult to watch, but it provides an honest and raw depiction of the dire situation facing these iconic species. From the front lines embedded with a unit of park rangers in the Democratic Republic of Congo to the streets of Vietnam to zoos and reserves from the Czech Republic to San Diego, Brooks’ film provides an honest look at the many fronts on which conservationists, researchers, and scientists are working diligently to preserve these species.
A king cobra, found inside a chip can, recovered during Operation Jungle Book. Photo by USFWS.
Unfortunately, as good as they can be, documentaries on topics like climate change, poaching, trafficking, or many other environmental subjects can often leave audiences feeling hopeless and depressed. But for us, one of the best parts of hosting these screenings was the ability to help turn our activists’ despair into action.


At each screening, in addition to providing information about the bill, Brooks, who has remained dedicated to the issue despite completing the film more than a year ago, set-up a web portal that allows New Mexicans to send a message directly to their state senator and representative requesting their support for SB 38, the Wildlife Trafficking Act!

Additionally, those who were interested, signed-up to receive updates on the bill as well as information about other events and campaigns.

This Wednesday, SB 38 was read into New Mexico’s Senate and referred to its first two committees. Buoyed by a couple years of experience, a group of dedicated activists, our inspired sponsor, Senator Mimi Stewart, and a new governor, we’re hopeful that this is our year!
Recently we told you of an elephant by the name of Luna who needed immediate help. We didn't know much about her, only that she was very sick and in agony. Your response of kindness and concern was very touching and enabled us to begin our efforts to bring her some relief.

Saturday, right before we were going to start our travels, Luna was unable stand up after laying down to sleep. Our team quickly hired a crane to assist her to her feet. Shortly after, we made the hard decision to immediately load her on the truck and begin the journey to the hospital.

We knew the journey would be a difficult one but also essential that we get her the medical help she desperately needed.
At one point in the journey, it was very apparent that Luna urgently needed some rest. So we stopped the ambulance and allowed her to lie down and relax. As we feared, she was unable to get up on her own. Our team brought in a crane and in the middle of the night to lift her to her feet again.

We gave her a little bit of time to recover from the ordeal of trying to stand, then we again loaded her on the ambulance to complete the journey.
And finally...she has now arrived at the hospital. It has been an ordeal, but we have her where she can be looked after and kept comfortable. For photos of her journey please click HERE.

She is both sick and weak and will receive around the clock emergency care. We hope you will consider becoming a monthly supporter to help her.  It is possible she will be hospice care, we don't know yet. However, we would like to believe that with love, food and medical attention...she will have a long life ahead of her to enjoy.

Holly has been receiving care at our elephant hospital for one month!  She's made incredible progress. We want to share with you some of our favorite photos from the last four weeks as well as some details of her treatment. Thank you for making her recovery possible! Click HERE to read more! 
Now we would like your help in making one more decision. Help us choose what will be engraved on her pendant.

Click HERE to place your vote!
Once again, thank you for everything you've done to help Holly and for your input in our poll.

Last month we asked you to help us decide on which elephant should be on our 2019 pendant.

Over 1200 people weighed in on this decision and although it was a difficult choice, Suzy was the elephant chosen.

Every year we ask you to choose one of our rescued elephants to adorn our commemorative pendants.  Since 2015 we’ve created pendants for Raju, Suraj, Mohan, and Laxmi. This year, you can help us choose between three loveable ladies, Suzy, Asha, and Holly. 

Click HERE to vote!

These collectibles will be available during our spring online auction event (details below).
Our annual Bid to be Wild auction goes live, April 29 - May 10. We're looking to expand our catalog of unique items that come to us from all over the globe. If you’re interested in making a donation of a gift card, merchandise, themed gift basket, or even a few nights stay at your vacation rental, we’d greatly appreciate it. Your gift helps save wildlife! Contact auction@wildlifesos.org for more information.

Speaking of our annual auction…we are now accepting entries from all of our Young Artists out there! This was a huge hit last year and we were overwhelmed by the amazing artwork that the next generation of wildlife supporters sent in. Check out the entry guidelines for more information. 
Last but not least, if you're planning to travel in 2019, our third annual Tusk of the Town event will take place in Salt Lake City, Utah on Thursday, August 8. Our founders Kartick Satyanarayan and Geeta Seshamani would love to meet you on this fun-filled night of entertainment, Indian-inspired cuisine and beverages, a silent auction, and more! Tickets are on sale now at www.tuskofthetown.org.
You can help India's wildlife by supporting the auction, taking the pendant poll, or attending the event in Salt Lake City.

Don Lichterman
Sunset Corporation of America (SCA)
Sunset TV
Sunset Television Network
Sustainable Action Network (SAN)