The Brave African Elephant…
African Elephant
Brave African Elephant Fights Three Poachers & Wins
Jackie Chan is right.
Jackie spoke out about elephant poaching, making it clear that the iconic and majestic animals were being decimated for their ivory. And that there is only one sure way to stop it.
Speaking in support of the doc film GAMBLING ON EXTINCTION, Jackie said, “Everyone should dispel the myths that ivory jewelry and carvings are made from tusks that have fallen off the elephant or from elephants that have died of natural causes. This is simply not true. Elephants are being hunted and killed for their tusks. The only way to stop the slaughter is to cut the demand. We are all consumers, so we can all make a difference.”
As poaching rhinos and elephants continues to devastate African wildlife, the international movement to protect them is growing — but will it be enough? Can elephant ivory poaching be stopped? Perhaps — even if the gentle giants have to get tough themselves.
Here, in his own words, is a guest blog from Macqwei James. Macqwei lives in Accra, Ghana, attends UDS (University for Development Studies) and is close to the action.
“Brave Elephant Exhibits the Mandela Spirit as it Fights Three Poachers and Wins” a guest blog by Macqwei James
In the Southern African region, a brave elephant in Zimbabwe stands up for its right to life as it reportedly trampled a poacher who was attempting to rob its ivory tusk.
Yeah, it’s about time!!!!!
A suspected poacher, Solomon Manjoro, was trampled to death by an elephant in Charara National Park in Kariba, according to the state-run The Sunday Mail in Zimbabwe. Noluck Tafuruka, a friend and accomplice of the late Manjoro, is said to have accompanied Manjoro to the park armed with two rifles, for the purpose of hunting. The deceased poacher is thought to have tried to shoot when the elephant (alias Mandela..lol..) spotted and stopped him.
This revelation came to light after Tafuruka was arrested on charges of possessing firearms without a license, The Sunday Mail reports. Also, a third man linked to the poaching incident was also arrested.
As much as elephant attacks are rare, there have been instances in history where adolescent elephants have attacked villages in the 70’s and 80’s, a period of extreme poaching.
Also, TreeHugger notes that elephants may be purposefully striking back at the threat of poachers: “Perhaps as more of the animals have lost family members to poaching, they’ve grown more aggressive to those appearing to be a similar threat.”
The insatiable ivory trade market in Asia has made African elephants targets for their ivory tusks which led to the loss of 700,000 in a period of 9 years (1979-1987). Over 40,000 elephants are slaughtered each year, according to the Elephant Advocacy League.
Mandela’s fight and teachings in freedom for all, I believe, should be extended to humans and animals alike. Because, the current rate of elephant poaching endangers the very existence of Africa’s most iconic species.
Protected sanctuaries and national parks don’t stop poachers, either. Recently, in the month of September, authorities of the Hwange National Park (the largest park in Zimbabwe) confirmed that 87 elephants and 41 other animals were killed by cyanide poisoning, an act believed to have been perpetrated by poachers as the ivory tusks of elephants were all removed.
According to the New York Times, a ban enacted by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in 1990 was very effective in halting the ivory trade, but until 1999 when Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia were permitted to sell 50 tons of confiscated ivory to Japan rekindled the poaching business. The rate of poaching went through the roofs when another sale was made in 2008.
To see Macqwei’s Google+ Profile, go to https://plus.google.com/106450916242553921068/posts. “Join the squad and help the elephants win the war against poaching. The fight against these notorious poachers cannot be left to the elephants alone.”
Brave African Elephant Fights Three Poachers & Wins
“Live Free, Mon Ami!” – Brian Alan Burhoe
