Elephants Are Evolving Without Tusks to Survive Poachers

Posted by Katie Valentine | November 15, 2018

Source: 

https://ladyfreethinker.org/elephants-evolving-without-tusks-survive-poachers/

Many of the elephants wandering Mozambique’s Gorongosa National Park these days are tuskless.

From 1977 until 1992, the country underwent a brutal civil war. Due to the conflict, about ninety percent of the elephants that once existed there were poached for their ivory, which helped fund weapons and feed soldiers.

Gorongosa’s tuskless elephants developed a biological advantage as a result of the poaching. According to recent figures, one-third of the generation of females born after the war ended never grew tusks – something that would normally only occur in 2 to 4 percent of female African elephants.

Elephant behavior expert Joyce Poole, who studies the park’s pachyderms, says that decades ago, some 4,000 elephants lived in Gorongosa. Following the civil war, those numbers tragically dwindled into the triple digits. Yet-unpublished research compiled by Poole shows that 51 percent of the 200 known adult females (aged 25 or older) that survived the war are tuskless. Of the female elephants born since the war, 32 percent have no tusks.

Poole, who serves as scientific director of a nonprofit called Elephant Voices, explains that male elephants have bigger and heavier tusks than females of the same age. She continues: “But once there’s been heavy poaching pressure on a population, then the poachers start to focus on the older females as well.” The resulting older age population of elephants will, therefore, consist of a high proportion of tuskless females.

Elephant poaching remains a huge problem throughout parts of Africa – it’s estimated that on average, an African elephant is killed every 15 minutes. It’s no surprise, then, that similar shifts among female survivors and their daughters have occurred in countries other than Mozambique that also have a history of substantial ivory poaching. The effect has been particularly extreme in South Africa – in the early 2000’s, 98 percent of the 174 females in Addo Elephant National Park were reported to be tuskless.

In some heavily-hunted areas, such as southern Kenya, poaching has led to reduced tusk sizes. According to a 2015 study by Duke University and the Kenya Wildlife Service, male survivors of a period of intense poaching had tusks about a fifth smaller than average, while females had tusks about one-third the normal size. This pattern continued – offspring born after 1995 had tusks between 21 and 27 percent smaller than elephants in the 1960’s.

Elephants without tusks are surviving and appear to be healthy, according to Poole, but the work they do with their tusks is part-and-parcel to their everyday lives and vital to the well-being of many smaller species, who rely on elephants to dig holes for water and topple trees over for shelter.

While measures are being taken to reduce the global demand for ivory, such as ivory bans in the U.S. and China, it’s unclear how long it will take for elephants with high levels of tusklessness to recover. One thing remains clear: when it comes to saving these beautiful, gentle giants from extinction, time is of the essence.

Trophy-Hunted Giraffe Body Parts Are Being Legally Sold In The U.S.

Posted by Dobi Finley | November 5, 2018

An investigation by the Humane Society of the United States has uncovered a thriving U.S. market for trophy-hunted giraffe parts.

According to the findings, nearly 4,000 giraffes killed by trophy hunters were imported into the United States over the last decade.

These giraffe body parts were then used to make knife handles, Western boots, furniture, taxidermy, and even bible covers.

The investigation found various giraffe body parts for sale by at least 52 different dealers in the United States. The shocking findings revealed that giraffe parts and products are widely available around the country, in wholesale and retail stores and online. The most common parts being sold are Western boots made from giraffe leather and specialty knives made with giraffe bone handles. The products range in prices from $8,000 for a partial giraffe taxidermy trophy to $10 for tail-hair bracelets.

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, wild giraffe numbers have declined by 40 percent since the 1980s, and with less than 100,000 remaining in the wild, this unique animal is in serious jeopardy. While part of this steep decline has been driven by habitat loss and civil unrest in the nations where giraffes live, the trade in giraffe trophies and parts poses an additional danger to this species. It seems that the beauty of giraffes has made them a ‘new exotic’ and sparked a market in giraffe leather, bone, and trophies. This unregulated new market is now expanding as other wildlife products, such as elephant ivory, have seen tighter regulations.

The investigation also uncovered disturbing connections between the American trophy hunting industry and the giraffe products trade. American trophy hunters import more than one giraffe trophy into the United States every day, and the hunting outfitters that help to arrange their hunts often generate further profits by selling the remaining giraffe parts.

“Our investigation indicates that trophy hunting outfitters in Africa are capitalizing on every last bit of these beautiful animals,” said Adam Peyman, manager of wildlife programs and operations for the Humane Society International. “They are selling them to taxidermists, animal product manufacturers and dealers, who in turn market them to sellers in the US. As this is completely unregulated, it is an easy alternative for products from other, more protected species like elephants and lions, but may still have the similar macabre allure. The prices of these products vary widely, but it is clear that outfitters and dealers try to squeeze every last dollar out of the carcasses of these animals.”

The sale of these products is legal in the United States, but the organization such as the HSUS argue that more restrictions are needed. Now a lawsuit has been launched by the Center for Biological Diversity, Humane Society International, Humane Society of the United States, International Fund for Animal Welfare, and the Natural Resources Defense Council. The lawsuit seeks Endangered Species Act protection for giraffes, with the hopes that new added protections would help curb imports of giraffe bones, hides, and other body parts.

“As giraffe populations plummet, the Trump administration won’t even take the first step toward protecting these beautiful animals,” said Tanya Sanerib, international program legal director at the Center for Biological Diversity. “Africa now has fewer giraffes than elephants, but the administration refuses to throw these imperiled creatures a lifeline. That has to change, before it’s too late.”

 https://ladyfreethinker.org/trophy-hunted-giraffe-body-parts-legally-sold-u-s/  

WAV Comment – If money making is involved and nothing else is a concern; then skin covered bibles are obviously approved by the following in his prayers to the god of cash:

Trumps holiday pictures !  :

Illegal Whaling Ship ‘Neutralized’ by Spanish Navy off Somalia Coast

Posted by Carly Day | November 3, 2018

Image Credit: EU NAVFOR

An illegal whaling ship was apprehended and neutralized off the coast of Somalia this week by military personnel from the European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR).

The discovery of the pirate whaling ship followed a reported pirate attack on another vessel in the area earlier this month. After deploying anti-pirate forces — including aircraft and ships — to further investigate, officials confirmed that the whalers were active, not only slaughtering these marine giants illegally but posing a direct threat to legitimate vessels in the area.

The crew of ESPS Castilla tracked this illegal vessel to a small bay, where they seized it, removed the crew, and towed it out to sea to be destroyed.

“Using the resources of Op Atalanta we were able to identify, track and destroy the equipment of a Pirate Action Group making it harder for them to attack maritime shipping in the future,” said Admiral Nanclares of EU NAVFOR. “We will continue to deter and prevent acts of piracy with every chance we get in order to ensure vulnerable shipping and their crews remain safe while they transit the Western Indian Ocean”.

Operation Atalanta is a European counter-piracy military initiative aimed at fighting the massive problem of piracy around the coast of Somalia and the Gulf of Aden. In addition to this, they monitor illegal fishing activity in the area.

The Gulf of Aden was once teeming with marine life, home to a wide variety of whales and dolphins. Now, only a handful remain, thanks to decades of overhunting by countries like Japan and the Soviet Union.

Commercial whaling was banned by the International Whaling Commission in 1986, but Iceland and Norway continue the process in objection to the mandate, while Japan exploits the loophole of “scientific whaling,” slaughtering hundreds of whales every year under the guise of research.

While both commercial and illegal whale hunting are barbaric, at least there’s one fewer ship roaming the oceans, thanks to Operation Atalanta.

8 Rhino Poachers Nabbed in A Single Day in South Africa

Posted by Carly Day | October 29, 2018

As efforts to curb poaching in South Africa’s Kruger National Park (KNP) continue, the reserve announced that they had arrested an impressive eight suspected poachers in just a single day last week.

The poachers were apprehended in different areas of the park, and all were found with a variety of equipment related to poaching, including hunting rifles and ammunition.

“KNP continues to experience a number of incursions and many other poaching-related activities on a daily basis,” said Glenn Phillips, managing executive director of KNP. “Our dedicated and committed anti-poaching teams, who are our ears and eyes in the bush, are always out there to quickly respond.”

This latest host of arrests follows positive news from last month, as figures released by the department of environmental affairs (DEA)  revealed both a decline in the number of rhinos poached over the first eight months of the year and an increase in prosecutions for poaching and trafficking.

Throughout the various provinces, 508 rhinos were slaughtered in the first eight months of the year. Although this number is still shockingly high, it’s a considerable drop when compared to 691 killed in the same time period in 2017.

In KNP itself, 292 were poached during these months, compared to 333 last year.

Just as important as the lives saved is the ability to prosecute and sentence for these crimes; fortunately, the legal system is also demonstrating progress.

“From January to August 2018 a total of 70 cases‚ involving 163 accused were finalized. The trials have resulted in 93% guilty verdicts‚ translating to 288 years in sentencing‚” reported DEA spokesperson Albi Modise, referring to KNP.

Although these numbers give hope to the continuing battle to save species like the rhinoceros and elephant in South Africa, rhino populations in the park are dropping.

“White rhino numbers in the park, however‚ continued to decline‚ with the population estimated at between 4‚759 and 5‚532 individuals during 2017. White rhinos‚ unlike black rhinos‚ were affected by the drought – with natural mortalities increasing from 1% to 1.5% during the drought‚ while the birth rate dropped from approximately 9% to 5% one year after the drought.”

Clearly, rhinos still walk the fine line between survival and extinction, but the people who fight to save every individual animal are not giving up.

“Wildlife crime should not be tolerated and needs to be stopped. We call upon poachers to weigh the risks of getting caught and we assure them that the gap is closing in on them,” says Phillips.

Scotland Reviews Hunting Laws After Viral Posts from American Hunter

Posted by Carly Day | October 29, 2018

Image Credit: Larysa Unleashed

Scotland has pledged to review its hunting laws amid massive public outcry after an American hunter slaughtered some of the nation’s iconic wildlife and posted trophy photos on social media.

Hunter Larysa Switlyk hosts a hunting show called ‘Larysa Unleashed’ on Canadian television and has more than 79,000 followers on Instagram. The trophy hunter visited Scotland over a month ago, following up her trip by posting a handful of photos where she poses with the animals she has murdered with high-powered firearms.

One of the photos shows the woman smiling beside a dead Royal Scottish stag, with the caption “can’t wait to bring it back to the castle for the chefs to cook it up!”

She also posed with the corpses of a wild goat and ram, describing the experience as a “fun hunt.”

Although hunting these animals is legal in the UK, the ensuing public backlash has reached as far as the Scottish government, with many politicians vowing to reconsider the hunting laws.

“We fully understand why so many people find these images of hunted animals being held up as trophies so upsetting,” said Roseanna Cunningham, cabinet secretary for environment, climate change, and land reform in Scotland. “…we understand the concerns raised by these images and, in light of them, the Environment Secretary will review the situation and consider whether any clarification of or changes to the law might be required.”

Switlyk’s social media accounts have blown up, with thousands of users now attacking the self-proclaimed huntress, who says she is even receiving death threats.

If there is one good thing to come from the murder of these innocent animals, it’s that the issue of trophy hunting is now at the forefront of media and political agendas in Scotland. Here’s hoping this cold-hearted killer has triggered a change that will eventually see trophy hunting banned in the nation.

“Yet again, instead of celebrating Scotland’s magnificent wildlife, we are seeing these beautiful animals exploited in the name of sport,” said Moyes. “This is not the kind of tourism we should be encouraging in Scotland, let alone allowing to happen in the 21st century.”

WAV Comment:

We call it ‘Karma’ – a trophy hunter, by trying to impress her media followers  with the big ‘I am’ attitude has now actually drawn the Scottish government to review hunting laws to keep scum like her away from the nation.  British (ie Scottish) folk will be sickened by the photos of the kills, as per those above; and they will not just sit back and accept the status quo.  Another example of how trophy hunters are doing nothing more than shooting themselves in the foot – and at the same time alerting the public to their sick and disgusting view of wildlife.

https://ladyfreethinker.org/sign-fire-forest-ranger-tied-trophy-wolf-vehicle-boast/

SIGN: Fire Forest Ranger who Tied ‘Trophy Wolf’ to Vehicle for All to See

Image Credit Twitter @juralde

PETITION TARGETS: The Professional Association of Agents of the Natural Environment of the Principality of Asturias (AGUMNPA) & ​Spanish Ambassador Santiago Cabanas Ansorena

In an act of disgraceful brutality, a park ranger in the Asturias region of Spain slaughtered a wolf and then tied the animal’s corpse to the back of his vehicle with rope, proudly displaying the kill for all to see.

This ranger is responsible for protecting the safety of wildlife — instead, they chose to murder an innocent animal and parade the body around as a humiliating insult.

Juan Lopez de Uralde, deputy for the Alava-based Podemos party, shared the photo, criticizing the cruel act and spreading awareness about animal abuse in his principality. He claims that the wolf was killed last Tuesday, then callously tied to the ranger’s vehicle.

Lax oversight in the region has led to a lack of protocol and guidelines when it comes to monitoring animal rights. While it is unfortunately legal to kill wolves in some areas of Asturias, this despicable act took this liberty too far.

Sign this petition to urge officials to condemn this brutal act and push for this park ranger to resign from his position. This man has no business working around animals and should be immediately dismissed if he does not resign.

https://ladyfreethinker.org/sign-fire-forest-ranger-tied-trophy-wolf-vehicle-boast/