Elephant slaughter

[oxmounter]

Fears of forest elephant slaughter at  World Heritage Site in Central Africa

9 May 2013 Last updated at 08:26 ET
Matt McGrath By Matt McGrath Environment correspondent, BBC News

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22463388


A heavily armed gang has killed an unknown number of elephants at a world heritage site in the Central African Republic.

WWF says that ivory poachers were seen using a scientist's observation platform to shoot the animals, which gather there in large numbers.

The campaigners say they are extremely worried about the elephants in Dzanga-Ndoki national park.

The head of Cites has also expressed grave concern about the animals' fate.

The Dzanga-Ndoki park is located in the south-western corner of the Central African Republic (CAR), where it borders Cameroon and the Republic of Congo. It is described as a unique habitat for forest elephants in particular.

On Monday, WWF issued a warning that a group of 17 individuals, some armed with heavy-calibre rifles, had entered the park and was heading for the Dzanga-bai, an area known locally as the "village of elephants".

Up to 200 elephants are said to gather here daily to drink mineral salts present in the sands.

Local guards told WWF that they saw armed men using the Dzanga-bai observation platform to shoot the animals. The platform is normally used by scientists and tourists.

"We know that there was a lot of Kalashnikov fire over the last couple of days, and into the night," said Dr Anna Feistner, of WWF, who has been based in the area for the past three years.

"We now know the guys have left. Our belief is that elephants have been killed but we don't yet know the scale."
'Wound in heart of Africa'

Dr Feistner said she believed the raiders were Sudanese ivory poachers who have been trying to operate in the area for some time and were now simply taking advantage of the lawless state of the country.

The CAR been described as the "wound in the heart of Africa". The Seleka rebel group siezed power this year but disorder and violence continue.

The elephant raid has also alarmed international conservation authorities. The secretary-general of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) said it was a worrying situation.

"This imminent threat to elephants in a remote and relatively well-protected area is of grave concern to Cites," said John E. Scanlon.

"I call on the international community to join forces and take co-ordinated action to avoid a new tragedy of similar proportions to the massive killing of elephants that occurred in Cameroon in 2012."

Mr Scanlon was referring to attacks in Bouba N'Djida national park a year ago that left at least 300 elephants dead.

African countries have seen a serious spike in the illegal killing of elephants. The amount of seized ivory is said to be at the highest level in 16 years.

[suzieseaside]

Very upsetting Ox. And these illegal poaching gangs make life very dangerous for the wardens trying to protect the elephants :_|

Shame on those who create a market for illegal ivory and other illegal animal products used in Chines medicines etc. X-(

[merehazle]

😮

You posted this topic almost two days ago OX.   (disappointing response as yet perhaps)

'Campaigners are pointing the finger of blame mainly at China.'

'China is the main buyer of ivory in the world' now that's a surprise. And yes other Asian countries are partly responsible.

China will manage the extinction of the African elephant's and sharks without other Asian countries.

Read more through that link and see the way they hack those tusks off even from the youngest that may have a few inches of tusks.

See the 100,000 of sharks frown back still alive to suffer the most horrific death after their finns have been chopped off.

Yes but why would China care about any animal on this earth?

[geographically*challenged]

Lets hope the elephants charge at these people.

But sadly they will be scared by the guns.

Hope these people are caught.

[mitzigirl_123]

Well I posted a reply on here and a button pusher obviously objected to it without comment.  What is the point of that? :^O

Every person knowingly selling or buying ivory is just as guilty of the kill as the poacher!

Ivory is being sold on this very website and to get round the restrictions it is being listed as "faux ivory" and people are knowingly buying it X-(

[stryver-1]

Ivory is often called ox bone, by "traders" . Though pre-1947 ivory can be sold as "ivory".

[kiss*my*pixel]

Oh, this is so very sad. Elephants are such wonderful, sensitive creatures. And as Suzie said above (Hi Suze :-x), also extremely dangerous for those trying to protect them. Such a waste of a lovely life, all for the sake of a tusk (or parody of) to sit on someone's mantlepiece. Tragic 😞

I haven't seen it on the national news - why is that? I don't read the papers, so wouldn't have seen it there, but haven't spotted an article on the telly yet. Maybe I just missed it, or is the world simply losing interest in these stories??

Thank you Oxmounter, for highlighting it.

[suzieseaside]

I haven't seen it mentioned on the TV either (hi KMP :-x ). I saw the BBC article on the net but only because I look up the BBC Science and Environment news sometimes.

I do sometimes wonder if people care less about wildlife and cruelty these days.  Wearing fur(and buying new fur) seems to be more popular again. The impact of that Greenpeace anti-fur shock campaign that was so successful at the time has long waned. 

I also wonder if people in general are starting to care less about anything and everything. Perhaps they feel powerless to make any difference about anything - whether it's climate change, or habitat loss, or over-fishing, or elephant and rhino poaching, or species threatened with extinction, or human atrocities, or whatever .....and they just switch off and become immune to it?   

[kiss*my*pixel]

I haven't seen it mentioned on the TV either (hi KMP :-x ). I saw the BBC article on the net but only because I look up the BBC Science and Environment news sometimes.

I do sometimes wonder if people care less about wildlife and cruelty these days.  Wearing fur(and buying new fur) seems to be more popular again. The impact of that Greenpeace anti-fur shock campaign that was so successful at the time has long waned. 

I also wonder if people in general are starting to care less about anything and everything. Perhaps they feel powerless to make any difference about anything - whether it's climate change, or habitat loss, or over-fishing, or elephant and rhino poaching, or species threatened with extinction, or human atrocities, or whatever .....and they just switch off and become immune to it?   

[kiss*my*pixel]

Sorry - ignore that! I clicked "post" instead of "paste" - was typing a reply :8}

Back in a mo

[kiss*my*pixel]

I haven't seen it mentioned on the TV either (hi KMP :-x ). I saw the BBC article on the net but only because I look up the BBC Science and Environment news sometimes.

I do sometimes wonder if people care less about wildlife and cruelty these days.  Wearing fur(and buying new fur) seems to be more popular again. The impact of that Greenpeace anti-fur shock campaign that was so successful at the time has long waned. 

I also wonder if people in general are starting to care less about anything and everything. Perhaps they feel powerless to make any difference about anything - whether it's climate change, or habitat loss, or over-fishing, or elephant and rhino poaching, or species threatened with extinction, or human atrocities, or whatever .....and they just switch off and become immune to it?   

I don't agree that people care less, Suzie (nice people, anyway), but definitely think you're right with everyone feeling powerless. People in general have tried and tried to get things changed, but things don't seem to get very far quickly enough. The number of people I speak to who just respond with "What difference is it going to make? I've done my bit and no-one takes any notice, so I give up".  Very sad - there are only a few left who fight the fight, and this fight is becoming increasingly more difficult.

(Hope you're well, by the way Suzie. I'm not on here too much just lately, and you don't seem to be either)!

[mitzigirl_123]

Pix and Suzie - I think you both have hit the nail on the head "wildlife" is not a priority in people's lives any more irrespective of what is presented to them especially if the atrocities occur in another country then they become even more detached from it.

Most people, for whatever reason, will blinker themselves to the harsh reality of the real world because it is too emotionally painful for them also, after years of campaigning and fund raising, they still see the same atrocities being practiced and have lost faith in the organisations such as CITES and other animal welfare organisations that have been trying to change legislation and influence Governments to protect the animals and species.  It is just not happening.

It's all about money, has always been, always will be.

This planet is now 3 or possibly 4 times over populated which is totally unsustainable and in a human dominated world the whole of the animal kingdom is an unwanted obstacle that serves no useful purpose (apart from revenue derived from tourism in some countries) and the ‘meat’ industry.

Mankind does not deserve life on this planet because of it's complacency that everything will last forever and other life forms will be  obliterated with mankind’s inherent nature to destroy and control everything.  Sometimes, in my moments of extreme thinking ... I believe the sooner all the animals are extinct the better - no more suffering, no more exploitation and no more money can be gleaned from profiteering from their suffering in every known industry - I won't be around to see the final reckoning of predator "man" when it realises that it has exhausted it's source of revenue through the exploitation, use and abuse of the animal kingdom. 

What then mankind - all it will be left with itself, inhabiting a polluted putrid planet with no wildlife to sustain the plants or crops, no insects to propagate plant life, polluted oceans and polluted poisoned soil – so what then will it turn to - cannibalism?

This planet has now become too small to accommodate its human inhabitants with even less room for the other creatures that we are supposed to share it with.  We are now in the 21st century and the situation is worse than has it ever been - the laws that are in place are farcical and this is why I think those that care have lost faith, resigned themselves to the way it is and have given up.

Disgraceful.

[malacandran]

Well, I can't see what good elephants do.

I remember that back in the 1960's, my dad took us to Whipsnade Zoo. It had an elephant, and my little sister was coached to offer it a bun. What followed is best not thought about. However no permanent physical harm resulted.

Elephants seem  large, ugly, wastes of space.  If they died out, would we seriously miss them? 

[kiss*my*pixel]

Don't bite, Mitzi - he's just trying to wind you up!

"Spookily enough, I know of people who are large, ugly and wastes of space so what do you propose we do with them?"

Good comeback :^O

[suzieseaside]

I agree with you Mitzi - though I think you forgot to add the word 'land' between 'largest living' and 'mammal' - don't forget the blue and other large whales, some of which were hunted almost to extinction and have not fully recovered.:-(   I know you know they are mammals, but I'm always amazed how many people think they are big fish 😐

Elephants ugly, malac? 😮 Personally I think they are wonderful creatures. They have been shown to be one of the most intelligent animals, they have complex social relationships, use tools, and even mourn their dead.  Just because some people can't see or don't know what good some animals do, doesn't mean they don't have an important role in their habitat, as mitzi described for the elephant, and there are endless examples of other animals - large and small. 

(I'm fine pixel - not here much, as you noticed. The days of being able to enjoy a good laugh in here as well as discussions are long gone, along with lots of posters. Good to see you.)

[merehazle]

I agree with you Mitzi - though I think you forgot to add the word 'land' between 'largest living' and 'mammal' - don't forget the blue and other large whales, some of which were hunted almost to extinction and have not fully recovered.:-(   I know you know they are mammals, but I'm always amazed how many people think they are big fish 😐

Elephants ugly, malac? 😮 Personally I think they are wonderful creatures. They have been shown to be one of the most intelligent animals, they have complex social relationships, use tools, and even mourn their dead.  Just because some people can't see or don't know what good some animals do, doesn't mean they don't have an important role in their habitat, as mitzi described for the elephant, and there are endless examples of other animals - large and small. 

(I'm fine pixel - not here much, as you noticed. The days of being able to enjoy a good laugh in here as well as discussions are long gone, along with lots of posters. Good to see you.)

Yes I agree too.

'The days of being able to enjoy a good laugh in here as well as discussions are long gone, along with lots of posters' 

Yes LOTS! In my short time on here I could name (not allowed to) at least 20 that have left ...or even helped 😉 to leave I would say.  If only they could be allowed a second chance.

Corrosive involvement seems to be the name of the game for a long time now as shown on this very thread just up a bit ... How truly truly sad.

If it was a wind up! Pix #14 he has had plenty of time to say so. At the moment that has to be one of the most selfish unfair comments I have ever read. 

Elephants, Horses, Donkeys, Camels etc were and are ''beasts of burden'' and on their backs much of the worlds wealth was bourne.    

[mitzigirl_123]

Corrosive involvement seems to be the name of the game for a long time now as shown on this very thread just up a bit ... How truly truly sad.

If it was a wind up! Pix #14 he has had plenty of time to say so. At the moment that has to be one of the most selfish unfair comments I have ever read. 

Elephants, Horses, Donkeys, Camels etc were and are ''beasts of burden'' and on their backs much of the worlds wealth was bourne.    

As always Merehazel, I couldn't have put it any better myself! Thank you.

Suzie - You are quite right and I want an edit button! :_|

About 20 years ago, I had the absolute pleasure of whale watching with the Pacific Whale Foundation out in Maui and I used to report my sightings to them of individual and pods of Humpback Whales - an experience I will never forget and it breaks my heart to see not only what we do to our land animals but to the life in our oceans where there is no escape.

I have just read the news report on the potential deep sea mining 'gold rush' and I utterley despair!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22546875

[malacandran]

I knew whales would eventually come into it!

Like elephants, they're very big, and not very tasty as food. So they get sentimentalised.

Unlike the unfortunate smaller - and tastier - animals, like cows, pigs, chickens and turkeys.

These get bred and callously slaughtered on a massive industrial scale.  We kill and eat them in their millions. No-one seems to bother about them.

The approach seems be this: If it's small and good to eat, kill it.

If it's big and inedible, make Nature documentaries about it.

[mitzigirl_123]

Malac - I don't eat, wear, or buy any product that is made out of or tested on animals irrespective of their size or supposed purpose - so your point is?

[kiss*my*pixel]

I knew whales would eventually come into it!

Like elephants, they're very big, and not very tasty as food. So they get sentimentalised.

Unlike the unfortunate smaller - and tastier - animals, like cows, pigs, chickens and turkeys.

These get bred and callously slaughtered on a massive industrial scale.  We kill and eat them in their millions. No-one seems to bother about them.

The approach seems be this: If it's small and good to eat, kill it.

If it's big and inedible, make Nature documentaries about it.

Malacandran - I think whale and seal meat is actually considered quite a delicacy (indeed, a necessity in some cultures).  And many people have protested against the way in which they are killed (particularly by Japanese whalers).

Agreed that lots of our farm animals are raised on a massive industrial scale, but it is not true to say no-one bothers about them, lots of people do. I eat meat, but do not buy anything that has been raised in such a way.

If an animal has been raised in a pleasant and happy environment, has been killed humanely, and all of it has been utilised in some way, then fine! For an elephant to be slaughtered in such a way as this, simply for the ivory it may have, and then for any babies to be orphaned, is simply criminal.