This is a newspaper clip showing the Philippine government crushing five tons of their stockpile of elephant tusks early this year. Two weeks later, the Hong Kong customs seized 1120 elephant tusks, 13 rhino horns, 5 pieces of leopard skins. Of the 1120 tusks, it was estimated that at least 500 of them were from adolescent elephants!
Three days ago, the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) released a photo of a dead elephant being poisoned by cyanide. Poachers are now using cyanide to poison the salt licks of watering holes and about 90 elephants have been poisoned in the Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe.
Today's news said that the Hong Kong customs found 198 ivory tusks in a ship container covered by sacks of soy beans. That's another 100 elephants killed! The container was from the Ivory Coast, bound for China.
Will this ever stop? I'm sure many people are like me when I was working. Yes, we are too busy with our lives, working to bring up the children, to pay our mortgages, that the last thing we would think about is an elephant in far away Africa, being killed for its tusk and leaving behind a baby elephant to fend for itself; or whether it even has a chance to survive?!
But when the National Geographic mentioned that one elephant is killed every 15 minutes, that should bother us and get us thinking. Will our children and our children's children be able to see what an elephant looks like? or a rhino for that matter? There are many endangered species which will not last another generation at the rate that illegal poaching is allowed to go on and government agencies condoning the ivory trade, as in the case of elephants. The EIA said that ivory trade has gone commercial; and if we do not do our part to put in a concerted effort to urge all governments to ban the ivory trade; the magnificent elephant species, the largest land mammal will be gone...and the impact on our ecological balance will ultimately affect all humanity.
Today is World Animal Day and in many cities all around the world, concerned people together with celebrities are joining together to march and show their support for elephants. The aim is to bring a clear message to all governments to burn their stockpile of confiscated ivory and more importantly to ban the ivory trade! The Hong Kong Elephant Walk was led by our own home-grown celebrity, Sharon Kwok who is also a Conservationist. Yes, I was there today, in solidarity with the many supporters, including school children, in Canton Road, urging young people, especially the mainland Chinese tourist to help us in our cause and to bring the plight of the elephants to all their friends in China.
The awful wrongs and sufferings forced upon the
innocent, faithful animal race form the the blackest
chapter in the whole world's history.
-Edward Augustus Freeman-
Thank you so much for spreading awareness of our cause! Chloe, Christina, Nellie and I were so touched and grateful by the way you were talking to all passer-byes, trying to convince them to stop ivory, even if they wouldn't listen; even if they didn't care; even on a hot, tiring day. You are a true elephant warrior!
ReplyDeleteYou and your 'elephant angels' are the heroes of the day! I'm heartened to see you and your young friends being so aware about the plight of our elephants and so passionate in saving them! The future of our elephants depend on all of you, young people and I hope more can join you in this noble cause.
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