Day 347- Part One Of Elephant "Foster Mom"

Daphne Sheldrick with baby elephant Aisha. Photograph courtesy the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.

Orphaned elephants “can be fine one day and dead the next,” says Daphne Sheldrick, a Kenyan conservationist and expert in animal husbandry.

She knows. To date, she has fostered over 250 calves, first in partnership with her husband, David Sheldrick, founding warden of Kenya’s Tsavo East National Park and a legendary naturalist, and later (following his death in 1977) as part of the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (DSWT), which she founded in his memory.

Many are victims of poaching, like one-year-old Lima Lima, who was found weak and dehydrated. When she arrived at DSWT in February, Lima Lima was very thin and sickened from browsing on the invasive prickly pear plant (which can be poisonous) during her abandonment.

Lima Lima took milk from a hand-held bottle and was warmly greeted by the other elephants at the nursery, but she mourned for her lost family and often secluded herself, which is natural behavior for an older orphan who has gone through such trauma.

This year Kenya has lost some 250 elephants, with many infants and young left behind. Just in 2013, DSWT has taken in at least six calves orphaned by poachers, and another half dozen for reasons unknown (but likely poaching victims too).

Raising rescued elephant calves is challenging, and mortality rates are high. Part of the difficulty is that infants are fully dependent on their mother’s milk until they’re two years old and are not fully weaned until around four or five.

Baby elephants can’t tolerate the fat in cow’s milk. Finding a suitable substitute for elephant milk took Sheldrick 28 years of trial and error before she hit on a formula that contained coconut oil—likely the nearest replacement for the fat in elephant milk.

But as Sheldrick has seen time after time, raising an orphaned elephant requires not only meeting its physical needs but also its social and emotional ones.

Many are severely traumatized by what happened to their elephant family and “just want to die,” Sheldrick says. That’s why each new rescued elephant becomes part of a new “family” of keepers and other elephant orphans at DSWT.

Sheldrick talked to me about her experiences raising orphaned elephants and returning them to the wild. While best known for this work, she and DSWT do much more, including raising the orphans of other species, such as rhinos, helping with anti-poaching efforts, advocating against the ivory trade, and providing medical care to injured animals in the wild.

Sheldrick’s memoir, Love, Life and Elephants: An African Love Story, tells more stories about her life and the orphans. The DWST website provides current details and videos about the organization’s work with the orphans. You can also read National Geographic’s recent article about Orphan Elephants.

~Laurel Neme

National Geographic

December 6, 2013

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Day 346- Help Ban The Bullhook!

Hey readers!  I am excited to announce that the city of  Oakland, California, may ban the use of bullhooks in traveling circuses!   Please help the elephants- write to the Oakland city council,  and if you are in the area, go to the meeting!   Below, I have shared with you all the email that was sent to me -  please check it out!   Urgent Action Required: Help BAN the cruel use of the Bullhook on  Elephants in Oakland, California! Dear Lovers of Elephants, We hope this finds you well and happy. The City of Oakland in California may decide to BAN the CRUEL use of the Bullhook on elephants in circuses, specifically the Ringling Brothers Circus which comes to town every year, with sentient elephants and cruel Bullhooks in tow. For those of you who are not yet aware of the severe abuse of elephants by Ringling Brothers and the use of the Bullhook, please refer to: the Mother Jones' Article: The Cruelest Show on Earth. Please take the following URGENT actions prior to or on Tuesday the 10th of December: 1) Write to the Oakland City Council; details below: on Facebook here. 2) Attend the Oakland City Council Meeting on Tuesday the 10th of December, particularly if you are an Oakland, California resident and even otherwise; details below: on Facebook here.        WHEN:        Tuesday, December 10, 2013 5:30 PM        WHERE:        City Council Chambers, 3rd Floor -- Oakland City Hall        1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Oakland, CA 94612 Write/Email to the Oakland City Council Members Immediately. Download the sample message here. Please personalize your message in order to make it even more effective; If you aren't a resident of Oakland, then adjust your email accordingly. Cm. Noel Gallo, ngallo@oaklandnet.com Cm. Libby Schaaf, lschaaf@oaklandnet.com Cm. Dan Kalb, dkalb@oaklandnet.com Cm. Lynette Gibson McElhaney, D3Intern@oaklandnet.com Cm. Pat Kernighan, Pkernighan@oaklandnet.com Cm. Desley Brooks, dbrooks@oaklandnet.com Cm. Larry Reid, lreid@oaklandnet.com Cm. Rebecca Kaplan, atlarge@oaklandnet.com Email block (copy and paste): ngallo@oaklandnet.com, lschaaf@oaklandnet.com, dkalb@oaklandnet.com, D3Intern@oaklandnet.com, Pkernighan@oaklandnet.com,dbrooks@oaklandnet.com, lreid@oaklandnet.com, atlarge@oaklandnet.com Attend the City Council Meeting on Tuesday the 10th of December WHEN: Tuesday, December 10, 2013 5:30 PM WHERE: City Council Chambers, 3rd Floor --Oakland City Hall 1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Oakland, CA 94612 Talking points: 1) Bullhooks are weapons and are used for one purpose to dominate elephants through pain and fear 2) Oakland needs to show that it is progressive by passing the same bullhook ban that Los Angeles did back in October. 3) Violence against anyone is wrong including animals -- Ringling is caught on video beating elephants with bullhooks. It's time for Oakland to raise its standards and be in line with progressive cities like Los Angeles. 4) Ringling is just bullying the City saying it will pull its show. Don't let Ringling bully or blackmail the City of Oakland -- the circus can still come to town, just without bullhooks. Questions or for more information call 650.248.4489 ask for Pat Cuviello Or Email us at march.for.elephants@gmail.com We hope to see you! Many many thanks, *you* are their voice, let us be LOUD... no MORE bullhooks in Oakland, thank you! Go make a difference!

Day 345- Artsy Elephant Art

I had to share this picture that I came across with my readers.  I love how the elephants' ear is the map of Africa! Send me your artsy pictures of elephants at eis4elephants@gmail.com!

The animals are being killed in record numbers to supply the illegal ivory trade. Unless there is unified action across all nations, these creatures will disappear from the face of the Earth. Are the authorities robust enough to fight the ever-growing demand from Asia? 

~The Independent

Tom Bawden

December 8, 2013

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Day 344- We're all Teachers and Students!

What are you teaching the world?

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Day 343- The Loss Of An Amazing, Influential Man

We can change the world and make it a better place.  It is in your hands to make a difference.

~Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela, at age 95 passed away today.  Mr. Mandela constantly inspired me to stick up for what I believe in, and stand for the elephants in my community.  

Rest In Peace

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Day 342- Aerial Population Count

It is currently estimated that there are between 410,000 and 650,000 elephants left in Africa, representing more than a 50% decline in the last 35 years. But some key populations have not been surveyed for 10 years, and in some places, numbers are completely unknown.

African elephants in front of Mount Kilimanjaro. Elephant numbers on the continent have declined around 50% in the last 35 years, but exact numbers are unknown. Photograph: Juniors Bildarchiv/Alamy

A fleet of 18 light aircraft will notch up two years of flying time in 2014 to conduct the first aerial headcount of Africa's elephants. Trained counters will attempt to take photographs of virtually every herd on the continent, which will then be used to verify their count.

Dr Mike Chase of Elephants Without Borders is leading what is called the great elephant census. He and a team of 46 scientists will conduct the ambitious research project due to commence in February.

It is currently estimated that there are between 410,000 and 650,000 elephants left in Africa, representing more than a 50% decline in the last 35 years. But some key populations have not been surveyed for 10 years, and in some places, numbers are completely unknown.

Chase's preliminary findings suggest the outlook could be more bleak. In October this year, he flew over a park where in 2003 he counted 2,000 elephants. A decade later, he counted just 33 live elephants and 55 carcasses. "That is why this research is so important."

Elephant numbers have plummeted in recent years. Africa is currently experiencing the highest rate of elephant mortality in history, driven largely by a multibillion-dollar illicit ivory trade. Experts have warned that African elephants could become extinct within 10 years. Several hundred are killed every week by well-armed poachers seeking ivory, meat and body parts. Roughly 30,000 were killed last year, according to the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

For the first year of the two-year project, survey planes will cover land in 13 countries in sub-Saharan Africa where up to 90% of Africa's savannah elephants live. In the second year, researchers will prepare the data. By mid-2015, preliminary results should be available. In addition to distribution and range, the census hopes to identify where populations are increasing, fragmenting, or shrinking, and provide a better understanding of the threats elephants face.

"By generating accurate, foundational data about African elephants, I'm hopeful that this project will significantly advance the conservation efforts of this iconic species," says Microsoft founder Paul Allen, who is funding the £4.3m census.

Dickson Kaelo, CEO of Kenya Wildlife Conservancies Association says the census is long overdue. "It's unacceptable that we don't have accurate data showing how many elephants there are and where they are." Kenya recently estimated its elephant population at 38,000. "We don't feel comfortable that we have exact population numbers", he says.

"Elephants are a symbolic of our commitment to conservation in Africa. If we can't save the African elephant what is the hope of conserving the rest of Africa's wildlife?" Chase says.

The announcement of the survey also comes as countries at both ends of the international ivory market signed up to a package of urgent measures to halt the illegal trade.

key African "range states" including Gabon, Kenya, Niger and Zambia, countries through which ivory is smuggled – including Vietnam, Philippines and Malaysia – and ivory destination states, including China and Thailand, agreed to the measures at the African Elephant Summit in Botswana under the agreement. One of the 14 measures the delegates committed to involves classifying wildlife trafficking as a "serious crime". According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, this will unlock international law enforcement co-operation provided under the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organised Crime, including mutual legal assistance, asset seizure and forfeiture, extradition and other tools to hold criminals accountable for wildlife crime.

Other measures agreed upon include engaging communities living with elephants in their conservation, strengthening national laws to secure maximum wildlife crime sentences, mobilising financial and technical resources to combat wildlife crime and reducing demand for illegal ivory.

~Jessica Hatcher 

The Guardian

December 4, 2013

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Day 341- Even More Awareness For Elephants

In November, the U.S. government destroyed more than six tons of ivory tusks, carvings and jewelry U.S. law enforcement confiscated from smugglers, traders and tourists. The items were worth millions of dollars.In an attempt to take away the incentive behind elephant poaching, a global ban on ivory trading went into effect in 1989. Governments around the world have since stepped up penalties for poaching and trading.

A new United Nations report shows that elephant poaching continues to threaten the populations of Africa’s “keystone” species. In 2012, more than 22,000 elephants were killed. 

It’s a drop from 2011, when a record 25,000 of the continent’s remaining 400,000 to 500,000 elephants were killed by poachers -- but not enough of a drop, says the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

“We’re very disappointed with the number. Any elephants being poached are too many elephants being poached,” the WWF’s Richard Carroll, vice president of the organization’s Africa Program, said in an interview with CBSNews.com.

Elephants are poached for their ivory tusks. The demand comes mostly from consumers in China, who see ivory as a status symbol. A pound of ivory now sells for more than $1,000 on the streets of Beijing.

Putting an end to poaching is crucial to the African ecosystem, says Carroll. This is especially true in Central Africa, where populations have been reduced by more than 70 percent.

“In the dense forest in Central Africa… they feed on the bark of 70 species of trees,” Carroll explained. “They really create habitat for other wildlife in the ecosystems and they’re extremely important, the whole ecosystem has evolved around them.”

The species helps germinate trees and spread seeds. They’re also natural bulldozers, clearing paths for other forest animals. Knocking down trees allows light into the dense forests, entering through the space in the treetops.

“If elephants are eliminated the forest itself will eventually die,” Carroll said, describing the “very, very dense forests” full of “tall, high trees” where you “never see two species of the same tree,” because there is such high biodiversity.

While the WWF hoped for greater declines, the latest numbers come with a silver lining. The decline “does possibly indicate” that the global efforts are having a positive effect, Carroll said.

“Clearly this year the elephant crisis has reached very, very high levels of political awareness. Across Africa, governments destroyed ivory stock, [the U.S.] destroyed ivory stock, it’s maybe starting to pay off... So there are encouraging signs, but we’re far from out of the woods.”

~Danielle Elliot

CBS News

December 2, 2013

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Day 340- Big News From CITES!

Today, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) reported that over the next decade, an estimated 20% of Africa's elephants will be wiped out due to the illegal wildlife trade.  We can't let this happen!  

Photo credit- Stamford Advocate

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — As many as 20 percent of Africa's elephants could be killed in the next 10 years if illegal poaching continues at the current rate, according to new data released Monday at the opening of the Elephant Summit in Botswana.

An estimated 22,000 elephants were illegally killed across Africa in 2012, slightly lower than the 25,000 elephants poached in 2011, according to a report by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, or CITES.

The elephant killings took place at 42 sites across 27 Africa countries, said the CITES report.

"With an estimated 22,000 African elephants illegally killed in 2012, we continue to face a critical situation. Current elephant poaching in Africa remains far too high, and could soon lead to local extinctions if the present killing rates continue. The situation is particularly acute in Central Africa where the estimated poaching rate is twice the continental average," said John E. Scanlon, CITES Secretary-General.

The poaching data was released at the African Elephant Summit in Gaborone, Botswana's capital. The conference on elephants is being convened by the Botswana government and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

In September 2013 cyanide was used to kill more than 300 elephants in Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park in the "worst single massacre in southern Africa for 25 years," said the IUCN in a statement.

Africa current has about 500,000 elephants, according to the IUCN. Elephants in Central Africa are bearing the brunt of the poaching, although high poaching levels in all sub-regions mean that even the large elephant populations in southern and eastern Africa are at risk unless the trend is reversed, said the IUCN.

Poverty and weak governance in elephant range states, together with rising demand for illegal ivory in consuming nations, are believed to be the key factors behind the increase in elephant poaching in recent years.

The elephant summit is being convened to agree on policies to end the illegal ivory trade and secure viable elephant populations across Africa, including strengthening national laws to tackle wildlife crime and enhancing cooperation between countries.

~Ray Faure

Stamford Advocate

December 2, 2013

There is also a reason why I picked this newspaper's article- the newspaper is the daily paper in my birthtown!  :)

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Day 339- Gotta Love Mutts!

How could someone not love Mutts Comics?!  

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