michali Posted January 8, 2014 Share #1 Posted January 8, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) M9 & Tri-Elmar at 50mm Grumeti, Tanzania- Bucketing down rain not only on the elephants but on me as well! We were all drenched, I’m surprised the M9 survived. I spent most of last year in Tanzania, where we have been working on a number of Elephant anti-poaching initiatives involving rural communities and government. Elephants are currently being slaughtered at the rate of anything from 30 to 50 animals per day across parts of East, Central and West Africa. This is mainly to feed the demand for ivory in China and the Far East for the manufacture of ivory trinkets. China Destroys Six Tons of Confiscated Ivory - WSJ.com Tanzania has lost almost half of its elephant population over the past 6 years with elephant numbers in the Selous Game Reserve alone, declining from around 50, 000 animals in 2007, to less than 14, 000 elephants today. This pattern is also being repeated with Rhinos in Eastern and Southern Africa where over 1, 700 Rhino = 12% of the total African population of approx. 15, 000 were killed for their horns in the past 3 years. As some may know, the Rhino Horns are used in Asian traditional medicine as a cancer treatment and aphrodisiac. We have now entered a period of negative birth rates in many areas for both species. At the current killing rate both Rhino and Elephants could be wiped out within 15 to 20 years. Losing these iconic gentle giants is truly a sad indictment of the human race, the self-appointed custodians of the planet. Time is running out fast for Tanzania’s elephant herds - Comment - Voices - The Independent Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/219822-elephants-in-the-rain/?do=findComment&comment=2504573'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 8, 2014 Posted January 8, 2014 Hi michali, Take a look here Elephants In The Rain. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jaapv Posted January 8, 2014 Share #2 Posted January 8, 2014 Your post only confirms the motto at the bottom - Unfortunately it can be repeated almost word for word for more African mammals than these - Lions, Cheetahs, Hunting Dogs, etc... The only species to do well out of human idiocy are the Marabou Storks scavenging...:mad: As for the Selous, I was there not long ago after 15 years absence and found the game numbers way down and the game itself incredibly skittish. There is something very worrying going on over there, I suspect, at least in the eastern part. Oh- and I like the image very much. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
michali Posted January 8, 2014 Author Share #3 Posted January 8, 2014 Jaap- Thank you. I agree with what you say about other species as well, including lions which have dropped from +300, 000 free-ranging lions 20 years ago to under 25, 000 free-ranging lions today. What's going on is rampant corruption at many levels, coupled with the increased Chinese presence in Africa. They have become the new bribers and enablers in order to get what they want in Africa. This includes all natural resources, both wildlife and minerals. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pauledell Posted January 8, 2014 Share #4 Posted January 8, 2014 Mike, A fine shot and a sad narrative. I'm not even in favor of any captivity of these wonderful animals let alone the poaching. Paul Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hiles Posted January 8, 2014 Share #5 Posted January 8, 2014 Thanks Mike. The picture is super, and the story is awful. This is a genocide - the idea that these animals are not human does not negate nor diminish the the facts. Seems to me that there was a period when elephant poaching was way down, because there was an effective ban on, and no market for, natural ivory. I wonder how the ban was allowed to lapse or become ineffective? If I understand and remember correctly, the ban was an initiative if the United States. Only tha United States has the size and presence to bring effective moral authority to this issue. It happened once - what happened in the mean time? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
michali Posted January 8, 2014 Author Share #6 Posted January 8, 2014 Michael- Thank you. In answer to your question of what happened and at the risk of being long-winded here’s a summary of the situation. In the late 1970s early 1980s the African Elephant population was estimated to be 1.3 million animals. By 1989 due to heavy poaching the Elephant population had been decimated and numbers fell to about 600, 000 animals. As a result a ban in the trade of Ivory was introduced in 1990, it is generally accepted that this Ivory ban worked and poaching was greatly reduced. This ban has since been relaxed and certain African countries with “well managed Elephant populations” were allowed to sell their Ivory stocks to Japan and China in a series of “one-off sales”, on the basis that this Ivory came from "natural mortalities". At the time, in support of these “one-off sales” the idea was put forward that these “one-off” legal ivory sales may depress the price, thereby removing poaching pressure. Many of us opposed these “one-off sales” and argued that all this would do is rekindle the demand for Ivory and lead to an increase in poaching again. We also argued that the system would be open to abuse and allow poaching syndicates to launder their illegal Ivory through these “one-off sales”. Sadly this has proved to be the case. Current estimates are that since 2002 poaching has further reduced the Elephant population to around 450, 000 animals. I am currently involved in a project which will be undertaking a pan-African Elephant census survey to try and get an accurate indication of the remaining Elephant numbers. This is the first time in over 30 years that such a survey is being undertaken. Microsoft Co-Founder Allen to Fund African Elephant Survey - Bloomberg This poaching onslaught also comes with a tragic cost in human lives as well. Over 1, 500 game scouts and enforcement officers have been killed in trying to counter the poachers, leaving their families destitute with no further means of support. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hiles Posted January 9, 2014 Share #7 Posted January 9, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Thanks Mike. Seems to me that relaxing a ban will have a reliable and foreseeable result - unmitigated disaster for all except the profiteers. Good for you to help. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
k_g_wolf ✝ Posted January 9, 2014 Share #8 Posted January 9, 2014 Thx for this extensive report on african wildlife, Michael, and even more thx. for your work. We all here know you are NOT doing this for the tourist industry alone, hope, soon ALL the local people appreciate your engagement. Most of all: inform all these patients and their witchdoctors, that it is nonsense what they are doing. And: they should dish out VIAGRA for free for all the chinese who can only do it with a rhino horn. Best GEORG Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuny Posted January 9, 2014 Share #9 Posted January 9, 2014 Mike - Eacellent photo, and a distressing reminder of teh horrible acts of man. In our first visit to Africa (Mostly Tanzania, but also Zimbabwe and Kenya) our superb guide, a very well educated Maasai, commented when we were at Lake Manyara that the elephan herds were the biggest he had aver seen in the area. Clearly the next two decades reversed that. Too bad traditional Asian medicine does not recognize that Viagra is far cheaper and far more effective than rhino horn or tiger penis. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karl G Posted January 9, 2014 Share #10 Posted January 9, 2014 Very nice and poignant. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iduna Posted January 10, 2014 Share #11 Posted January 10, 2014 Mike, your picture is very touching even if you do not know the sad story behind. The meaning of the cruel facts in mind mankind should wake up and recognize that in this world all creatures need each other's existence, protection and welfare. Have our great respect for work. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
George James Posted January 11, 2014 Share #12 Posted January 11, 2014 Mike, Beautiful image, and your narrative is such a distressing reminder of the appalling acts that man can carry out. Best George Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
allamande Posted January 12, 2014 Share #13 Posted January 12, 2014 Mike, It's been too long since I've seen your work and even though I am elated to see your photography, the context and backstory break my heart. It is already said, and only too well, the inhumanity of humankind (the irony of highest order) shows all too well in these matters, gathering momentum over time, despite the logic against it. Too much ill will along with stupidity rule. Ece Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northwest Wanderer Posted January 12, 2014 Share #14 Posted January 12, 2014 Mike, Beautiful work you created. This style of image making is very artistic and powerful. As for the story, man may well be the cruelest of all the animals on earth. I salute you for your efforts to help these beasts. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicanut2 Posted January 19, 2014 Share #15 Posted January 19, 2014 Great picture I hope your efforts to help them work. I watched a PPS show where they said a helicopter was used to kill a whole heard with machine guns and all the took was there tusks. And even young ones with tiny tusks they killed. Sad soon there may not be any in the wild.... Cheers Jan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brenton C Posted January 19, 2014 Share #16 Posted January 19, 2014 That shot wonderfully expresses, kind of symbolically, the story. In the pic, the elephants are going away under the deluge. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fotografr Posted January 19, 2014 Share #17 Posted January 19, 2014 A beautiful image and very sad narrative. Possession of ivory trinkets and sculptures should not be a source of pride to anyone. Rather, it should be a source of great shame for the cost both in human lives and in wiping out these magnificent, intelligent and caring creatures. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicatraveller Posted January 23, 2014 Share #18 Posted January 23, 2014 composition is beautiful ( i also like the trees on the background) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
k-hawinkler Posted December 30, 2014 Share #19 Posted December 30, 2014 Mike, Thanks for the picture and info. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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