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Beware the Elephant with Pink Tusks: The Myth Persists

11/30/2015

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By Erin Schol, Team Administrator for Elephants DC
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Over many months, we’ve seen a picture circulating on social media of an elephant with pink tusks and a very misleading sentence. Last month (13 October 2015) a popular online content factory, Sun Gazing, posted the image and text below on Facebook. ​
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Seen this image? You’re not alone. While the source of this is uncertain, there are a few things we do know for certain. The idea is meant to help apparently, but it’s not a viable way to save elephants lives. First off, this image has been altered, and is not a real picture of an elephant with pink tusks. As far as we know, there are no elephants with pink tusks running about the African savannah or bush, no one has any evidence of this being put into practice. Secondly, the sentence itself is vague, it doesn’t say how it’s being implemented, who “they” are that are doing this, and how it’s seen as successful. No source, no evidence, no further information; unfortunately misinformation spreads fast and far online. Whenever you come across a picture making grand claims but with nothing to back up the claims, red flags should go up. Furthermore, this particular image doesn’t address some of the large concerns or details about how to make this successful.

Let’s break down some of the misconceptions that surround a pink tusked elephant.
  1. Ivory has similar consistency to bone, thus making it very difficult to dye (rhino horn, which is made of keratin like your fingernails, is easier to dye). There is a tiny grain of truth that this may work for rhino horns, but there is no evidence of this being successful as an anti-poaching technique. Ivory is very difficult to dye because it is so dense, and would make this exceptionally difficult to achieve a pink tusk that poachers wouldn’t want.
  2. Tusks grow throughout an elephant’s life, which would mean re-dyeing periodically. So this is not a cheap, one-time option. Approximately 1/3 of the tusk is imbedded in the elephant’s skull, which is why we see so many pictures of elephants with their faces hacked off, to get to all of the ivory in their head. Periodic re-dying is expensive and would mean more human-elephant interactions with an already hesitant species, something that would increase stress and anxiety among herds.
  3. The method to apply the dye is questionable. One would have to dart an elephant to administer the dye, which is a risky undertaking. Elephants are so big, their weight can crush their organs. Adults don’t typically sleep lying down, if they do it’s for very short periods. If they fall wrong when they’ve been darted, they can die in a matter of moments. Any darting procedure must be very carefully executed, I've seen video of a well-meaning vet dart an elephant incorrectly, and it fell wrong and died within moments (crushed his own lungs). Professionals in the field are very careful and only dart when necessary, for life saving procedures. Not to mention the cost involved with attempting to dart thousands of skittish elephants. Think of the aircraft, vehicles, the immobilizing drug, and the number of people required to carry it out as safely as possible, and you’ve got a costly operation on your hands, when anti- poaching efforts have strained budgets as it is. It is simply a risky, stressful, and expensive idea. There have been some suggestions about making the dye edible and put into foods for the animals to consume. However, this raises a number of issues. Finding dye that will dye the ivory, and not harm the digestive tract or organs of the animal, while ONLY dyeing the tusk and nothing else, is exceptionally difficult. Not sure that many field biologists or chemists have managed that. Bank note dye is highly toxic, and most dyes that can be consumed are usually temporary. There is also no evidence that this has been tried or been successful in the field.
  4. This mentions that people use "the same dye as bank notes." Totally unqualified statement. This is not possible. Dye that’s used in bank notes are under strict protections, to protect counterfeiting. One does not simply walk into a store and buy a package of dye that’s used in bank notes. Furthermore, HOW this dye is administered is questionable, since ivory doesn’t absorb dye. Again, I’d like to hear how you get your hands on bank note dye and not get questioned by the government.

So, in the end, this argument is left with nothing to stand on. There is no viable way to get the dye into the tusks without harming the animal or causing undue stress on the herd, no viable way to make this a successful idea by any measure.

Poaching is a huge problem with catastrophic results on the entire ecosystem. We need to continue to support other anti- poaching methods, and I encourage everyone to check out iWorry, the campaign launched by The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, for further ideas on how to stop the poaching and end the ivory trade. In the end, it will be us humans to stop WANTING the ivory, to stop wanting to consume this product. When the buying stops, the killing can, too.

If you come across a pink tusked elephant on your social media journey, be sure to spread the word that this is a false claim with no evidence to back it up, and encourage people to check out verified organizations and find out ways to help our elephants. This is our planet, and we all must reach out to help make this a viable planet for future generations of ALL animals.

For further information, and to hear what the nonprofit Elephant Voices has to say on the subject, see below.
www.iworry.org
www.davidsheldrickwildlifetrust.org

#‎ElephantVoices: 

"People frequently suggest dyeing tusks, or sawing them off, as a way to save elephants. To dye the tusk(s) of an elephant you need to dart and anaesthetise him or her, a risky process in itself for both the elephant and those involved. It is also a very costly operation, due to the aircraft, vehicles, the immobilizing drug and the number of people required to carry it out as safely as possible, but let's leave that aside for now. An elephant tusk is a modified incisor composed of dentine. Close to 1/3 of this tooth is embedded inside the elephant’s skull, which is why poached elephants are usually missing half their face - poachers or wildlife authorities have had to hack deep into their faces to extract the tusks from the skull. Chopping it out and keeping the elephant alive is pretty much impossible without severe mutilation.

An elephant's tusks continue to grow as the elephant ages - adding more than 2 cm per year. So dyeing an elephant’s tusks would in any case not be a permanent solution. Furthermore, dentine is a very hard substance, as you well know because your own teeth (under the enamel exterior) are made of dentine. Even if you could find a dye that coloured the surface of the tusks, what about the interior? Is that dye going to permeate though such a dense substance? We think it is highly unlikely, so even from this perspective dyeing is unlikely to deter poachers and their task masters. All considered, #ElephantVoices believes it is a waste of time to consider dyeing the tusks of elephants. Please share - to reduce the misinformation being spread around this issue."

Sources:
http://reimerwritesblog.com/tag/pink-tusks/
http://skeptics.stackexchange.com/questions/28509/does-dyeing-elephant-tusks-help-discourage-poachers
http://www.snopes.com/photos/animals/pinkhorns.asp
https://staintuskstostopelephantpoaching.wordpress.com/2013/03/28/a-conservation-biologists-take-on-dyeing-elephant-tusks/
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/dailybrew/pink-tusks-aren-t-real--but-still-help-combat-hunting-of-elephants-for-ivory-201413803.html
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Hope that Cecil the Lion Changes the Game

7/30/2015

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Picture Copyright 2013 Michael Paredes, Zimbabwe (details below)
Big game hunting…really? Didn’t that die along with Baron Bror Fredrik von Blixen-Finecke -- the Swedish aristocrat who was once married to Karen Blixen, whose memoirs inspired Out of Africa -- in 1946? No, sadly there are morons who do it all the time, not just the current poster boy for insatiable and demonic greed, Walter Palmer. No matter that in 1950 there were an estimated 300,000 lions in the wild in Africa and now there are less than a tenth of that; there are those who would gladly kill the remaining few.

Canned hunting for conservation? Bullshit! Destroying under the guise of saving? Healthy wildlife populations bring in a lot more revenue via sustainable tourism than the sociopathic bloodlust resulting in a lion head on the wall of a dumb McMansion in Minnesota. There is no way that I could explain the vacuous arguments in favor of canned hunting more thoroughly than Jacalyn Beales, writing for Selva Beat: Don’t Be Fooled, Canned Hunting Will Never Save Africa’s Lions. 

Will this situation actually change, when greedy cowards can continue to facilitate this barbarity to make money and spoiled jerks can keep fulfilling their sick needs? How fantastic would it be if “lion ranches” went extinct instead of wild lions? 

There is hope for change: 
  • The incredible outrage directed at Walter Palmer; the volume is up on this issue and though it will die down, there are new recruits for the battle to save biodiversity. A White House petition to extradite Palmer reached its threshold in record time. 
  • Clearly, Cecil having a name made a huge difference. I suspect that we will know many more lions, elephants, and others by first name after this. 
  • Jimmy Kimmel. And others like Ricky Gervais who have long optimized their celebrity to try and reach a larger audience on the crucial topic of “we are losing the beauty, magic, and sustainable economic potential of our natural world.”
  • The potential that future canned hunters will not want to risk being publically shamed. 
  • Enormous pressure on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service to list lions as endangered. Listing the African lion under the Endangered Species Act wouldn't stop American hunters traveling to Africa to hunt lions, but it would establish a stringent new permitting process – the more challenges the better. 
  • New Jersey! The state of New Jersey has been very progressive in the battle to save elephants from extinction and recent events caught the attention of  state Assemblyman Tim Eustace. On Wednesday he announced that he will file a bill during the next legislative session that would ban transporting animal carcasses of endangered or threatened species through airports overseen by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey -- Kennedy, LaGuardia and Newark Liberty airports. A similar effort is already underway in New York via the Africa Big 5 Bill.
  • There are many more signs of change – I would love to see some in the comments!

For anyone who might think that this is too much focus on a lion and not enough on people who are in harm’s way in this often cruel and unfair world -- wouldn’t it be wonderful to envision African children growing up to be wildlife biologists, veterinarians, photographers, and safari company owners? This absolutely affects people; there are myriad ways that individuals can get involved and benefit from robust wildlife populations. Picture people thriving in countries that have vibrant, healthy economies thanks to their natural heritage. 

What a beautiful, and truly rich, world that would be. 
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The gorgeous photo was taken by aviator & passionate wildlife advocate/photographer, Mike Paredes. The lion was photographed in the same wilderness area where Cecil lived in Zimbabwe - Hwange National Park. Check out Mike's website Map Photographic - partial proceeds from a photo purchase will be donated to a lion conservation. 

This Avaaz petition has momentum, help it reach a Million: US, EU: Save Africa's Lions

Thinking that now is the time to go see Africa’s wildlife? It is! Check out the reasonably priced adventures offered by GrassTrack Safaris.

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Hiking the PCT for Mountain Gorillas: Meet Gorilla Walker

4/23/2015

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Kyran Young, a 19-year old Zimbabwean who now lives in the UK, saw an article in The Telegraph in 2013 about poachers poisoning elephants with cyanide so that they could easily steal their tusks; Kyran was profoundly disconcerted and was inspired to take action on behalf of species that are on the brink of extinction. “That article still hangs on my fridge and it reminds me every day that there is a war going on, that humans can be cruel, but more than anything, that animals are helpless to the relentless threat of man.”  While he clearly cares about all animals, he looked at the numbers and realized that mountain gorillas are some of the most critically endangered species and there is very little time left to protect wild populations.  

Human primates = 7,000,000,000+
Mountain gorillas = approximately 800


Many people from affluent, i.e., over-consumptive, societies choose to look away or not even think about the planet and her endangered creatures, but this is a much more nuanced picture. Local people, particularly in the regions where the last mountain gorillas live, are struggling to survive and there are greedy individuals and corporations that are all too willing to ignore long-term community benefits and grab resources for a quick gain. In addition, illegal wildlife trafficking is one of the largest trades globally and it is increasingly not the local individual trying to feed his or her family who is behind this nefarious trade, but organized militias and terrorist groups. 

In this incredibly complex human-created power struggle, the beauty and natural simplicity of the gorillas and their daily life in family troops stands in stark contrast. Real beauty and simplicity need courageous defenders like Kyran, who plans to start walking the Pacific Crest Trail, from Mexico to Canada, in May 2015 to raise funds for the UK-based The Gorilla Organization, which has been a leader in community-based conservation for around 25 years. Here is our interview with Kyran:

Endeavour 360, a UK-based archive of news and inspiration from the world of adventure travel with a motto that you are personify -- “Find a Way, Or Make One” -- recently featured you in a Q&A that covered many key questions. In the interest of not repeating, let’s cover some different ones. While many people love their pets, not as many are as passionate about or aware of wild animals. Why do you think some people pay attention to and act on behalf of endangered species?

I find there’s is a big difference between watching your dog running around the garden than watching an elephant or chameleon or even a termite roam its natural habitat, there is a mystery and magic in it. From growing up in Zimbabwe, I learnt quite early on that we share this planet with some very incredible animals big and small, and I think I would feel partly responsible if that were not the case anymore. Anger is also my motivator. I feel angry when I hear an elephant has been murdered for his teeth, or a gorilla for his hands.

You have found a wonderful mentor in renowned field biologist and conservationist Ian Redmond, Chairman of The Gorilla Organization. In this video you produced, he discusses the complex and hard-to-predict threats that gorillas face. What do you think is the worst of the threats currently?

For mountain gorillas it was (until recently) oil exploration, but thanks to conservational efforts and the oscar nominated movie ‘Virunga’, the British oil company SOCO has left the area, although there is still always the danger of another company taking its place. Although I am no expert on the matter, I think loss of habitat, fragmentation of habitat and direct poaching are the main threats all gorillas face. The human population is growing at a very rapid rate, and because of increasing human encroachment and the destruction of forest for resources or agriculture, gorillas have begun to run out of space to live. As for poaching, many gorillas are killed for bushmeat or body parts sold for questionable medicinal purposes or trophies.

An estimated 800 mountain gorillas live in the wild in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda, and Uganda. Recently, the phenomenal documentary, Virunga, brought attention to the complex situation in the DRC where a small team of dedicated individuals is bravely risking their lives to defend the gorillas and their habitat from poachers and greedy corporations. There is daunting uncertainty for the gorillas in all three countries. Do you know how the three countries compare in terms of threats, levels of community support and resources?

From what I have gathered, Uganda and Rwanda are generally regarded as safer places for tourists, and because more tourists means more money, the threats to the mountain gorillas decrease. However, that is not to say rangers in these two countries are not constantly dealing with traps, forest destruction and poaching attempts. The DRC is different, rebel groups have been operating for years in the area and so it can be very dangerous for gorillas and rangers alike, with over 140 rangers having been killed so far protecting the mountain gorillas. Charities such as the Gorilla Organisation and countless other are doing all they can to increase community support and resources, but unfortunately I do not know by how much this differs on the three sides of the border.

You are a young person who is coming of age when many species are on the brink of extinction. With our socially connected world, possibilities for collective action are enormous, but the problems we face are dismaying. Many people who are in a position to do something choose to look away or not even think about the planet and her endangered creatures, but you are boldly taking action. Are you considering a career in conservation?

Definitely! If I only had one year to live this is exactly what I would be doing, and I hope I can do it in years to come on a much grander scale.  But like you say, if everyone acted just a little every day the results would be monumental.

How can people support you and your cause? And follow your journey?

People can add me on facebook or twitter or follow my walk at Gorilla Walker where you will be able to see my progress on a map and where I will be blogging pictures and videos of my journey along the way. If you would be kind enough to donate, please go to my JustGiving page. Thanks!

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Animal Mama Guest Bloggers Wanted!

4/23/2015

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There are countless topics related to wildlife preservation. I will never get to them all by myself and there is so little time left for endangered species; I need your contributions! Are you particularly passionate about a species, a threat to wildlife, an organization, an activist? I would love to hear your ideas.

Word count? Length is not as important as substance and purpose. Your post could be as short as 500 words or as long as 2,500 words, depending on what you have to cover. Do you have an original photo to go along with your post? Not essential, but graphic elements are welcome. Your work would be featured both here and in the Wild Momentum monthly email spotlight. 

All that is required is passion and ideas. Let's talk! Please email me at erika@animalmama.org.



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Kim Kardashian & the Elephant in the Room

5/28/2014

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PictureKim Selfies in Thailand, April 2014
How can a group of activists dedicated to saving the elephant from extinction compete for attention when Kim and Kanye’s wedding photos are captivating the nation? It's an uphill battle, but it does not stop them from trying. Margaret Mead’s famous assertion ~Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.~ comes to mind for two reasons: how right she was about the first part and sadly, how the second part is simply not true.

Small groups of thoughtful, committed citizens will continue to create positive change in the world, but how did climate change come about? That is the result of an overpopulated planet and many small groups of corporate executives, operating behind closed doors, who are committed to profits over planet. Trending topics on twitter? Often the result of massive amounts of shallow thinking. A recent example: “#YouWereCuteUntil you ate my food.” Posted by Alfie @PointlessBlog. 7K favorites and 4K retweets. You were cute until you ate my food? Never doubt that large groups of people can collectively share a lot of crap on social media. 

Back to elephants. Why will elephants be extinct in the wild in ten years if the current rate of poaching continues? One major factor is demand for ivory in the U.S. You read that right. Yes, China and other Asian countries are huge consumers, but before we blame and shame other countries, the shame and blame belongs squarely on the strong shoulders of the United States of Consumption. Writing for Yale Environment 360, Adam Welz states: “Ivory in the U.S. is largely unmonitored, and the laws regulating it are antiquated, confusing, and shot through with loopholes. In addition, the agencies tasked with enforcing these laws are underfunded and chronically short-staffed.”
Want to see more from Animal Mama? 
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The good news is that we can demand that the Obama administration unequivocally ban all ivory commerce in the U.S. That is exactly what our friends at Elephants DC are trying to do. They and their supporters are a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens who are doing everything they can to ensure that kids grow up in a world where elephants roam free. In other words, a world that is still full of magic and beauty. A world that is worth the fight. 

The challenge? The petition stands at just under 11,000 signatures and in order to elicit an official response from the White House, 100,000 are needed by…this Friday, May 30. The petition takes a minute more than the usual petition because you must create an account in order to sign it. Why haven’t more people signed? Is it laziness or dozens of things competing for their attention that are much more immediate? More *important* than elephants disappearing in the next ten years because of human greed and ignorance? Or they just don’t know about it yet, despite valiant attempts by small groups and a few celebrities to spread the word? Yes to all and many more reasons, but maybe we can turn the tide a bit.

Without further ado, click below and sign for elephants and for all that is magical in the world! And never doubt that this small group of thoughtful, committed citizens will continue to fight for true beauty, no matter what happens in the hollow land of the Kardashians. 

Fight for Elephants


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Happy Animal Mama launch Day!

5/11/2014

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Getting straight to the point: Humans are gobbling up the planet. This is nothing new, but with the possibility of human population doubling over the next 80 years, it is easy to visualize a time lapse video of mother earth’s already beleaguered wilderness areas shrinking down to nothing and the oceans becoming increasingly sick and lifeless. There seems to be somewhat of a global awakening to this dismal reality, but is there time and will to turn the tide? Can insatiable corporate greed be curbed?

Thanks to the responsible investing movement, many efforts are underway to move money away from companies that are doing damage, towards ones that provide sustainable and healthy solutions. There is also a growing urban farm movement that encourages local and chemical-free food production. And social media channels have opened up a whole new world of global connections and activism, as exemplified by the recent outcry over the dolphin slaughter in Japan. Without a doubt, there are signs of hope, but our world is divided by the great wealth of a very few people and crushing poverty of very many. The strains on the environment created by greed in the case of the former and necessity in the case of the latter are unprecedented. 

Look at this fascinating creature above. It is a pangolin. Found in tropical regions in Africa and Asia, his tough looking armor is no match for greed and misinformation. There is an ongoing massacre of these guys for scales, skins and meat. A massive demand for pangolin parts, primarily in China, where some mistakenly believe that pangolin parts can cure a wide variety of human ailments, has meant that pangolin numbers are dropping at an alarming rate. One adult pangolin eats more than 70 million insects annually. They are a crucial part of their local ecosystems and their disappearance throws the system out of balance. And beyond this utility, they simply have a right to exist, just like any other animal on this planet.

Humans are changing the climate and what species survive, the chemistry of the oceans, the availability of fresh water and countless other natural phenomenon. If we break the systems of biodiversity, we’re going to lose immeasurably and more importantly, our children and future generations will be left with an uncertain future.

A major shakeup will happen one way or another. Let’s hope we have a bit of time to participate and help create more fair and healthy systems. The species featured on this website are at immediate risk of disappearing entirely and forever from the wild. I am an optimistic pessimist who refuses to ignore what is happening and I know there are many others who feel the same way, but are there enough? We need a critical mass of people who care about the pangolin, for example. And there are so many examples. We need wild momentum. Thank you for reading and please join us!

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