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. ​

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.

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!

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.

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. 

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. 

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!