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SOS Elephants
An orphaned elephant nicknamed Toto is cared for in a remote Chad village. He was found after some 30 elephants in a herd were slaughtered by poachers.
A three-week-old elephant orphaned when his mother and two dozen other elephants were slaughtered in Chad last month appears to have been adopted by a foster mom, a nonprofit in the Central African country told NBC News.
Nicknamed Toto, the male was being cared for by village officials when he ran away and later reached a nearby herd, said SOS Elephants founder Stephanie Vergniault.
"Now he seems to have an adoptive mother," she said, but noted "we are not sure she is accepting him 100 percent." SOS Elephants asked local officials to provide volunteers to monitor the situation.
SOS Elephants had initially thought it would have to ship Toto to a protected wildlife refuge in Kenya, but now hopes he'll become one of the herd.
At least 26 elephants were killed in the slaughter on July 24 and the poachers still haven't been caught. Asian demand for ivory products has pushed prices beyond that of gold or drugs, fueling the killing of elephants across Africa.
Vergniault suspects a local ivory-smuggling gang that uses "cars with tinted windows and no license plates" is protecting the poachers with weapons and food.
"They are difficult to find because they do not necessarily need to go to the local villages to buy what they need," she said of the poachers.
Related story: Elephants slaughtered in Chad
"Tomorrow will be simply too late," Prince William warns as Africa's magnificent wild animals are mercilessly and illegally poached at a rate not seen for decades.
"Many (locals) know about the trafficking, including some authorities, but they are so afraid to lose their life that they shut their mouth," she added.
SOS Elephants has urged Chad to provide special wildlife troops and to create a protected area -- expensive propositions for a poor country.
On top of that, locals would have to be relocated outside the protected area, Vergniault said, and they would need to be compensated with things like a school, medical facility, and/or seeds and tools for farming.
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Leave a Comment:
This hurts my heart SO bad. One little baby left out of over 30 Elephants. Unreal.
The best thing would be to make the tusks unusable to the poachers. Maybe humanely remove them, or dye them some weird color, etc. Also, try to educate the 1.1 billion Chinese that the World's wildlife were not put on the planet to provide them their body parts as part of their barbaric "traditional" medicinal practices. Give these Chinese men free Viagara---but the deal is, they have to leave the animals alone.
That's an interesting thought. I tend to agree as I don't think poaching will be stopped in time to prevent extinction solely with education. We're talking about the impoverished having the chance to make a lot of money.
I remembering hearing a few weeks ago that a non-profit was doing this with rhino horns - cutting it off so there is no reason for poachers to kill it. I wonder what the mortality rate is now for these rhinos. I hope they are better off, even though they did lose a defensive appendage.
Good luck baby elephant!
That baby is so depressed...look at his body language. No human can replace his whole family. Please, put him where other baby elephants are. He needs peers.
Make the consequences for poaching unbearably high. Lose your life.
The ivory is not used for medicine. They are all used for decoration. They use it for display as a symbol of wealth, fine art . They carve the smaller tusks into ivory balls making multiple layers. The most valuable ivory art is the large tusks with figures carved into it. The idea of dying the tusk on all the males is a great idea. Even a better idea would be to physically damage it like drilling holes in it so it can't be used for art.
I recently read that baby elephants are hard to keep alive. I think it was in National Geographic. They die of loneliness unless they are handled very carefully. Very sad.
Much, if not most of, this ivory ends up in corporatist/communist China, where the wealthy love to have it. And yet we continue to do business with that country with it's mega-wealthy corporatist communists. Well, why not? the 1% here, who are doing all they can to destroy free enterprise capitalism and replace it with corporatist communism, will continue to do so.
We need to restore American free enterprise democratic capitalism. That starts by putting up huge walls around corporatist communist China and banning all their products from being sold in America (sorry, Walton family that owns Wal-Mart). As patriotic Americans, we must stand up to corporatists who seek to destroy our nation. It would be great to see the entire Walton family, and the Koch brothers with their families, sent to Gitmo while we disperse all their ill-gained loot among hard-working Americans.
Regarding the high demand for ivory, isn't there something we can do to muck this up for the poachers? Can we not FLOOD the market with some sort of faux ivory? I'm thinking a nearly indiscernable fake? The wholesale slaughter of these magnificent animals has to stop.
I agree. If we can grow an ear on a mouse's back, it should be simple to grow some Ivory in a petri dish.
Breaking the economics of the Ivory (or drug, gun, sex, etc.) trade is the only way you are going to stop it. Trying to arrest all the offenders is like playing whack-a-mole. As soon as you get one, 3 or 4 more pop up.
IT's a very good idea. I don't know how you'd do it though.
I think because they come from elephants is what makes them so valuable. Even if someone came up with a way to clone ivory, elephant ivory probably would still be in demand, just because it came from an elephant.
I think there is some Russian company trying to do this with diamonds - manufacturing one that is nearly identical as opposed to it be naturally created. If successful, it may drive down the price of diamonds and blood diamonds could be a thing of the past. Maybe the same can be done for ivory. But, the diamond industry along with the stores that sell them will probably prevent the success of a 'cloned diamond'.
what we can do is to KILL poachers on the spot. That should do the trick. Elephants are endangered and priceless. Humans are not.
The desire for ivory is the same as the desire for diamonds. You really don't care about how much death and devastation is involved, as long as you have a pretty ring on your finger. Ignorance is truly bliss. (this comment is not directed at any specific individual but society in general)
Sure we can. Hunting poachers would be one of the best ways to train special forces.
Real life scenario. Medium level target difficulty - hard to find, but relatively soft target. Requirement for covert operations - no need to tell the locals.
This is almost an ideal target practice.
This will create a non-permissive environment for poachers.
Be best to castrate all poachers. And give their body parts to the Indians.
Sell their nuts to the asian market . The asians would be sure to buy them " for virility"
Much, if not most, of this ivory ends up in corporatist/communist China, that conservatives here support. One of the first things to do is to end all "trade" with China and seize all its assets here and refuse to pay back any "loans" we took from it. What's China gonna do about it? The next step it, if anyone here buys blackmarket products made from that ivory, send them all to Gitmo and let them rot until they die. No big loss. As a matter of fact, no loss whatsoever. Those who buy it are rich corporatists, so getting rid of them will be the best thing for America.
Get this baby to Dame Daphne Sheldrick at once!! At least he will be with other babies and another herd that will accept him and return him to the wild. This slaughter goes on EVERY DAY and will not stop until the poachers and countries involved are sanctioned. And we all know THAT will never happen. China, Japan...YOU SUCK!!
Save the Trilobites
I thought for sure that Rosie O'Donnell's name would be in this article.
Asian people are SICK! They kill...........don't just blame the poachers.........elephants for tusks, rhino's for horns, sharks for fins, etc. Watch how they fish for sharks and tell me if they are NOT sick in the head. We have nothing in common with these people! They are discusting to say the least.
I fully support The California Shark Protection Act and California's Foie Gras ban but have no problem with elephants poached on non-US territory and sold to non-US citizens. This goes the same toward Japanese whaling industry. It is just not our business to decide what is right or wrong for other cultures. With Hindus forbids cow slaughtering and muslims don't eat pork, should the people in United States only focus on chicken? If people are worried about elephants going extinct, we should buy all of them from African countries and raise them here.
Paul, probably because when an animal so vital and enormous in the animal kingdom goes extinct primarily due to our destructive nature, we all should look beyond "borders" and be disappointed that the human race is so brutal and greedy. I am not sure anyone can use a religious excuse to kill animals, unless they "worship" ivory. Unfortunately these douche-bags love only money and could care less the damage they have caused.
I guess in a way we should endorse their systematic destruction of their ecology and lands. Then once they are gone, we can move into them and take their natural resources right? They are obviously not bright or motivated enough to harness these resources as they are more inclined to prove their "manliness" by slaughtering defenseless animals from the back of trucks and cars. Perhaps with their extinction, some better inhabitants can move in and be better caretakers of their lands.
Paul, most people who slaughter animals don't just take a horn, fin or a tusk! Usually every part of an animal is used for something. Hell they use ground horse bones to make the jello people eat!..which is sick BTW I dont eat jello or anything that has gelatin in it since I learned how it is produced.
I do agree with your logic about bringing some of these animals over here so those sick bastards don't wipe them out just to get their kicks.
I say, if you are going to kill an animal, find use for all of it, otherwise leave it alone. But who am I kidding really. Human beings as a whole are wasteful pathetic stewards of this planet anyway. It will probably be a good day for the world when we are wiped from it's face.
We're all in this together, regardless of which continent we live on.
Capital punishment, for animal slaughter?! I don't know. Chinese slaughter wild animals to make jewelry! We strip the Arctic to fuel our SUVs. Not sure I grasp the difference. Man has this short-term selfish streak!! His momentary enjoyment takes priority! The comfort, health, even lives, of other species, or other cultures is of no importance to many Americans, or indeed Asians, Africans, or Europeans. There are just too many of us to keep acting this way!! How to stop it?? Change everybody quickly? I don't know!
Why doesn't Obama send some drones there to protect these animals, and aid in identifying those responsible? Heck I think he should send in the Navy Seals they aren't that busy right now. This is more important than protecting the borders of the US isn't it? I mean really these elephants are vital to National Security. Quick send Hilliary Clinton there as quickly as possible and let her handle this. This is right up her alley she's an expert on the abuse of animals. Heck her husband abused a pig while he was in the oval office
Stewie - glad you took your turn to toss in Obama, Clinton and the Navy Seals to blame. Thanks - was kind of getting worried no one would.
Sounds like Asian authorities should be forking over most of the money and resources it takes to help nip this in the bud since their people are DIRECTLY and SOLELY responsible! No other culture in the world would do the things these people do to animals. Seriously, WTF is wrong with these people?! Powdered rhino horns, ivory, shark fins......really? Somebody should introduce these people to real drugs so inoccent animals aren't slaughtered so they can get their kicks! Who the hell uses powdered rhino horn as anaphrodisiac?
I agree with Vingoblue, these people are seriously sick in the &%^$ing head.
Dear Asians.. how can you be so good at math and so bad at life?
The same way you can value a nice smile and still use meth?
Ivory and other animal parts are a big part of Chinese medicine and superstition. With China's economy boom, they have plenty of rich people who are willing to pay top dollar for things like horns and tusks. With that kind of demand, and the poverty most of the populace who lives with African animals endure, it's pretty much to be expected that poaching is going to be a growing problem.
Reality is, just like the drug war, until you kill demand, you will have people willing to do anything to buy, sell and trade something illegal.
So unless Asian countries start stepping up their game and clamping down on their end of poached animals parts, it's a lost cause.
I am quite convinced that many of these animals will eventually only exist in zoos and other controlled environments.
Inadaze--- living in a zoo isn't an existence. It's a prison.
People are confusing elephant tusk with rhino horns. Rhino horns are used for superstitious medicine, but elephant tusks are strictly for art, a symbol of wealth.
In this story we see the evil side and the good side of humanity
Yeah but the evil side is evidently winning. These elephants are doomed unless we start killing poachers on the spot. We can put a bounty on them and you will see how quickly they are exposed. No trial, no jail...instant death. Maybe we should do the same for the people who are buying the ivory. Death to all of these enablers. That would be the way to save herds. I can't believe they killed a whole heard of about 30 animals. Such slaughter is unimaginable. There are more than 7 billions humans......these numbers have to come down, drastically or there will be nothing left but the two legged greedy beings who will have destroyed every other creature on the planet. How can this be ?
Alumette
“There are more than 7 billions humans......these numbers have to come down”
Ok should we take that as a sign of your willingness to volunteer? No? Yeah didn’t think so
This seems like an ideal use for a few drones to stay in the air 24/7 with infrared and other cameras.
***Note: Possible solution below comment:
COMMENT;
Seems to me like the majority of Chinese, (NOT ALL), that MONEY is their God... they have no regard for anyone but themselves when push comes to shove. Again this is NOT true of ALL Chinese, however it is true of the majority. I live in Indonesia where there are a lot of Chinese immigrants. About 75 percent of them are rude, care only about themselves, being first and making money. Each man for himself and the man with the biggest toy wins. They also have NO CLUE about conservation, because of greed, it doesn't matter.
I say to China... BE WISE!!! If you exploit something to its end what will you do when its completely gone?
NO RESPECT FOR ANYONE BUT YOURSELF. It sounds like a spoiled little child in the store, if they don't get the toy they want, they throw a fit. They aren't punished for making a scene and disrespecting their parents because you cant tell them NO, it must be positive re-enforcement. Then later when they grow up they just steal it.
I say TELL them No and them give them positive re enforcement when they do something right, NOT if they misbehave... that's BULLshirt
(by the way rhino horns are just hair and it is proven that they cannot do ANYTHING to help your health)
Possible Solution;
If you want an endless supply, instead of killing wild animals for your so called medicine, then raise them on a farm like cattle and make sure you save the best ones for breeding. That way the species survives and you have an endless supply without exploiting to extinction OR breaking laws to GET WHAT YOU WANT.
And instead of killing the elephants you can take off their tusks without killing them just sedate them first. you can't do that with sharks or cobras but you CAN breed them and control the situation.
(They should like that the Chinese want to control everything).
Americans, (who extinguished bison [for all practical purposes], carrier pigeons, nearly all beavers in the lower 48, and dozens more species, in wanton slaughter) are now lecturing other cultures on morality, and conservation of endangered species??
Folks, we are like everybody else. Pretty mediocre!! High-faluttin selfrighteousness will get us nowhere! We're no holier on this than anybody else! If you can't talk your neighbor out of his SUV, (to help the environment), or stop yourself from smoking (to save your own life), how do you figure to change somebody else, with a bunch of holier than him clap-trap!! We are the absolute worst things that ever happened to most species on this planet!
If we cared enough about this problem, to put 1/10th what WE put into hunting animals for "Sport", we might fund a decent program, to save a few of the species, that we are destroying. But, I have my doubts. When all is said and done, more will be said, than done!!
Asians high demand? sir be more specific - It is "CHINA'S" high demand for ivory!
Kill all the Chinese and all problems on earth will be solved.
msnbc Ity is not "Asian" demand for ivory, please be more specific - it should be "China's" demand for ivory.
That poor baby! He looks so sad in that picture. They say elephants never forget, and that they mourne their dead and have been known to stay with a dead companion for days to say goodbye. I'll wager that that poor little guy remembers quite well what happened to his family :( I hope that he is "adopted" by that new female and that he thrives and grows under her care and guidance.
My ten year old golden retriever is still grieving over her old boyfriend who died five years ago. She saw me bury him and she still looks into any hole in the ground, or even street storm drains, whenever we go walking. Each time, she gives off this pitiful whimper.
Poor little guy. This poaching is so wrong.
Here is an EXCELLENT opportunity for our military! best use of troops I can think of. This @!$%# does not have to happen. Things are so corrupt...I've read recently of so many rich Americans that go over and shoot elephants for "sport" I'm a pacifist, but I would gladly take down someone who wants to kill an elephant. I wouldn't want to kill them... just maybe taze them and then make them watch films about how amazing these creatures are.
If this is the best use for our military that you can think of then maybe we need to rethink your participation in our think tank....
What is wrong with Chinese culture? They are supposed to be so advanced, been around for thousands of years, inventors, philosophers, mathematicians, and yet they ignore the warnings about the impending demise of some species, treating them with the utmost distain, only thinking about their own needs. I hate this....
Chinese Advanced culture ? Where in the world did you get that from ? If it were not for other cultures these knuckleheads would still have dirt roads and horses would be their transportation. The only thing that they have contributed to the advancement of society is ... Hmmm.... Eh... Hmmm ? ... ( Still thinking ) ... hmm....eh ??? I give up
Killing elephants is barbaric--bastards. Elephants should not have to have their tusks cut off; poachers should have their balls cut off. These are among the most intelligent species on Earth, along with dolphins and great apes. The trauma experienced by this little one was tremendous. In this case, we must hope an elephant can forget.
Hey, you're onto something there. We can turn this all around if we convince the Chinese that poacher's balls are more valuable or medicinal than elephant tusks or rhino horns.
And why are we not doing anything about the elephant poaching problem in our own backyard, Alabama? Isn't that where the Tusks-are-looser?
I hear that Asian genitals though unusually small, Make great fertilizer for your tomato garden!
Oh no. That is too funny. Bad form, but funny.
Something needs to be done at the source, a global educational campaign aimed at the Asian culture to stop demand for the product in the first place. It's disgusting that consumers would be willing to wipe out an entire species to satisfy their own lust for ivory.
bottom line - the asians are responsable for the slaughter .
be specific! not asians, its the damn "Chinese". Balls are round but the not everything round is a ball.
Poverty is the root of all Evil
No, homo sapiens is the root of all evil.
No, Cozytrash you are also wrong. Chinese gov is the root of all evil. If they did not allow the imports of these products, none of these slaughterings would have happened.
Farm him out to a circus so he can be abused some more.