An Australian filmmaker who went undercover to film a documentary about big game hunting in Africa is hoping the movie will help to end trophy hunting. Melbourne-based Rogue Rubin is a conservationist who wanted to explore the trophy hunting industry. Her initial efforts to infiltrate were unsuccessful so she created a new online identity. “I […]
Tag: elephants
Indian Authorities Seize $1 Million Worth of Sperm Whale Poo Used in Perfumes
Authorities in Tamil Nadu, India seized 8 kilograms of sperm whale ambergris. Which is also called sperm whale poop or sperm whale vomit. Ambergris is the waxy substance created in the bile ducts of sperm whales. It has long been used to make perfumes and is served as a delicacy in some countries. The stuff […]
Ivory poaching has led to evolution of tuskless elephants, study finds
Ivory poaching over decades has led to the evolution of tuskless elephants, researchers have found, proving that humans are “literally changing the anatomy” of wild animals. A previously rare genetic mutation causing tusklessness has become very common in some groups of African elephants after a period in which many were killed for their tusks, according […]
Bali Park Leaves Elephants to Starve to Death
An elephant park in Bali left its elephants to starve to death after Covid restrictions forced it to shut down. The Bali Elephant Camp offered a wide range of nature-based activities as well as elephant-related attractions, including elephant rides. When tourism stopped due to the pandemic, the park was forced to close its doors and […]
The Cruelty Behind Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
When you first hear the name “Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage” it’s easy to assume it’s exactly that — an orphanage. However, Pinnawala, located in Sri Lanka, has been breeding and holding elephants captive for entertainment purposes, rather than for the welfare of the animals. A sanctuary or orphanage’s role is to hold animals captive for their […]
Namibia Auctions Off 57 Wild Elephants
Namibia is auctioning off its wild elephants, which has caused an uproar amongst conservation and wildlife groups. In August, the government announced that they had auctioned off 57 wild elephants to three bidders for approximately $537,000, further devastating the wild elephant population that has already suffered so much as a result of poachers and droughts. […]
African Parks secures $100M for conservation in Africa
African Parks, a South Africa-based conservation group that manages 19 protected areas covering 14.7 million hectares in several African countries, has secured a $100M commitment from the Rob and Melani Walton Foundation. The grant, which will be allocated over the next five years, will be split between a $75 million endowment, that will fund organizational […]
Are Zoos Vital for Education or Conservation?
As discussions about treating animals ethically progress, it’s difficult to graze over zoos and just how ethical or unethical they are. To start, we have to acknowledge there are people who work in and run zoos that genuinely care about animals. This is not an attempt to belittle or doubt their intentions. Nor is discussing […]