MBOMBELA – It’s a transnational business that funds terrorist organisations, fuels conflict in Africa, and poses environmental, development and security challenges.
The illegal wildlife trade is also a lucrative business, generating an estimated US$20 billion per year.
At the launch of the United for Wildlife #WhoseSideAreYou campaign in June, the Duke of Cambridge, HRH Prince William said, “There are 2 000 critically endangered species on the verge of being lost forever. It’s time to choose a side – between the endangered animals and the criminals who kill them for money. I am calling on people all around the world to tell us: whose side are you on?” The answer will be loud and clear from the thousands of people in over 100 cities worldwide joining the Global March for Elephants and Rhinos (GMFER) on October 4.
English comedian, actor and producer, Ricky Gervais has voiced his support of the event. “How can we allow the extinction of two magnificent creatures for the sake of some morons owning tasteless trinkets or trying fake medicine?” Also in support of the march, Joanna Lumley, Order of the British Empire and Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, says, “If we stand by and watch the brutal extinction of rhino and elephant, the stain of shame on our human consciousness will never be forgiven or forgotten.”
The organisers of the event to be held in Mbombela, starting at Makro at 11:00 say, “Only a truly global response will stop our globally iconic species being sold into extinction. World Animal Day this year must focus on action – individuals, peoples, governments – all of us must act to end the vile trade in endangered species.” Officially acknowledged by United For Wildlife as an event that will raise awareness about the challenges facing the world’s wildlife, organisers hope the event will also help to reduce demand for endangered species “products” and will push for governments to ban all commercial trading of endangered wildlife and to put an end to wildlife trafficking.
“Individuals, and society as a whole, can choose to shun ivory, rhino horn, lion and tiger bones as commodities, but we need governments to play their part too, by increasing penalties for bribery, corruption and trafficking offences, and by shutting down all retail outlets and ivory carving factories, for example,” they said.
The event will also call on governments to publicly destroy their stockpiles of illegal wildlife products, to show zero tolerance for unlawful trading.
In Africa four elephants are illegally killed for their ivory every hour, and estimates are that only 300 000 to 500 000 survive today. Illegally killed for their horn, it is estimated that less than 22 000 African rhino now remain.
As for the king of the jungle, more lion survive now in captivity, where they are bred for petting rather than hunting, than roam in the wild. Their path to extinction is very clear and the culprit is well understood. “Ivory, rhino horn, lion and tiger bones continue to be sold to feed a relentless and growing demand, largely in Asia, where the body parts of these endangered animals are still viewed as highly sought-after products,” explain the GMFER event organisers.
The ivory and rhino horn trade is particularly cruel and gruesome, not only do poachers indiscriminately slaughter adults, babies or whole herds alike, but often hack off an elephant’s tusks or rhino’s horns while they are still alive. “When it comes to choosing between saving the elephant, rhino and lion from extinction or slaughtering them for some mythical medicinal property or want for an expensive carving, we’ve made our choice,” organisers say. Don’t stand on the sideline. Whose side are you on?
Find more information at https://www.March4ElephantsAndRhinos.org/, https://www.facebook.com/March4Elephants, https://twitter.com/EleRhinoMarch or email March4ElesAndRhinos@gmail.com
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