Burning Ivory to Spread the Message - Hard Hitting New Videos Released

An Animal Rights Article from All-Creatures.org

FROM

Joyce Tischler, founder and general counsel, Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) as posted on Animal Blawg
May 2016

On April 30, 2016, Kenya burned 105 tons of ivory, along with over one ton of rhino horns and the confiscated skins of thousands of other wild animals in a strong public statement of support and respect for its native wildlife.

It’s eerie to watch these videos and realize that each pair of tusks belonged to someone (not something) who was highly intelligent and social, and who lived in an intricate society where they form lifelong familial bonds, cooperate to solve problems and teach their children the essential skills needed to survive in the wild.

burning ivory
Image by Tim Gorski

African elephants are running out of time. Homo sapiens, a species that by most accounts is overpopulating the planet, is brutally killing elephants at the rate of 96 per day. By some estimates, African elephants will be extinct in approximately one decade. Every elephant death is disturbing and the thought of no more wild elephants is beyond comprehension. The inane reason we are killing them is to seize their tusks—ivory, a coveted product that is valued by humans more highly than live elephants. You may already know that. So, here’s some promising news.

ivory trinkets

On April 30, 2016, Kenya burned 105 tons of ivory, along with over one ton of rhino horns and the confiscated skins of thousands of other wild animals in a strong public statement of support and respect for its native wildlife. This burning has been captured on video by Tim Gorski, a documentary filmmaker who is currently working on the elephant issue.

burning ivory
Image by Tim Gorski

It’s eerie to watch these videos and realize that each pair of tusks belonged to someone (not something) who was highly intelligent and social, and who lived in an intricate society where they form lifelong familial bonds, cooperate to solve problems and teach their children the essential skills needed to survive in the wild. Elephants are one of the most extraordinary species ever to grace this planet; they deserve no less than to be allowed to live out their natural lives with their herds in their homelands.

Please take a look at one or more of the videos, and listen to the powerful words of those fighting on the ground to protect elephants:

Kenya Ivory Burn 2016
Visit Tim Gorski's Facebook page
Visit Tim's website, Rattle The Cage Productions

And, when you’re done, please learn more about the issue; get involved. Stop the slaughter.


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