Thula Thula Expansion
Elephants are a keystone species and as such protect the ecosystems they live in. Their conservation is therefore all-important for maintaining much of Africa's magnificent flora and fauna.
EAZA and Wild Elephant Conservation
The European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA) is not the solution to ending miserable lives of captive animals, teaching children about wild animal nature or making real contributions to preventing their extinction.
A Vietnamese Elephant in France
The first two elephants at the European Elephant Sanctuary in France have lived for decades in small zoos in France and the Czech Republic without the company of other elephants. In the wild they would have lived in large family groups. Solitary confinement causes elephants significant trauma. Bringing two solitary elephants together who would most likely not socialize with each other in the wild, rapidly form close friendships in captivity provided they have the space and freedom of a sanctuary to rediscover at least part of their elephant nature.
Namibian Elephant Corridor
A green corridor of 20 km connects the national park of Mudumu bordering the Zambezi Kavango reserve, thus opening access to the largest potential nature reserve on the planet: More than 500 000 square kms in Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola and Namibia.
Wildlife Trafficking
Denying wild animals the right to live a dignified life within their communities should not be called trade, since all of it, legal or illegal, more accurately should be defined as criminal trafficking.
Oil prospecting and trophy hunting in Namibia
While Namibia awkwardly camouflages its quest for increased government revenues behind claims for wildlife conservation, reducing human wildlife conflict and diminishing poverty of its rural population, the government's current policies will achieve the opposite.
Elephant Rights
The courageous attempts of some dedicated attorneys for elephants and other animals to be recognized as legal persons with corresponding rights and obligations might not be in the best interest of elephants.
Ivory Trade and Trophy Hunting
Under the guise of promoting that Africa must develop one voice on conservation for their wild and endangered animal species, African journalists are encouraged to support ivory trading, trophy hunting and trade of live wild animals. Could this really be the new position of the African Wildlife Foundation, as expressed by their spokesperson Dr. Alistair Pole?
Aggressive Elephant Encounter
For other elephant tales, I did not hesitate to use my imagination where necessary. The elephant attack during a training drive at the Selati Game Reserve in South Africa actually happened. Press coverage of the incident concentrated on the un-provoked aggressiveness of the elephant. For a better understanding of the event it should be seen within the context of what happened.
Elephants or Oil
Recon Africa's exploratory oil well, illegally drilled within a Namibian conservancy is close to the Okavango Delta, home to the largest herd of elephants in Africa. A site of 5 football fields was bulldozed, leaving drilling waste pits, metal seismic testing plate imprints and ripped out trees in black piles.
