The U.S Government is Taking a Stand Against Illegal Animal Trade!

What's an awesome way to tell the World the U.S hates illegal trade of animal products? Publicly crushing 6 tons of the product seems like a pretty great way to do it. 

Today, the U.S government is doing exactly that. In Denver, Colorado, 6 tons of Elephant tusk ivory that has been seized over the past 25 years in the U.S is going to be crushed. The intention is to send a message out to the world saying that the U.S does not support this horrible trade.

Wildaid, posted photos of the set-up created for the ivory crushing

Some of the ivory confiscated had already been converted into product

The machine that is going to be used to crush the ivory 

Six Tons seems like a lot right? Just last year alone, 30,000 elephants were killed. This number is horrible considering Ivory trade was banned in 1989 after elephants were being killed in masses prior due to a boom in the demand for ivory. Taking the tusks from an elephant is a sickening process. Tusk can't be seized from such a formidable animal alive, resulting in lots of bloodshed and painful deaths. Ivory isn't the only problem facing elephants. Such a large animal needs a rather large habitat. As more human expansion invades elephant lands, they're stressed to find resources to survive. Also, this has caused an increase in human-elephant conflict resulting in more elephant deaths.

Elephants are very intelligent animals. An elephant calf will remain and bond with its mother while growing up, just like us humans! 

Although most of the killing occurs in Africa, America still plays a part in this trade making this government action so critical. America is the second largest market for ivory. Of course the entire elephant tusk isn't being sold, but is altered into trinkets and souvenirs. 

Elephant tusks are sculpted and sold as souvenirs in America, causing it to be the second largest market for Ivory. 

Not buying products made from ivory, before or after the ban was placed, is a very important and helpful step in conserving elephants. Supporting alternatives to elephant ivory is also a good idea, like the Tagua Nut. Tagua nuts are virtually identical to ivory when it comes to product and the use of tagua nuts doesn't endanger a species. The website and environmentally friendly brand One World Projects creates awesome products created from Tagua nuts.

Donating to groups that support elephants such as Wildaid, who focus on ending illegal wildlife trade, or World Wildlife Fund, who focuses on elephant conservation as whole, including many other species and causes around the world is another great way to help. Currently, The World Wildlife Fund is supporting a petition for the U.S government asking them to enact a moratorium, a waiting period set by authority, on the illegal ivory trade. This would close current loopholes and help give elephants a fighting chance. It only takes a few minutes to make a difference and you can sign here: Help Save Elephants. The U.S government has taken a step today in ending Ivory trade; however, it will take a global effort from people and government in order to save this magnificent species from extinction. 

For more information on what's going on with elephants and conservation efforts, check out these links 

http://worldwildlife.org/species/elephant

http://www.wildaid.org/elephants

R.I.P Western Black Rhinos

The brutality and indifference of humankind has once again caused a casualty in the animal world.

Today, the Western Black Rhino was declared extinct.

The Western Black Rhino, now extinct may just be the first of many Rhino species to disappear

The Western Black Rhino was a subspecies of the Black Rhino. It was last spotted in 2006; however the latest report from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has confirmed that the rhino is extinct.

If that's not bad enough, the Western Black Rhino might not be the last to go. The African Northern White Rhino, the Javan Rhino (as few as 35 remain), and the Sumatran Rhino (possibly as few as 100 left) are all in serious trouble.

Rhinos are poached for their horns even though this practice is illegal. The horns are then sold to be used in Asian medicine under false promises of a cure for cancer and a cure for hangovers. This is extremely stupid and this is why: To begin with, Rhino horn doesn't cure anything. Second, Rhino horn is made of a substance called Keratin. This scientificish word may sound familiar to you because it is also the same exact substance that makes up your hair and nails. Putting Rhino horn in medicine is the equivalent to chewing on your hair or finger nails, except you're paying a lot of money to do it while also driving an amazing and beautiful species to extinction.

What's really sad about this whole ordeal is the extinction of the Western Black Rhino could have been prevented. There were suggested conservation efforts, yet none of them were ever put into play. Although it's too late for the poor Western Black Rhino, it's not too late to save the other rhino species who are facing the same fate. Conservation efforts need to be encouraged and followed through with quickly in order to avoid another horrible case like this.


For more information about the Western Black Rhino and other IUCN endangered species, check out this link: 
"Western Black Rhino is officially extinct and the Northern White and Javan rhinos will follow unless something is done, conservationists warn"

For more information on these endangered rhino species plus more along with conservation information and ways to help visit this link: 

World Wildlife Fund Rhino Information

The Asian Unicorn Rediscovered

Ok well, it's not an actual unicorn, but it sorta looks like one.

On September 7th 2013, a World Wildlife Fund camera trap set up in Vietnam photographed a saola in the Central Annamite mountains. This is big news because the last confirmed sighting of this animal was in 1999.

The saola is an antelope type looking animal; however, it is related to cattle. It was discovered in 1992 and since then it has only been seen four times. Due to it's long horns, which can grow up to 50 inches, and its elusiveness, the saola was nicknamed the Asian Unicorn. Since it is so rare, there isn't much known about the animal. Their population is estimated to be anywhere from a few hundred to less than a hundred.

The biggest threat to saolas is questionably ethical wire snares set up by hunters. The sighting of the saola is great news for conservationists in the Annamite mountains because it proves that their hard work is paying off. However, the saola is still threatened with extinction.

A rare shot of the elusive saola.

For more information about the saola, conservation efforts in the Vietnamese forests, and camera trap pictures check out these links:

"Saola Rediscovered: Rare Photos of Elusive Species from Vietnam"

"Rediscovery of Saola: 'Asian Unicorn' sighted in Vietnam after 15 years"