Stop the poachers or elephants will be extinct in 12 years

[Guest guest]

Link: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article1519730.ece

 

 

*Stop the poachers or elephants will be extinct in 12 years*

 

By MARTIN CLUNES

 

Published: 06 Aug 2008

A REPORT that the ivory trade may lead to the extinction of Africa's

elephants by 2020 has rocked wildlife lovers across the world.

 

There were around a million of the magnificent creatures roaming free in the

1980s. That number has now fallen to fewer than 470,000. And the decision

that China and Japan are to be allowed to resume ivory imports is likely to

make the crisis even worse.

 

Here, actor Martin Clunes tells why we must save African elephants from

extinction.

 

I'VE been enchanted with elephants since releasing a captive female called

Nina into the wild for the Born Free Foundation in 1997.

 

It was mind-blowing to watch this wonderful animal go. At first she didn't

want to, because she was a bit spoilt, having been orphaned then raised in

captivity.

 

But once she got going she headed up to the highest hill she could find,

just to get a bit of a view for the first time.

' It's ghastly to kill a huge animal just to make a little, not very

attractive trinket '

 

Just the act of setting her free was amazing enough, but then she went on to

have a calf – called Jonny Wilkinson after the rugby player – which was

fantastic.

 

Very sadly, Nina died last year. But she died trying to have another calf,

which is obviously so much better than dying a painful death, shot by

poachers. And she had 11 wonderful years of freedom.

 

I recently went to the Mkomazi Game Reserve in Tanzania, where I first met

Nina.

 

I was there to release eight wild dogs for my documentary A Man And His

Dogs. While I was there I got to see Nina's remains, and I touched her skull

where once there was skin.

 

It was very sad but very nice to be able to say goodbye.

 

I still feel extremely privileged to have spent time with Nina and I try to

help Born Free whenever I can.

 

Born Free was the first movie I saw as a child, and 15 years ago I directed

the film's star, Virginia McKenna, in a movie called Staggered. She is the

founder of the Born Free Foundation and the film was also where I met my

wife Philippa, so it was the start of many a good relationship!

 

I'm only a bloke off the telly, but if there's something I can do to help, I

try to.

 

It's never been more important than it is now. The fact that the Chinese and

Japanese are now being allowed to buy ivory is just disastrous.

 

It's an almighty affront to the rest of the world who are trying to save

elephants.

 

Obviously it's a political deal. The Born Free Foundation are more aware

than most that the plight of wildlife has always been political to a large

extent.

 

Now the price of ivory will go sky-high and there will be a bidding war

between Japan and China, so more elephants will die.

 

Buying and selling ivory is so stupid as to be criminal.

 

It's just ghastly how it can make sense in their heads to kill a huge animal

just to make a little, not very attractive trinket.

 

They throw away most of the body just to whittle at some little tusk. It's

so obviously wrong.

 

Unless something major is done the elephants will be wiped out completely,

which is too hideous to even contemplate.

 

At the Born Free Foundation, we are trying to raise money so we can pay for

more anti-poaching teams to protect the elephants. It's the biggest way

people who care about these animals can help.

 

In many ways it's a really boring waste of money – the cash could be spent

on so many other things to protect wildlife, but because of what poachers

are doing in Africa, this has to be a priority. It is a global emergency.

 

I've just been at a celebration of elephants in Norwich.

 

There were huge models of the animals everywhere and you could see the

impact the shape of the elephant has on a child – their eyes light up.

 

These creatures produce an emotive response – they just are special. I'm not

even sure exactly why, but I suppose they're a link to dinosaurs and they're

huge and silent. They have simply huge brains, too.

 

When you see them in the wild – these huge, matriarchal groups with the

little 'uns – it is moving. And although they can charge and are incredibly

powerful and protective when they need to be, most of the time there is

something very gentle about them.

 

I remember tickling the top of Nina's head incredibly gently with the top of

a piece of sugar cane. Because her skin looked so tough I didn't even expect

her to feel it. But she did feel it, and she slapped it off with her huge

trunk.

 

*They may look like they have a tough hide but in reality, they are very

sensitive.*

 

*Martin Clunes was talking to Emma Cox.*

 

 

--

United against elephant polo

http://www.stopelephantpolo.com

http://www.freewebs.com/azamsiddiqui