Balule Associated Nature Reserve has justified the killing of a young elephant bull in front of tourists as an “act of self-defense,” ignoring eye-witness accounts and backtracking on an original announcement condemning the act.
Before more exploitation of the natural world is proposed as a way to solve rural poverty in developing African countries, we need to interrogate the nature of corrupt and damaging financial relationships between those countries and the wealthy global North.
South African hunting outfitters are eagerly awaiting the end of the Zambian rainy season in April to start a killing spree of up to 1,250 hippos living in the world-renowned Luangwa Valley.
Every year, thousands of tourists visit South African private nature reserves to see wild animals. But how many travelers know that some of these self-declared champions of conservation also allow animals to be killed by trophy hunters for ‘sport’?
Slowly, the tiny ball in the wooden crate began to unwind. His scales moved and a pointy nose followed by two black button eyes emerged. Natalie was entranced. The baby pangolin unwrapped his tail, held out his front legs and gazed at her, asking to be picked up. It was love at first sight.
We need to talk about the future of zoos. There are about 1,500 formal and many more informal zoos in the world, holding between three and four million animals, displayed for our curiosity and amusement. It’s fair to ask: to what end?
Reading about the environment can sometimes seem like a depressing litany of fading species, increased development, and a warming planet. But there are reasons to be hopeful. As we enter the new year, here are 12 conservation wins we saw in 2018.
Lammie has been alone at the zoo since her partner, Kinkel, died. Despite calls from various organizations to let Lammie live out her days on a reserve with a herd of previously-captive elephants, the zoo won’t budge.
Sometimes life changing experiences come from the most unlikely places. Wally Fry’s whole life trajectory shifted when he visited a pig farm and witnessed the pain and fear in the pigs’ eyes.
Most people know that fireworks can scare pets, but not many know that they cause damage in many other ways as well, such as causing various types of pollution, harming and killing birds and other wildlife, and impacting the health of the workers that make them.
Instead of honoring what should be a core commitment to conservation, South Africa’s DEA is planning to attempt to legalize trade in rhino horn. This is suspiciously timed with the announcement that China will allow trade in farmed rhino horn, and is a blatant prioritization of profit over the interests of rhinos.
Compassion for hoarders is not misplaced if you recognize that most of them are in desperate need of psychological help. What hoarders do not need is the type of sympathy and support that enables them to continue harboring and acquiring even more animals.