THE END OF THE GAME. TRUE FACTS & FIGURES: 10 Million elephants roamed Africa in 1913 – 450,000 remain in 2013 1 elephant is slaughtered every 15 minutes in Africa at present. Over the last 10 years 1/3rd of Tanzania’s elephants have been slaughtered 20 elephants were killed in the last quarter in Tanzania’s protected Ngorongoro Conservation Area. 1 prominent Tanzanian Game Reserve and a National Park have lost 42% of its elephant population over the last 10 years, amounting to a staggering count of 31,348 carcasses. 10,000 elephants are killed annually The facts are out there about the association between the illegal ivory trade, international security and criminal cartels; but few truly realise the long-term damage it is doing to the heart of Africa’s communities. Tanzania’s Safari Tourism Trade brings in the same revenue total as Gold, it provides 10 million jobs (both directly or indirectly) as well as providing a stable and growing environment for prosperity and advancement. In simple terms the end of the elephant equates too more than the appalling end of the world’ largest land mammal – it represents poverty for Tanzania. Lost jobs, the loss of essential tax revenue for the government and the collapse of Tanzania’s top industry and highest foreign currency earner will have catastrophic effects on an economy already struggling to maintain itself. Of course Tanzania can always allow China to decimate its other natural resources to temporarily counteract this devastation. One TATO spokeswomen voiced grave concern at the rising number of American tourists now beginning to boycott Tanzania as a safari destination, due to Tanzania’s inaction and total disregard for the gravity of the situation. Be it the lack of political will, the lack of resources, or a combination of both; the only solution is to breaks barriers and make this an international issue with a redefined solution. THE CAUSE for the bloody ivory trade is China, Vietnam and Thailand’s growing middle class and I don’t care what anyone says, it is hard to believe this dynamic generation truly doesn’t know that the ivory trade kills elephants. For the ivory carvers who have passed their delicate and artistic skills down generations, there are modern alternatives to carve. THE SOLUTION is clear. CITIES must stop all ivory trade and there can be neither hesitation nor compromise in this action. Neither can CITIES be prejudiced by politics or super powers. CITIES was created to protect our global natural heritage; but its indecision is about to trigger off the end of the world’s largest prehistoric land mammal. AFRICA’s primary weapon against the slaughter is admitting too, and combating corruption. -photography4life.org- photography4life.org/the-end-of-the-game-tanzania-tour-operators-want-the-world-to-know/
Posted on: Sat, 07 Sep 2013 10:01:25 +0000