My 10 year old son, Liam came home from school last week, very upset after reading about the possible extinction of elephants, within the next decade. 

 

These are the words of Liam:

"I think it is wrong that elephants are being killed for their ivory because they are living creatures like us and they're not hunting us down or harming us. 

Also, how would you feel if someone hunted you down to kill you? I was shocked to read that elephants will be extinct in less than 10 years just because their ivory is being used for ornaments. I am ashamed that my species, if they continue like this, will be the cause of the extinction of elephants, in my lifetime!"

 

When told me what he had read re the extinction of elephants within 10 years, I was horrified and feel ashamed that my generation could allow this to happen. We must raise awareness of this issue and ask that the UK government demand an end to the worldwide ivory trade.

 

We spend over £12 billion per year in the UK on international aid and we need to use some of this money to help African nations protect their elephants from ivory poachers.

 

The surge in ivory poaching is being fuelled by increased demand for ivory, mainly from China. 

The tusks are carved into ornaments and trinkets that have absolutely no purpose, other than as a status symbol. In a 2007 survey, the IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) found that 70% of the Chinese population polled did not know that ivory came from dead elephants.

In Africa and Asia elephants are being slaughtered for their tusks in unprecedented numbers - between 35,000 and 50,000 every year, that's around 100 per day, or 1 every 15 MINUTES.

Poachers exploit the tight family bonds of elephants - they shoot a baby first, which causes the herd to gather round to protect it and then they mow down the entire herd.

Elephants are highly intelligent and sociable creatures and feel emotions much like humans. They are the largest species on our planet. They have a highly evolved intelligence and emotional capacity, and they fulfil a vital role in the ecosystem.

 

Elephants who aren't being poached are suffering horrific cruelty and abuse by captors who mistreat them, use them for so-called "entertainment", and they can suffer years of neglect and malnourishment. 

Humanity is destroying them - now humanity MUST SAVE THEM.....

 

My daughter, Eilidh, has also researched the subject and has sent the following link, please take a look:

http://www.bornfree.org.uk/animals/african-elephants/projects/ivory-trade/

 

"The question is, are we happy to suppose that our grandchildren may never be able to see an elephant except in a picture book?"   - Sir David Attenborough.

 

Please sign our petition and raise awareness of the plight of the majestic elephants in any way you can. 

Let us be the generation to take action, show compassion and save these wonderful creatures.

Thank you.