In April, two “big tuskers” were killed in Botswana by trophy hunters. These big tuskers were older male elephants, approximately 50 years of age, whose tusks weigh about 100 pounds each.
There are only a few big tuskers left in Africa.
Their presence in the wild WAS irreplaceable.
As elephant populations globally are already being threatened, the repercussions from the loss of these two big tuskers will be noticeable because older male elephants generally father most calves.
Their loss will disrupt reproduction rates, among the myriad of other factors that threaten their species like poaching, human-elephant conflict, habitat fragmentation, and climate change.
Not only are their lives constantly under threat, we ARE currently living in the 6th mass extinction, where we are seeing species going extinct every day.
On a global scale, we are experiencing massive climate change.
Elephants are part of the SOLUTION to climate change. Their mighty presence as a keystone species helps with carbon sequestration. According to a BBC report, the African elephant can sequester up to 9,5000 metric tons per year which is equivalent to emissions from over 2,000 cars.
Let us not forget, elephants in the wild are worth more alive than dead. According to Botswana’s former president Ian Khama; “How does it being dead benefit our declining tourism due to poor policies. Our tourism is wildlife based. No wildlife means no tourism, no tourists no jobs, and no revenue stream. Incompetence and poor leadership have almost wiped out the rhino population, and now this!”
There is so much at stake, when an endangered species life like the elephant is taken away. Now is not the time to look away. Now is the time to act.
I am urging you to contact your federal representative for their support in the reintroduction of the Prohibiting Threatened and Endangered Creature Trophies (ProTECT) Act, which will prohibit the import of any trophy of a species listed under the Endangered Species Act into the United States and trophy hunting within the United States of any ESA-listed species.
You can find your federal representative here.
Every life counts. Every voice matters.
Please sign and share this petition as our voice is stronger together!
With gratitude,
Nicole @ Wild For Change