CONSERVATION NEWS
Can the Land of a Million Elephants Survive the Belt and Road?
Chinese-funded projects in Laos could hasten the eradication of the elephant population!
A Laotian elder with an older elephant at the second annual Elephant Festival in Paklay, Laos (Feb. 17, 2008).
Image Credit: AP Photo/David Longstreath
China Railway’s Kunming bureau recently announced that a 36-kilometer long fence will be built along the Singapore-Kunming Railway project to protect wild elephants in southwest Yunnan’s Xishuangbanna region. This is a positive step, but it does little to allay concerns of the railway’s impact on elephant populations along the rest of the 3,900 km (2,400 mile) track of the Pan Asia Railway Central route. This is particularly so in Laos, where total elephant numbers are now below 1,000, and where vehicle collision is only one of many potential threats arising from China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
If current trajectories continue there will be no elephants left in Laos by the year 2030. In just 12 years, we could see the complete eradication of elephants from a country that once was known as “the land of a million elephants” (Lan Xang). So how did we reach this crisis point? What are the most daunting challenges for the future? And can Laos’ elephant population survive the advancement of the BRI?
Story by Kearrin Sims and Chrisantha Pinto / www.thediplomat.com.
La Jolla gallery owner and salesman plead not guilty to illegally selling ivory art!
Nsefu.org and other protest La Jolla gallery for selling ivory.
The Carlton Gallery in La Jolla was charged with violating AB96, possessing and selling $1.3 million in ivory.
Nsefu Co-Founder Coe Lewis and Nsefu Board Member Beth Hill along with other activists, protested outside the store in La Jolla for weeks on Saturdays.
Yesterday was their arraignment which Beth attended. They pled not guilty, of course, claiming ignorance. Beth met the Union Tribune reporter there and she published an article, mentioning Beth and Nsefu Wildlife.
The city will offer a settlement at the court date. If refused, it'll go to trial.
Court date is February 5th at 8:50am. Beth is organizing a protest outside the courthouse that day at 8am.
The Luangwa Valley is now home to Zambia’s largest African Wild Dog population.
Good news about African Wild Dogs in Zambia!
In an exciting win for conservation, the Luangwa Valley is now estimated to have the largest population of wild dogs in the whole of Zambia. Despite being one of Africa’s most endangered carnivores, wild dogs in and around the South Luangwa National Park have enjoyed several years of increasing numbers, and there are now estimated to be approximately 350 adults and yearlings living in the Luangwa Valley.
This wildlife conservation success is in large part due to the collaborative efforts of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW), the Zambian Carnivore Program (ZCP), and Conservation South Luangwa (CSL).
Story by www.zambiacarnivores.org
Photos: buehringer-online.de
Thank you Tammy Rimes!
Tammy Rimes has joined Nsefu.org’s conservation fight!
Tammy Rimes made a generous donation to Nsefu.org in honor of Demian Wallace. This enables us to complete the purchase of a much needed boat and trailer! Tammy has also pledged another donation in January. We truly appreciate Tammy’s amazing generosity.
Wildlife Ranger Graduation!
These new rangers will work hard to stop poaching.
We would like to congratulate sister foundation Conservation South Luangwa (CSL) for the amazing training of 92 Zawa wildlife Rangers!
Our foundation, Nsefu Wildlife Conservation Foundation (Nsefu.org) works in the same sector of protection in Zambia and we are working hard to do amazing things for conservation like they are. What a victory for endangered and vulnerable wildlife in Africa! Congratulations CSL and we are proud to work alongside your organization.