For What Its Worth...

So its been a week since I first wrote about the Plight of the Voiceless.

After reading many articles from Africa and world newspapers about poaching, it seems that something must be done sooner rather than later. Each week more and more elephants are being butchered at the hands of poachers, even after efforts have been stepped up across Africa.

I have spoken to a few people about this blog I have started, some positive, some not so. I am writing this because I KNOW I can make a difference in this world.  I understand people feeling a bit reserved about it, but I want to reassure you, I am not stopping until something gets done.  Some disagree with what I am trying to do, but truth be told, I will follow my heart and not give up on this issue.

As everyone knows, ivory is the main reason for the slaughter of these helpless animals.  Ivory is seen as a sign of wealth in several Asian countries such as China and Vietnam, and is also ground down into trinkets or made into tea, which is incorrectly believed to heal many things, from hangovers to cancer.

If the people of these countries were to see the damage caused to these majestic animals to obtain this so-called ‘super remedy’, do you think it would change their minds?

Ivory is worth nothing to the countries in Asia such as Vietnam and China, but losing the elephants in Africa will make a massive detrimental difference to the continent.

It is estimated there are only about 400,000 African Elephants left in the wild, and last year the number that were slaughtered was estimated to be between 35,000 and 40,000. Now anyone with basic math skills can tell you that in approximately 10-12 years, at this rate, this animal will become extinct in the wild.

I don’t know about you, but I believe this animal to be one of the most recognizable and beautiful of all creatures on this planet. I would hate to grow older knowing that I could have done something more to help such an amazing animal, and this is why I am trying to raise awareness in people to help to try and fix this problem. 

Talk about this with friends.

Tell your family. 

Read about organisations made to help elephants. 

Tell me what you want to do to help these beautiful creatures, and support the Plight of the Voiceless.

- Daniel