São só algumas dezenas de milhares de elefantes.
Carrying AK-47s and rocket-propelled grenades, they dispatched the elephants with a military precision ... you can see which animals fled, which mothers tried to protect their young, how one terrified herd of 50 went down together, the latest of the tens of thousands of elephants killed across Africa each year.*
Poachers are driving many wild animals toward the path of extinction.
On average, 95 elephants are killed each day by poachers.
Poachers killed more than 1,000 rhinos in 2013 alone.
The annual estimated profit from the illicit trade in wildlife trafficking – ranging from tiger skins, elephant tusks, and rhino horns to rare snakes, parrots, and macaws – is conservatively estimated at $19 billion a year.
Many animal lovers and lifelong conservationists are shocked to learn of the magnitude of this criminal activity and are unaware of the horrendous impact it is having on wildlife – particularly endangered species.
Thanks to National Geographic supporters like you, we are expanding our efforts to expose wildlife traffickers and save the animals that become their victims.
Award-winning journalist and National Geographic Fellow Bryan Christy, who wrote the pivotal "Blood Ivory" cover story for the October 2012 edition of National Geographic magazine, is helping to further our efforts to expose this trade.
Not only are animals trafficked for their body parts – skins, horns, tusks, teeth, bones – but they also fuel the illegal pet trade around the world.
In Brazil alone, poachers take an estimated 38 million animals a year from their natural habitats. The beautiful macaws, parrots, and songbirds found in many local markets throughout this region are victims of this illegal wildlife trade.
National Geographic explorers and grantees are using new scientific discoveries and the latest technology to help stop poachers and expose this illegal trade.
For example, National Geographic recently recognized the work of Emerging Explorer Juliana Machado Ferreira, who is using leading-edge science to save Brazils wild birds. With a Ph.D. in genetics, Juliana has developed molecular markers that can identify an individual bird's origins. This can lead to the prosecution of traffickers, and the return of these wild birds to their birthplace. The birds can then survive and thrive in the wild once again.
In addition to stopping illegal killing and trade, we must also change hearts and minds to end the market demand for wild animals.
Creative Conservationist Asher Jay, one of our newest Emerging Explorers, is doing just this kind of work.
Asher uses art to help people think differently about their relationship to wild animals. In a recent public service campaign to stop the ivory trade in China, Asher created a poster with a powerful stylized image of an elephant in black and white on a red background with the words, "Protect the pandas of Africa – elephants."
We all understand that we must do more to support the courageous individuals working to stem the tide of this illegal trade. We must stop the killing and stealing of wild animals if we are to save the many species we treasure.
This is why, with your continued support, we are expanding our efforts to expose illegal wildlife tracking, supporting the best scientists to help solve this terrible problem, and educating people around the world as to why it must end.
