Zimbabwe Abducts Baby Elephants - In Defense of Animals

Share this alert on:

Zimbabwe Abducts Baby Elephants
We Can Still Help Them

(Valid street address is required - P.O. Boxes cannot be used*)

In Defense of Animals

According to the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force, Hwange National Park visitors witnessed the capture of baby elephants by government helicopters and ground teams. Baby elephants were roped together after being separated from their mothers by firing shots above the herd. Thirty-four terrified baby elephants, seven lion cubs, and 10 rare sable antelope were rounded-up by Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority for possible sale to China.

Imagine the physical and emotional torment these babies will suffer confined, alone, and frightened on the long journey to China, likely by truck, sea freighter, and airplane via Mozambique and the United Arab Emirates. One baby elephant already died awaiting export, her limp carcass carved up to eat by her handlers. How many more deaths will follow? Baby elephants are fully dependent on their mother's milk until at least five years of age, often pining and dying if they are separated prematurely.

Former Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) official, Hank Jenkin, was hired to procure "hundreds" of elephants for Chinese zoos and safari parks, a far cry from his previous position regulating the global trade in endangered species. Zimbabwe's Environment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere, who sealed the deal, said it is "normal" for wildlife to be captured in the country's largest game reserve and exported "from time to time."

Read about the Zimbabwe elephant tragedy here:

Please send our letter below to officials in United Arab Emirates and Zimbabwe demanding that they stop capturing and exporting baby elephants.

Ahmed Esmaeil Al Hashmi
Director, Biodiversity Department
Ministry of Environment and Water
P.O. Box: 1509
Dubai
United Arab Emirates

The Honourable Saviour Kasukuwere
Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Management
11th Floor Kaguvi Building
Corner 4th Street/Central Avenue
Private Bag 7753, Causeway Harare
Zimbabwe

Personalize and submit the form below to email your comments to tthe following:

Ahmed Esmaeil Al Hashmi, Director, Biodiversity Department
The Honourable Saviour Kasukuwere

(Valid street address is required - P.O. Boxes cannot be used*)

* our advocacy software requires actual street addresses in order to determine voting districts. Although we acknowledge that a P.O. Box is a valid mailing address, for advocacy purposes it cannot be used. Thank you for your understanding.

Contact

*Required fields

* Title:

* First Name:

* Last Name:

* Your Email:

* Address 1:

Address 2:

* City:

* State / Province:

* ZIP / Postal Code:

Country:

* Phone Number:

Remember me. What's this?

If you take action and have not already registered, you will receive periodic updates and communications from In Defense of Animals.

Message

Stop the Transport of Baby Elephants

Dear [Decision Maker],

* Personalize your message

On behalf of In Defense of Animals (IDA), an international animal protection organization with over 150,000 supporters who care about the welfare and conservation of animals, I urge you to stop the transport of over 30 baby elephants who have been brutally ripped away from their mothers to be shipped to either the United Arab Emirates (UAE) or to China. This is an international scandal that will shame your country for years to come!

Young elephants depend on their mothers and families for many years and often stay with them for their entire lives. If you participate in their deportation, you are sentencing these baby elephants to permanent suffering and early death  - either immediately or slowly  in lifelong captivity in circuses, zoos, or as "properties" of private collectors. These elephants have already been physically and psychologically traumatized  You can help to right this horrific wrong  but only if you act now.

One baby elephant has already died in the most horrible way. How many more baby elephants will die before their journey to the UAE, China, and other unknown destinations is over? You can prevent this suffering by calling a halt to their transport now. I urge you to immediately cancel this horrific plan of elephant deportation, return the babies to their mothers, and stop this terrible export trade in wild animals.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP]