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Mali’s Desert Elephants, on Edge of Annihilation, Get a Fighting Chance
nytimes.com ^ | 10/29/2017 | MARK RIVETT-CARNAC

Posted on 10/29/2017 9:33:36 AM PDT by rktman

Mali’s elephants, Africa’s northernmost herd and adapted to life in the country’s harsh desert, were in desperate need of protection.

The animals live in an unforgiving landscape southeast of Timbuktu, enduring sandstorms and blistering temperatures. To survive, they trek in search of food and water across what is thought to be the biggest migratory range of their species, more than 12,400 square miles.

But it wasn’t only climate change endangering the elephants. It was also poachers.

They were being slaughtered in staggering numbers as ivory traffickers took advantage of a security vacuum in the region, with 163 killed since 2012, said Susan Canney, director of the Mali Elephant Project, an initiative of the Wild Foundation and the International Conservation Fund of Canada.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: africa; desertification; drought; elephants; herding; ivory; mali; mismanagement; poachers; snipers; wildlife
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So, how come all these filthylanthropists don't pony up some bucks to work on this? PETA? Tommy boy steyer? Snipers to take out the poachers. I have no problem with that. I understand controlled culling of sick animals but the poaching thing sucks. Drone surveillance? Lucky that we're already working on the climate change thing huh? SMH! I'm thinkin' the poachers are more of a threat. Right al?
1 posted on 10/29/2017 9:33:36 AM PDT by rktman
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To: rktman

Eliminating poachers does little to herd YOU into the collective farm, comrade.


2 posted on 10/29/2017 9:45:11 AM PDT by henkster (The View: A psychiatric group therapy session where the shrink has stepped out of the room.)
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To: henkster

You mean where some animals are more special than others? ;-)


3 posted on 10/29/2017 9:46:16 AM PDT by rktman (Enlisted in the Navy in '67 to protect folks rights to strip my rights. WTH?!)
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To: rktman

4 posted on 10/29/2017 9:52:32 AM PDT by Larry Lucido (Take Covfefe Ree Zig!)
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To: rktman
But it wasn’t only climate change endangering the elephants.

It was desert 100 years ago, it is desert today. Could someone explain to me what "climate change" occurred?

5 posted on 10/29/2017 9:54:39 AM PDT by Cowboy Bob
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To: rktman
Image result for Mali Desert Elephant
6 posted on 10/29/2017 9:59:15 AM PDT by ETL (Obama-Hillary, REAL Russia collusion! Uranium-One Deal, Missile Defense, Nukes. See my FR page)
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To: rktman
Related image
7 posted on 10/29/2017 10:00:29 AM PDT by ETL (Obama-Hillary, REAL Russia collusion! Uranium-One Deal, Missile Defense, Nukes. See my FR page)
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To: rktman
I've never seen Mali's elephants in the wild but I've seen them in East Africa and South Africa.IMO seeing elephants in the wild is the most amazing experience a guy can have with his clothes on.

Saving Africa's wildlife and helping the poor of Africa and Asia are the only types of charities to which I donate.

Poaching elephants...rhinos (the *other* kind)...and lions is sad and disgraceful,IMO.

8 posted on 10/29/2017 10:02:20 AM PDT by Gay State Conservative (ObamaCare Works For Those Who Don't.)
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To: Larry Lucido

Love that skit! “Well,the cameraman could give them a sandwich”.”We’re losing daylight!”


9 posted on 10/29/2017 10:05:48 AM PDT by Gay State Conservative (ObamaCare Works For Those Who Don't.)
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To: Gay State Conservative

Elephant poachers deserve immediate execution.


10 posted on 10/29/2017 10:06:19 AM PDT by Signalman
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To: Cowboy Bob

The part of West Africa called the Sahel, which I believe includes the range of these elephants, has gotten steadily drier over our lifetimes. We have before and after pictures taken by satellites that show the Sahara Desert expanding southward. You may also remember the famine in this region during the 1970s and 80s.

Some of this desertification has been caused by mismanaged agriculture, like the “Dust Bowl” we had on the Great Plains in the 1930s. And the last tree in northern Niger was killed when a Libyan drove a truck into it. But I believe the most important factor is the general warming trend that the earth has undergone since the end of the ice age. If man-made global warming was the culprit, we’d probably see the opposite effect, with some parts of the Sahara getting greener.


11 posted on 10/29/2017 10:07:47 AM PDT by Berosus (I wish I had as much faith in God as liberals have in government.)
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To: Berosus; Cowboy Bob
Philipp Mueller: The Sahel Is Greening
12 posted on 10/29/2017 10:13:39 AM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: Berosus

Please read this:
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2017/10/28/information-interview-with-istvan-marko/


13 posted on 10/29/2017 10:13:48 AM PDT by Fungi (What the hell is a fungus?)
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To: Signalman

What about human poachers? Abortion, sex trade, slave trade, illegal drug traders?

We are at a crossroads where we must choose the creation or the Creator, every generation must fight the same battle. God is patient but his patience brings us one day closer to the final day of judgement every day.

The apostle Paul says it best, if Jesus is not risen then we worship in vain, (might as well go fishing-my comment), yet if He is risen, what will you do with do great a Salvation?

If we all choose Christ, the rest of the worlds evil becomes moot, if not then there is a day of reckoning coming. Choose wisely.


14 posted on 10/29/2017 10:18:39 AM PDT by Billyv (Freedom isn't Free! Get off the sidelines!)
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To: Gay State Conservative

helping the poor of Africa and Asia....Good luck with that.


15 posted on 10/29/2017 10:28:23 AM PDT by Safetgiver (Islam makes barbarism look genteel.)
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To: ETL

There's nothing like the smell of elephant steak roasting in the morning.

16 posted on 10/29/2017 10:45:00 AM PDT by DJ Taylor (Once again our country is at war, and once again the Democrats have sided with our enemy.)
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To: Safetgiver
helping the poor of Africa and Asia....Good luck with that.

I've seen more than elephants in Africa.I've seen poverty.Real poverty,not the Detroit 350 pound talking on an ObamaPhone poverty.

1980...the middle of nowhere in Tanzania...African (meaning very dark skinned) child...red hair,big belly,skinny stick-like legs.

It's an image that has stayed with me.

Just sayin'...

17 posted on 10/29/2017 10:50:04 AM PDT by Gay State Conservative (ObamaCare Works For Those Who Don't.)
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To: Gay State Conservative

And giraffes too. I wish I hadn’t seen these photos...too painful. I went to Africa and shot the magnificent animals with my camera. I also donate to an elephant rescue organization.

http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/


18 posted on 10/29/2017 12:10:51 PM PDT by Aria
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To: Gay State Conservative

I have seen them in Botswana. They are truly magnificent. They are doing better where they’re hunted legally. Professional guides have been known to shoot poachers.


19 posted on 10/29/2017 1:29:14 PM PDT by Spok
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To: rktman
Give 'em some of this:


20 posted on 10/29/2017 2:02:46 PM PDT by PLMerite ("They say that we were Cold Warriors. Yes, and a bloody good show, too." - Robert Conquest)
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