Together with 25 other scientists we have authored an opinion piece on the ivory trade for Science, which you can access on this page. You'll also find a press release from Drs. Sam Wasser, Andy Dobson, Katarzyna Nowak, Joyce Poole, and Petter Granli.

The piece argues that CITES' member states should reject the proposals from Tanzania and Zambia requesting further sale of ivory. CITES (CoP15) starts today, Saturday 13 March.

Science Opinion Piece, Volume 327, 12. March 2010: Elephants, Ivory, and Trade (395.07 kB)

"Scientists Oppose One-off Ivory Sales and Urge International Trade Decisions to Put Science above Politics": Press release Science Opinion Piece: Elephants, Ivory, and Trade (63.42 kB)

We wrote to AVAAZ months ago to encourage them to run a campaign against the ivory trade. Many others have obviously done the same, and we were yesterday thrilled to see their online campaign. AVAAZ has an enormous network of members and has the capacity to be heard. In just a day or so they have collected over 100,000 signatures. Let CITES members hear what we think about Tanzania's and Zambia's proposal for further sale of ivory!

On Wednesday 3rd we had a productive meeting with Iain Douglas-Hamilton, founder and director of Save the Elephants, and others in preparation for CITES. During transfer in Amsterdam on Thursday 4th, we received the shocking news that STE's research facility and several camps and lodges had been swept away by dramatic flooding in Samburu before dawn. Our hearts go out to our friends and colleagues and everyone affected by the devastation. Many animals may have been lost - but the full picture is still unclear.

Below you will find the press release from Save the Elephants, and underneath we have collected a few links to media coverage from this dramatic event and the heavy rainfall since experienced in many parts of Kenya.

Save the Elephants Media Release 4 March 2010:

STE Research Camp Hit by Floods Early this morning

Save the Elephants (STE) research facility and Elephant Watch Safari Camp located in Samburu National Reserve, Kenya, were completely destroyed by unexpected flooding of the Ewaso Ng’iro River, along with seven other neighbouring lodges.

At approximately 5am this morning, a wall of water akin to a Tsunami surged through Elephant Watch Camp, catching tourists and staff unawares and sweeping away tents and facilities. It has been confirmed that camp owner Oria Douglas-Hamilton and guests managed to escape to safety by climbing to higher ground. Several members of staff were trapped in trees until the water subsided later today.

At approximately 7am the flood hit and decimated Save the Elephants’ research facility down river. Researchers and staff managed to drive to safety within seconds of the flood waters surging through the facility. News just in confirm scenes of devastations at both facilities, with beds, tents, computers and vital research documentation submerged in mud and strung up in the treetops. Over 200 people watched from a hill above the camps as the waters wrecked havoc. Staff and researchers hastily salvaged computers and camera equipment, but reports confirm that key research data, computers, equipment, kitchen facilities and food, lodging and personal effects have been washed away.

Although it is too early to asses the cost of the damage, Operations Manager Lucy King expects it will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to rebuild the facility, and Save the Elephants is now calling on the generosity of donors and interested parties to kick start the effort. The immediate relief process has already begun, with blankets and water flown in by STE founder Iain Douglas-Hamilton this morning, as well as the assistance of the British army which is attempting to airlift people to safety and bring additional supplies.

The waters have currently receded to the point where staff are able to wade through the remnants of the facilities and retrieve what is left of their belongings. Ominously, heavy rain clouds hang over Samburu and more heavy rains are expected as early as this evening at what is only the start of Kenya’s rainy season. Please note that news updates on the flooding will be posted on the STE website.

To donate to STE’s rebuilding effort, please go to www.savetheelephants.org.

For all media enquiries please contact: Lucy King: +254 (0)720 275561

Ivory poaching is heavily impacting many elephant populations, killing off older individuals with larger tusks and fragmenting families and leaving youngsters orphaned. We must act before it is too late. The increasing demand for ivory in Asia combined with corruption, poor governance and poverty in many range states is resulting in the killing tens of elephants each day.

We believe that a total ban on trade in elephant tusks is necessary and that further legal sale will fuel both the demand and supply. You will find several new links related to poaching and the ivory trade here, including some to online petitions. Please use your social networks off- and online to influence the decision at the upcoming CITES meeting which will take place during the second half of March.

Let your voice be heard!

Many of you may have read about the lawsuit PETA and Zoocheck Canada recently have filed against the Valley Zoo in Edmonton, Canada. Living alone in such a cold climate, Lucy has spent much of her life standing on concrete. The result? A young elephant in an old body. As an expert witness, my view is that Lucy has been and continues to be deprived and is suffering. My hope is that the Valley Zoo will release Lucy to live in a better home where she will have what elephants need: companions, a warm climate and space to roam.

A headline in CBC News goes like this; "PETA sues Edmonton over elephant", and in THE CANADIAN PRESS you can read; "Edmonton, animal rights groups will fight in court over elephant's future".

You can in a couple of previous posts on ElephantVoices, from July and September 2009, read more about Lucy, her story and situation.