Aug 27 2009
Ivory is Pretty – So Go Enjoy it in the Wild
We love to bring beautiful items into our homes and luckily, we are gradually learning to be more conscious of where these items come from: was the wood for the table harvested sustainable? could I purchase this material locally, rather than create more waste through the shipping of the item long distances?
One issue that seems like more of a distant concern rather than a current issue is the poaching of elephants for their ivory tusks. I recently found an eye-opening article on Peachy Green, discussing the still regular occurrence of ivory trade amongst certain countries and the terrible toll it continues to have on the elephants.
The post is very informative but I was particularly moved by the description of the mental/emotional toll poaching has on the elephants:
“Sadly, elephants that survive a poaching attack are profoundly affected for the rest of their lives. In a National Geographic article, the lingering effects on the herd are described:
“An African elephant never forgets – especially when it comes to the loss of its kin,” according to researchers at the University of Washington. Their findings, published online in the journal Molecular Ecology, reveal that the negative effects of poaching persist for decades after the killing has ended.
“Our study shows that it takes a long time – upwards of 20 years – for a family who has lost its kin to rebuild,” said lead researcher Kathleen Gobush, a research ecologist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency and a former doctoral student at the University of Washington Center for Conservation Biology.”
Sigh.
Thank you to Peachy Green for bringing this to light for myself and others. They suggest signing this petition as a first step to helping the effort to protect the elephants.
In summary, this is a sad reminder that we need to be vigilant in our purchases and activities. Make sure you aren’t unintentionally supporting trades that take advantage of situations, people, animals or things. No matter how pretty, there is likely an environmentally-friendly, humane option to obtain an aesthetic or look. If not, change your look don’t compromise your values.
