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You guys should consider donating to the International Anti-Poaching Foundation[0][1] which fights these poachers. The founder, Damien Mander[2], is an Australi

You guys should consider donating to the International Anti-Poaching Foundation[0][1] which fights these poachers. The founder, Damien Mander[2], is an Australian ex spec-ops sniper who is using his military experience to train the park rangers since they, unlike the poachers, tend to be poorly equipped and trained as well as understaffed. There is also the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust[3][4] which takes care of elephant and rhino orphans (most of them are orphans due to poaching). For $50 a year, you can become a sponsor of a particular animal and they'll send you photos and updates about how your sponsored animal is doing. You can for example sponsor this little fella [5][6]. [0] http://www.iapf.org/en/ http://www.iapf.org/en/ [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Anti-Poaching_Foundation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Anti-Poaching_Fo... [2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damien_Mander http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damien_Mander [3] http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org [4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Sheldrick_Wildlife_Trust http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Sheldrick_Wildlife_Trust [5] http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/asp/orphan_profile.asp?N=318 http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/asp/orphan_profile.asp... [6] http://instagram.com/p/sigT3IAUKb http://instagram.com/p/sigT3IAUKb

vibrio 8y ago
Yes, this. FYI: Charity Navigator gives the David Sheldrick trust a great (4of4 Stars) rating. Alas, the IAPF receives too little revenue to be rated, but is clearly a great organization and cause.
RIMR 8y ago
If the ban is lifted, donating to the International Anti-Poaching Foundation wouldn't accomplish much, since none of the elephant hunting would be illegal... There's also an elephant population problem in Botswana, so as sad is it may be, these measures are necessary.
- adamnemecek 8y ago
  Poaching goes on regardless of legal status. Also they work in other places besides Botswana.
CaptainZapp 8y ago
I've been to Botswana in 2008 and had a rather interesting conversation with one of our guides. To begin with, poaching is hardly a problem there since you have clean government and punishment for poaching is draconian. He disclaimed what he said with we won't like it (he's right). In Botswana you can buy a very expensive license to hunt Elephants. It's strictly controlled and you have a government representative monitoring you at all times and you get one try. Since so much of Africa is in turmoil Botswana has an overabundance of Elephants (those smart animals can sense where they're safe and migrate en masse to Botswana, which is a problem for the environment) so that I can understand where he's coming from and it's not that black and white. All that said: Yeah, I fucking don't like it. For starters: Elephants are just awesome creatures in so many respects. If I would have to describe them with one word this would be Zen. I also do not understand where the challenge is. You have some super high tech, monstrous weaponry and shoot such a huge animal. Hell! If you look for a challenge hunt field mice, not elephants. Shooting elephants, legally or not, indicates to me unhealthy sociopathic tendencies in a person. In no way do I want to discourage people to follow your suggestion (which I think is awesome) and there's no doubt that poaching is a huge problem in big parts of Africa. I just thought I could add some personal experience to the discussion. On a side note: If you ever have a chance to visit Botswana by all means: Do it. It was a life changing experience. And go camping with a tour operator, instead of staying in (very expensive) lodges. Not only is it far more affordable, you actually get to stay deep in the game parks. Lodges are outside, since commercial operations are not allowed in the (strictly controlled) parks. You can go individually, when you have a reservation, but only get to stay at the camp site near the entrance.
djrogers 8y ago
I’m not sure what your post has to do with the article, it’s not about poaching - it’s about culling potentially overpopulated areas to preserve poor farmers livelihoods.
- adamnemecek 8y ago
  Counteracting a blow to the elephant populations.
billions 8y ago
Botswana is a model country for Africa. It is ahead culturally, socio-economically and educationally of many countries in South America, Asia and even Europe. Conservation efforts over the last 20 years have been on par with Yosemite. It's important to build a full understanding of the problem before pushing solutions. Source: Visited Botswana in April

vibrio 8y ago

Yes, this. FYI: Charity Navigator gives the David Sheldrick trust a great (4of4 Stars) rating. Alas, the IAPF receives too little revenue to be rated, but is clearly a great organization and cause.

RIMR 8y ago

If the ban is lifted, donating to the International Anti-Poaching Foundation wouldn't accomplish much, since none of the elephant hunting would be illegal... There's also an elephant population problem in Botswana, so as sad is it may be, these measures are necessary.

adamnemecek 8y ago
Poaching goes on regardless of legal status. Also they work in other places besides Botswana.

CaptainZapp 8y ago

I've been to Botswana in 2008 and had a rather interesting conversation with one of our guides. To begin with, poaching is hardly a problem there since you have clean government and punishment for poaching is draconian. He disclaimed what he said with we won't like it (he's right). In Botswana you can buy a very expensive license to hunt Elephants. It's strictly controlled and you have a government representative monitoring you at all times and you get one try. Since so much of Africa is in turmoil Botswana has an overabundance of Elephants (those smart animals can sense where they're safe and migrate en masse to Botswana, which is a problem for the environment) so that I can understand where he's coming from and it's not that black and white. All that said: Yeah, I fucking don't like it. For starters: Elephants are just awesome creatures in so many respects. If I would have to describe them with one word this would be Zen. I also do not understand where the challenge is. You have some super high tech, monstrous weaponry and shoot such a huge animal. Hell! If you look for a challenge hunt field mice, not elephants. Shooting elephants, legally or not, indicates to me unhealthy sociopathic tendencies in a person. In no way do I want to discourage people to follow your suggestion (which I think is awesome) and there's no doubt that poaching is a huge problem in big parts of Africa. I just thought I could add some personal experience to the discussion. On a side note: If you ever have a chance to visit Botswana by all means: Do it. It was a life changing experience. And go camping with a tour operator, instead of staying in (very expensive) lodges. Not only is it far more affordable, you actually get to stay deep in the game parks. Lodges are outside, since commercial operations are not allowed in the (strictly controlled) parks. You can go individually, when you have a reservation, but only get to stay at the camp site near the entrance.

djrogers 8y ago

I’m not sure what your post has to do with the article, it’s not about poaching - it’s about culling potentially overpopulated areas to preserve poor farmers livelihoods.

adamnemecek 8y ago
Counteracting a blow to the elephant populations.

billions 8y ago

Botswana is a model country for Africa. It is ahead culturally, socio-economically and educationally of many countries in South America, Asia and even Europe. Conservation efforts over the last 20 years have been on par with Yosemite. It's important to build a full understanding of the problem before pushing solutions. Source: Visited Botswana in April