Formally a clearance diver with the Royal Australian Navy before serving with a Special Operations unit with the Australian Army and a Private Military Organisation in Iraq, Damien visited Africa in 2009 and found a new calling.

Witnessing first-hand the decimation that illegal poaching causes, he founded the International Anti-Poaching Foundation (IAPF) attacking the problem through training, education and conservation.

The IAPF provide free, specialised, ‘anti-poaching’ training at the IAPF Victoria Falls Ranger Training Facility where up to 40 local rangers can be trained at one time. Not only does this create a new industry for locals, but combined with the IAPF’s education programs and conservation efforts, change can occur from the ground up. That is, the concept that wildlife is more valuable to Africa alive and protected than dead and extinct.

The Black Rhino is the flagship species for the IAPF as it’s the hardest animal to protect. The horn of a rhino, on some black markets, can be worth more than gold and cocaine and can fetch anything from $30 to $130 per gram.

Its prized value is mainly due to demand in Asian medicine despite the fact that medicinal benefits have not been scientifically validated and remain largely mythical. China has banned the use of rhino in traditional medicine and now the biggest Asian market is Vietnam, with its popularity also rising in the Middle East.

The value of the rhino horn on the black market means the stakes are high, especially for the rhino which is illegally poached every 15 hours in Africa. At that rate, it’s estimated these amazing animals will be extinct in the wild by 2031. The past 50 years has seen the Black Rhino’s population drop from an estimated 100,000 in 1960 to about 2,500 today.

The IAPF certainly have their work cut out for them, with poaching on the increase; in 2011 approximately 448 Black Rhinos were poached in Africa, up from 33 in 2010 and 122 in 2009.

Poaching is big business with big backing as Damien explains: ‘You’re talking about one of the largest criminal industries in the world – illegal trafficking of wildlife. It’s up there with drugs, human trafficking and weapons. You’re talking about some major criminal syndicates from around the world who are involved with this. In a day’s work, we’re going up again guys who are using helicopters, automatic weapons and military tactics. It’s rough.’

Because the IAPF is protecting animals, they lack the resources these syndicates can throw at poaching. To find out more about the IAPF or donate to their cause click here.

This Hawaiian Sea Turtle story tells the story of a male who appears to be missing his mate ‘Honeygirl’ after she was senselessly murdered. So, do animals feel emotion? If you don’t believe it, this animal story may make you feel differently.

Was this turtle missing his mate? Tell us your view and also share your ‘animal emotion’ story here

Watch the video clip here:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Adore Animals, as a group of animal devotees, will keep providing information and education about animals, with the aim of inspiring positive solutions for the benefit of animals and fostering positive relationships between humans and animals.

We’ve kept most of the articles and stories that we posted as the Foundation on the site, so there’s always lots of information and resources to refer to. Of course, we’ll also be regularly posting new information.

We’ve also started a new category called Review which collates our book reviews, with more books and film to be added. If you’d like to add to this with a review of your own, that’s what this site is all about, so just use the contact page or contact us on our Facebook page (we’re still listed as Adore Animals Foundation). We’d love to hear from you.

If you’d like to know what we are now about, just visit our About Us page.

Remember, if you have information or a story to share let us know! There are so many (warming, heartbreaking, happy, tragic, inspiring, amazing – fill in the blank) stories out there and we want to share them to help make this world better for animals.

Photo: Greg Carter

There’s Cuddles the Crocodile, elephants Elsie and Edna (who like snoozing on the couch), Spock the Snake and Ringo with Rhino just to name a few.

With colourful pages and illustrations, this is a great introduction to the wonderful world of animals. (And the ‘roar’ page never fails to evoke a response!) Gorgeous.

Dry Water tells of Tammie’s exploits and adventures in Africa for 12 years while she worked in the safari industry, volunteered on wildlife projects and eventually undertook her PhD on the endangered Black-faced Impala of Namibia in Etosha National Park.

As well as caring for and observing animals, Tammie braved the language barrier, poachers, witchdoctors, the male-dominated society, being held at gunpoint, and the physical hardships to create a life for herself.

Her achievements include developing management plans for the critically endangered Black Rhino and the Black-faced Impala, working as an environmental consultant across Namibia and developing a project to reduce human-elephant conflicts at the request of the Chief of the Bushmen.

This is Tammie’s remarkable and inspiring story.

To view the book, click on the image below:

The new research project, Recovery of the Reef, has been developed by Earthwatch Australia together with the Australian Institute of Marine Science and is calling on volunteer divers to work with scientists to assess the growing prevalence of coral disease on the fringing reef surrounding Orpheus Island. It’s thought this landmark site is at risk from rising sea temperatures.

Executive Director of Earthwatch Australia, Richard Gilmore, says ‘volunteers will get to experience this unique marine park filled with an unusually wide variety of reef habitats, clam gardens as well as submerged indigenous sites and recent shipwrecks, while helping scientists understand more about the factors influencing the health of coral reefs.’

Richard says for the volunteers, ‘it’s a great way to experience something different, while making a difference to this important World Heritage Site.’

Research Scientist from the Australian Institute of Marine Science, Dr David Bourne, says ‘the research will review how the reef is recovering from recent cyclones and how such extreme physical stress on the reef systems influence coral disease outbreaks. The ongoing research will also assess the seasonal dynamics of coral diseases and the role of other ecosystems stresses such as light, temperature and water quality on disease progression.’

Dr Bourne says ‘working across a variety of dive sites, volunteers will conduct underwater surveys tagging and photographing diseased areas, which will then be monitored over time to assess the condition of the coral.’

Located 1189 km (739 miles) northwest of Brisbane, Orpheus Island is only 11 kilometres long and approximately one kilometre wide, most of which is national park dominated by eucalypts with patches of rainforest and grassland. Part of the Palm group of islands and within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, Orpheus Island offers secluded, sheltered bays, spectacular fringing reefs and stunning scenery.

The first Recovery of the Reef team kicks off on 12 March and runs through until 19 March, with a second team to follow on 30 August, 2012.

To sign up, call Earthwatch on 03 9682 6828 or click here to visit their website 

This remarkable story of friendship began twenty-two years ago at a circus when Jenny was a calf and Shirley was in her twenties. Back then, they only spent one winter together before they were seperated, but it was enough to form a bond that will now last a lifetime.

Twenty-two years later Shirley was taken to an elephant sanctuary to live out her days in freedom.

Solomon, Shirley’s human carer, sums up this beautifully (and emotionally). He says, ‘I don’t know who was the first to put a chain on her, but I’m glad to know that I was the last to take it off. She’s free at last.’

Here, in a remarkable twist of fate, she was reunited with Jenny. Watch their amazing reunion here. (you might need the tissues)

Thanks to Gillian for sending us this.

Promise of the Wolves

This is a coming of age story as young wolf pup Kaala fights to survive and seeks truth to fulfil her destiny in a mythical world of Greatwolves, Ancients and spirits. Promise of the Wolves is told by Kaala and immediately you are drawn into the world of wolf.

Author Dorothy Hearst consulted with leading animal behaviourists and experts from across the world; the result is a fascinating insight into wolf behaviour and pack dynamics in a simply told and well constructed novel. Promise of the Wolves is the first in a trilogy that combines science and research with the magic of storytelling, and is sure to leave readers yearning for more.

Australian readers can check the book out at Fishpond here:

International readers can see the book at Amazon here:

Australian radio and television personality, Myf Warhurst, celebrates World Animal Week with animal welfare organisation, Animal Aid.

The multi-talented, Australian entertainer has officially become ‘A Friend of Animal Aid’ where she’ll join Australian opera singers, Suzie Taylor and Tiffany Speight to help promote the Victorian animal welfare organisation and its programs, not only during World Animal Week but also for the long term.

Known for her music knowledge and humour, Myf has appeared on a number of Australian TV shows including Spicks and Specks, My Favourite Album and The 7pm Project.

Myf also has an extensive radio career hosting shows at Triple J, Triple M and the ABC and has also been a columnist for The Age. Myf’s unique style and charismatic presence on the small screen has given the Melbournian the reputation of being a much loved and admired all-round entertainer in Australia.

Myf, an avid animal lover with two cats of her own, recently visited the Animal Aid shelter in Coldstream to witness first-hand the amazing work done by the staff and volunteers.

‘Spending time at the Coldstream shelter gives you a true picture of the amazing work all the staff and volunteers do,’ says Myf.

‘The commitment and dedication of the staff and volunteers at Animal Aid is obvious, the level of care that they show all the animals while they are waiting to find a new home is inspiring’ she says. ‘If I can assist in some small way by helping Victorians learn more about the organisation and its life-saving work, we can make sure that more animals have their opportunity to get a second chance at life.’

World Animal Week runs from 4 – 11 October.

As we’ve discovered in previous articles, there are many and varied experiences that you can have with elephants in Asia. So, how do you find the ethical ones?

Let me step back for a minute and explain the history of the Asian elephant, once highly revered and domesticated for work and warfare. Far from the estimated population of hundreds of thousands of elephants centuries ago, according to the World Wildlife Fund for Nature, it’s estimated that between only 25,000 and 32,000 Asian elephants are now left in the wild. Since 1986, the Asian elephant has been listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN).

Today in Thailand, according to Boon Lott’s Elephant Sanctuary (BLES), their numbers are between 3,500 to 5,000 and currently ‘the notion of extinction is no longer just a concern; it’s the new reality’.

In 1989, the tradition of using elephants in industry ended, mainly due to irresponsible over-logging. The collapse of the industry created huge problems for the mahouts who had to find a way to pay for the care and upkeep of their elephants.

As discussed in previous articles, elephants eat up to 200 kilograms a day and on hot days need about 200 litres of water. With the ban of logging, mahouts had to find other ways to support their huge charges. This is why mahouts began begging in the streets and turned to illegal logging and to tourism via trekking, rides or entertainment.

Along the Thai-Burma border illegal logging still occurs. It is a dangerous environment where landmines are still hidden, the risk of fines is always present and injury or death could be just around the corner. To get the most from the elephants, they are often given amphetamines to reduce their appetite and increase their work output. Not only does this take a horrific toll on the elephant, it’s also unsustainable and many elephants simply die of overwork and starvation.

The tourism industry may be a viable alternative but it can be a tricky one, because there is always a risk of exploitation when animals and commercialisation meet.

The Elephant Asia Rescue and Survival Foundation says it ‘believes responsible elephant tourism can help to save the elephants throughout Asia but only if camps maintain the highest level of elephant care, food requirements, hygiene and environmental enrichment’.

So what does that involve?

Purists in the ethical elephant world do not encourage you to ride elephants, however some people, myself included, have experienced this on the neck of an elephant and loved it. The experience of simply touching an elephant – Dr Andrew McLean says like horses, elephants liked to be stroked – and being close to one of these beautiful giants is just as amazing though.

If you want to ride an elephant, the best experience for the elephant, and I believe for you too, is to ride on its neck (behind the ears) not on a trekking chair which goes on the elephant’s back. A fully-grown elephant can carry up to 150 kilograms on its back, but when you consider the weight of two people, the chair (it’s called a Howdah or saddle and alone can weigh 100 kilograms or more) and the mahout (who rides on the neck) you can see how this starts to be a heavy burden on the elephant.

In addition, some trekking camps overwork their elephants and leave the chairs on all day, which is unacceptable. The elephants can also be at risk of developing sores from where the trekking chairs are positioned on their backs and where they are attached – usually under their tail and legs.

Elephants need stimulation, enrichment and the freedom to behave naturally, which they cannot get if they are forced to cart people around all day with a heavy load.  They need a gentle, minimal amount of exercise per day for their physical and mental health, but should not be overworked. Depending on the temperature and the terrain, elephants should not be made to walk at a brisk pace for more than four hours a day. They also need their rest time.

Another thing to look out for at camps is the use of the bullhook. When used properly by a mahout, a bullhook can be used to guide the elephant. Unfortunately, bullhooks are often misused and, if you see bloody wounds on an elephant’s head or under their armpits or inside their ears or mouth, it’s likely the elephant is being mistreated. As in my experience, you may be told it’s necessary and doesn’t hurt the elephant, but this is untrue.

When the elephant is not working, ensure that where it’s being kept has plenty of food and fresh water and is sheltered from the elements, as it can get very hot in many parts of Asia. Remember that elephants eat a lot and should spend between 14 to 18 hours a day eating. They should be provided with a balanced diet including fresh fruits (which they love). Feeding areas should be away from where elephants defecate and urinate. You wouldn’t like to stand in your excretions and neither do they.

Watching an elephant closely can give a good indication of its health and happiness. Healthy elephants move almost constantly; swishing their tail to keep annoyances like flies away and flapping their ears to cool themselves. If these actions are absent, it could be a sign of ill-health.

A sign of great disturbance, is when an elephant ‘rocks’. This is a movement where they sway from side to side continually, sometimes with their whole bodies and sometimes swinging their legs with the action. It’s distressing to see and, according to The Elephant Asia Rescue and Survival Foundation, is ‘an indicator of deep stress, boredom and a lack of environmental enrichment and a sure sign of elephant cruelty that needs to be addressed’. Click here to see an example

Elemotion, a non-profit foundation educating the public to improve elephants’ lives, also claim that this rocking from side-to-side behaviour in elephants is not seen in the wild and elephant experts believe it is a sign of nervousness and stress.

The best place to visit elephants is in their natural environment, or as close to it as possible (which becomes more and more difficult as natural habitat is destroyed). You can, however, find these environments at camps or sanctuaries where there are places for the elephants to roam and feed away from tourists and where the needs of the elephants – not the tourists – come first. Look for camps with ‘low impact’ activities that are easy on the elephants but still provide an income to their mahouts.

One place where you can ride elephants in Thailand in an ethical environment is Baan Chang Elephant Park a relatively new elephant camp north of Chiang Mai.

The owner of this Park, Pom, worked as an elephant trekking guide but became increasingly upset at the long hours and amount of work the elephants were forced to do. So, he decided to use his savings and start his own elephant park offering a newer and gentler type of elephant activity called Elephant Mahout Training.

At Baan Chang Elephant Park visitors can learn what it’s like to be a mahout. They teach visitors about the importance of elephant care and husbandry including correct eating, sleeping, bathing and exercise. One method of providing gentle exercise for the elephants and an amazing learning experience for the visitor is to allow them to ride elephants naturally behind their ears without the use of a trekking chair.

At the Park, there are no elephants painting or being trained to perform tricks. The Park is also against separating baby elephants from their mother. They do, however, rescue and provide care for orphaned baby elephants. Ban Chang Elephant Park is currently home to 12 rescued elephants, most of which were formerly used in street begging.

In Laos, about one hour outside of Luang Prabang is the Elephant Park Project. In the very relaxed Laos, the elephants here have also been rescued from logging. The mahouts are gentle with them, and have little to no use of the bullhook and they are provided plenty of rest and bath time and feeding at night away from the camp.

Like the Baan Change Elephant Park, they provide a mahout experience. A couple of things aren’t perfect about the Elephant Park Project. Although the majority of riding is on the elephant’s neck, they still use some trekking chairs. If you visit, request that they don’t use it for you or your friends. The elephants visit a different part of the forest every night and they are chained, due to their close proximity to neighbouring villages. Although this is not an ideal practice, in this neck of the woods, it is necessary for the welfare of both the elephants and the villagers.

In Laos, the elephant population is now thought to be between only 500 to 1,000 – which is devastating. Two of the elephants at the Park, Mae Cot and Mae Boun Nam, are blind in one eye, in their 60s and the best of friends. I absolutely, without question, fell in love with both of these magnificent, gentle creatures – the grand old dames of the Elephant Park Project.

Mae Cot was such a sweetie and preferred to receive her bananas (that we lavished upon her and the others) via her mouth not her trunk. I also learnt pretty quickly that it was best to serve her from her ‘good eye’ side – which not only made sense, but gave her a good view of who to manipulate into providing more! She indeed remembered me every day and was such a sweet creature.

Mae Cot is the perfect example of the capacity of elephants to forgive humans for their abuse. She had a distinctive kink in her tail that was a result of a logging accident, as was her blind eye. After years of abuse, she now seems happy in her new home and was a clear favourite with the mahouts.

Two other parks that offer up-close experiences with elephants, but no riding, is BLES run by Katherine Connor and her team – mentioned in previous articles – and the Elephant Nature Park (ENP) an hour north of Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand. Its founder Sangduen Lek Chailert, began her love affair with elephants early in her life, rescuing injured and mistreated elephants in 1992 and in 2003 established Elephant Nature Park. Lek is a true voice for Asian elephants and has been the subject of several documentaries. Among many accolades, she was named a Hero of Asia by Time Magazine in 2005 for her dedication to elephants.

ENP is home to 35 rescued elephants who are now free to roam, eat and play to their hearts’ content. They can wander down to the river for a splash or a roll in the mud or join in at feeding time at the visitors’ platform. Their elephants are free to choose their own family group and can have as much or as little human interaction as they choose.

If you would rather walk beside an elephant than ride on top of one, BLES and the ENP are the perfect places for an unforgettable up-close elephant experience.

Ethical interactions with elephants:
Laos:
Elephant Park Project.
Thailand:
Baan Chang Elephant Park
Elephant Nature Park (ENP)
Boon Lott’s Elephant Sanctuary (BLES)