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With Success Come Challenges: Rhino Update
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We've been here before. WILD was founded by Dr. Ian Player after he saved the White Rhino when their population was on the brink of extinction in the 1960's. Over a tumultuous 10 year period, the rhino population was successfully re-established and South Africa now stewards 80% of the world's rhino population.
Unfortunately, this success makes South Africa a prime hunting ground for poachers and poaching has increased at an alarming rate in the last 4 years. This year already, 118 rhinos have died in the first 70 days after having been left for dead when poachers brutally remove the horn while the animal is still alive. Click Here to watch a video regarding the current Rhino status. Viewer be warned: though the content is graphic, the video has been effective by increasing awareness as it has been viewed all over the world. Please join us in saving this modern day relic from the dinosaur age and sign this petition and then share it!
The Eastern Cape province in South Africa has the most black rhinos of all the other provincial authorities. They recently decided to concentrate their rhinos in three of their most highly secure Game Reserves, instead of having them dispersed across 18 Game Reserves. The technique of using helicopters to quickly move tranquilized rhino
(photo of flying rhino above) was carefully tested in Namibia where it was confirmed that this technique is far less stressful on rhinos than moving them by truck over long distance.
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Congratulations to
Chasing Ice!
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In 2005, National Geographic photographer and climate change skeptic James Balog went on assignment to Iceland to photograph some of the world's largest glaciers. This trip would open his eyes to the greatest story in human history unfolding before his very eyes, leading him to conceive the boldest challenge of his life: The Extreme Ice Survey.
Jim Balog brought his ideas to us at the very beginning of EIS, and WILD has been proud to have EIS as a WILD project and provide support and assistance. This innovative project documents short-term, rapid changes in glaciers, caused by global warming. EIS is the most wide-ranging study of glaciers ever conducted using ground-based, real-time photography. Since 2006, Balog's cameras have captured the only known images of landscapes that no longer exist.
Chasing Ice documents the expedition of EIS over several years and the challenges the team has come up against. The film premiered at Sundance Film Festival in late January and won the award for Excellence in Cinematography. It continued with momentum at Boulder International Film Festival and is now showing at South By Southwest. National Geographic has acquired the TV rights and will have a theatrical release in 2012. Congratulations Jim, Jeff, and EIS staff and crew for a job very well done that might just change the course of history...we hope. |
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| Trekking through the Everglades up to Georgia; Update from Florida Wildlife Corridor Expedition |  |
What happens when a photojournalist, a bear biologist, and a conservationist trek from the Everglades up to Georgia? Expanded awareness and concern for the waterways, species, farmlands, and industries they are researching! The expedition began in January in Oyster Bay Chikee and will end in late April in Okefenokee. The goals of the FWC are to: ● Protect and restore habitat and migration corridors essential for the survival of Florida's diverse wildlife, including wide-ranging panthers, black bears and other native species ● Restore water flow to the Everglades and sustain water supply to southern Florida ● Sustain the food production, economies and cultural legacies of working ranches and farms within the corridor ● Bolster local economies through increased opportunities such as hunting, fishing, birdwatching and other forms of eco-tourism ● Give wildlife and plants room to adapt to a changing climate and sea level rise
Follow the team on their trek!
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