Paula Kahumbu, a world-renowned wildlife conservationist and the CEO of WildlifeDirect, has issued an urgent call to President William Ruto to take immediate action to protect the remaining population of the world’s largest elephants.
These elephants, known as ‘super tuskers’, inhabit the Amboseli ecosystem and are at risk of extinction due to cross-border trophy hunting in Tanzania.
In a poignant post on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Saturday, August 10, 2024, Kahumbu revealed the alarming rate at which these majestic creatures are being hunted.
She stated that four super tuskers have already been lost to hunters in Tanzania over the past eight months, leaving only 10 of these giants remaining.
“@WilliamsRuto Good evening your Excellency, we urgently need to address the kîlling of our cross-border super Tusker elephants. We lost 4 to hunters in Tanzania in the last 8 months, now, only 10 remain. They are easy to hunt as they are habituated to pèople and vehicles in Amboseli,” Kahumbu wrote.
Kahumbu warned that if the hunting continues unabated, the remaining elephants could be extinct within just one to two years.
She implored President Ruto to engage with Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan to halt the hunting and protect these irreplaceable animals.
“Please talk to @SuluhuSamia on Monday 12th August, WORLD ELEPHANT DAY with the aim of reaching an agreement on saving our giants,” she wrote on X.
Online petition
Kahumbu has also launched an online petition urging President Suluhu to put an immediate end to trophy hunting that threatens the Amboseli elephants.
She emphasized the scientific, ecological, and economic value of these elephants, which are not only crucial for maintaining the population’s genetic diversity but also serve as a significant attraction for tourism—a vital sector for both Kenya and Tanzania.
“Dear President Suluhu. We, the globàl community of conservationists, wildlife enthusiasts, and concerned citizens, urgently appeal to your esteemed office for the immediate ban on elephant trophy hunting within the Tanzania range of the Amboseli elephants.
“This unique cross-border population, shared with Kenya, is under dire threat following the issuance of new hunting licenses that disrupt a 30-year-old agreement vital for their protection,” Kahumbu wrote in her petition.
“The targeted elephants are males in their reproductive prime and, with tusks symbolizing their grandeur, are criticàl for maintaining the population’s genetic propensity for large tusks, which are a major draw for tourism, a vital sector for both our countries.
“The hunting of these individuals undermines conservation efforts, disrupts the social structure of elephant communities, and poses a significant threat to the future of this population,” she added.
KWS Veterinary and Capture team observe a lone elephant from the air. PHOTO/@KWSKenya/X
Kahumbu urges Suluhu to ban trophy hunting and also collaborate with Kenya to save the Amboseli super tuskers.
“Specifically, we appeal to you to formalize regulations to ban hunting of elephants in Enduimet Wildlife Management Area, Narco Ranch, Longido GCA, Lake Natron East GCA, and Lake Natron North GCA.
“Collaborate with Kenya to find alternative conservation strategies that ensure the Amboseli elephants’ protection, preserving them as a shared heritage and a testament to our collective commitment to conservation.”
The conservationist has made a rallying call to as many pèople as possible to sign the petition to create globál awareness about the plight of the world’s largest elephants.
As World Elephant Day approaches on August 12, the call to action has never been more criticàl.
Kahumbu’s appeal is a stark reminder of the fragility of these magnificent creatures and the urgent need for international cooperation to preserve them for future generations.
