Wildworks Photography

The lost Burning.

I have re written this post several times as what I feel I cannot write and what I cannot write is what I truly feel.
Certainly it is a dilemma.

I’ve always dedicated myself to helping the elephants of Africa best I can and focusing on those who live it but perhaps it’s not enough.

In Sept and Nov of 2023 there was horrific loss of two Super Tuskers in Tanzania near Amboseli from hunters. And now a third has been reported. Great Tuskers that roamed Amboseli safely. Tanzania is a country that allows hunting in certain areas and allows Trophy hunting. The Super Tuskers roam freely back and forth from Amboseli into Tanzania and the report is the Super Tuskers were killed by hunters in Tanzania, when they crossed out of the safe zone. There carcasses left burned and the identification as of now unknown. One report says a helicopter may have been used to push the Super Tusker out of the safe zone and into the hunting area. Criminal…

Perhaps we will never know what elephants they were as of post mortem it was impossible to determine. From what is known the trophy hunt was a permitted hunt and both hunting operators are known though would not divulge any info. The latest killing on March 1 2024 was Kilombero North Safaris and the client Rick Warren of Austen Texas. A known Big Game hunter who has taken 164 different African species. Both have gone offline since being this has been publicized.

This act and brutality is criminal in my view and certainly when the Tanzania Gov allows hunting of wildlife such as elephants who struggling for existence they are just as criminal. Tourism is what creates an economy in the country as without you have nothing. Trophy hunting is nothing but ego for the rich and has no value in an economy. Hunting outfitters who hunt in Africa will say its conservation and hunting helps a species but without question when killing wildlife that struggles for survival it is an ignorant comment and belief.

Fact.

THE TROPHY FEE TO HUNT A LARGE ELEPHANT IN TANZANIA FETCHES APPROXIMATELY $20,000, THE LIFETIME VALUE OF AN AVERAGE ELEPHANT FROM TOURISM IS ESTIMATED AT $1,607,625.

You could choose not support Tanzania as a whole and let the Government know they are destroying their own future by allowing hunting but some say you need to support as keeping the tourism and its economics to over shadow the hunting. It’s the pressure from Individuals and the public that changes things and those who can change policies need to be reminded that tourism is the key to success protecting the wildlife that is the driving force of the country. Not hunting.

Though I have been to Tanzania in the past I personally choose Kenya without question. Why I support a country that does not allow hunting and truly works on saving its wildlife existence. Let’s hope this ends as once they are gone they are gone forever.

Photos posted are not related to story..

There are amazing organizations that you can support. Please help the Elephants of Africa.

https://biglife.org/wildworksphoto

https://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/

https://tsavotrust.org

https://www.elephanttrust.org/

https://www.savetheelephants.org/

Elephants never forget.

Truly Elephants are a special species and have affected me personally such as Barsilinga whom I first spent time in his younger years and then in 2020. An elephant who brought me that special someone in life. Organizations such as Sheldrick one does not really understand the complexity of what they do. Having visited several times and as a stay in Ithumba the relationship the keepers build with these elephants is beyond amazing. If it wasn’t for this another chance at life for Barsilinga and others would not be possible. Get involved and you will understand even from afar. I made that decision years ago and it changed my life in ways I could never imagine. Please donate if you can and certainly tell others about DSWT.

The future of Elephants are in the hands of who supports. A gift that truly gives back.
https://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/

Click to see the Barsilinga’s call for help…

https://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/news/updates/barsilinga-call-for-help?

A Moment From The Past. “Roll with the Elephants”

Again I ask for your support for the Elephants in Africa and certainly the heroic work of Big Life Foundation. A memorable read from one of my experiences with Big Life. Click the link below and watch a short video. “Why We Roll with the Elephants” and perhaps even support with a contribution. Everything little is Big…

BIG LIFE - Mobile 2 Kimana. "Night of the Elie Ghost"

Transferring from IL MARBA to mobile 2 Kimana was something of a journey as we drove down the road passing goats freely grazing along the edge without regard for anything but vegetation. We took a sharp right turn into a dirt path and then another directly into low bushes bouncing our way deeper into bushes growing taller over the hood. I as amazed the driver Elijah could even guess what was underneath us as we continued this for a good 30 minutes if not longer. Mpu Mpu was the Senior Sargent of the Mobile team, Like Serue from IL MARBA the team leader. He solid looking Ranger who smiled largely and seemed pleased to have me along. We finally arrived as we turned under a enormous tree shaded tree. The team of 4 Rangers surrounded the truck as though they were waiting for goods but instead I stepped out. Faces puzzled as my arrival was not planned until I had met the truck on the road and given the choice. Another Outpost or a mobile camp. Obvious choice for me.
I was introduced I am guessing as most only knew a few words of English. I pitched my tent in a matter of minutes sandwiched with two others and then it was a a team photo at the tent. They seemed very proud this team more than the last. Mpu Mpu had leave so two of the Rangers took me for a walk to a OP - A high rock to observe the landscape and give me a rundown on how they operate here. Joel ,a young community Ranger was assigned to me as he spoke the best english. BIG LIFE teams always have a community ranger within the group as it is part of the dynamics that works. Trust and relationships as they are from the same area and know most everyone. An important piece of the puzzle. Again I was told about the continuing conflict with the Elie’s and the community but this area was the true alley and these Rangers worked both day shift and nights. Something I was about to experience. We returned to camp to get what little rest we could before nightfall arrived.
This team was patrolling a heavily poached area in the past but with their continued effort it had dropped immensely. The risk here is greater than IL MARBA as guns were the primary weapon used in the past. It is an Elie corridor to the gardens and again it is becoming human conflict vs Elie’s as the gardens are rich for food and the Elie corridor is shrinking.
We packed up after sunset and instead of a foot patrol we all pilled into the truck and head into the darkness toward some farms to head off the Elie’s of the night. It’s a practice that has worked but challenging as the Elie’s are not just a pushover. They are tricksters in the darkness who move fast and silent and when seen they vanish like ghost. I was about to see it first hand.
Mpu Mpu asked me to sit up front with Elijah and him but I hoped into the back of the covered truck so I can feel the ride so to speak. It was not a luxurious ride I can say that as you do not feel the pot holes and bumps until the after affects in the darkness. We drove to a field as the Poachers moon showed its face. They had not heard tis term but it hit home in their faces. We sat for long periods listening for the sound. A grumbling stomach of an approaching garden buster. The camouflage of a Zebra under the moon would pass us by with sound before sight and footsteps of unknowns I never saw. We moved several times frozen and then we heard screams in the dark distance. The radio crackled and we were off flying and dodging through the darkness of dim headlights inhaling the dust as it filled our tented truck. We arrived at a mass of villagers yelling and shouting a magical language as we turned a corner. Two rangers jumped from the back with flashlights in hand and headed into a field. Mpu Mpu asked me to come forward into the cab for safety.
After some conversations unknown they were back in the truck and we heard into a field swerving back and forth scanning with headlights and flashlights but no Elie. We drove into the darkness until we saw a villager pointing as a conversation was had as we passed. We drove along a fence and saw the Elie path of destruction and stopped. Again listening and flashlights were the tools of choice but again no Elie. You could what seemed to me frustration in the face of Mpu Mpu or perhaps it was amazement as they truly were silent movers. We drove point to point at times seeing tracks crossing but still no Elie. Villagers would say an Elie just passed so it was a cat and mouse game on a large scale. Seeing fences crushed in a few places and fresh dung and tracks we kept searching. At times reversing like the Elie. They are warriors of the dark and choose to be seen or not from what I could tell. These rangers do this every night with great success keeping the peace within the villagers and farms but this Elie was a true veteran of the garden party…
I was amazed how stealthy and sly they were even knowing what I know and hearing the stories of the past. A formidable creature that made me realize how truly smart they were. W tossed flash bangs into the thick bushes trying to flush this giant out but tonight was the Elie’s night. We worked this Elie till past midnight as we both weaved and dodged each other. So close at times as heat was rising from the eloquent trail left behind. Knowing the signs of a course change the Elie headed away from the gardens and we patrolled for a bit longer. We admitted defeat but not all was lost. Only a few fences damaged, crops were spared as the Elie never had a chance to indulge keeping him on the move. Villagers were happy as Big Life was there to help as they always are. Better a chase than a spear and better no sleep than a sleepless night of loss.
The sun rise is coming fast for another patrol..
Your support is greatly appreciated

https://vimeo.com/672901506.

WHY WE ROLL ELEPHANTS - Big Life Foundation Protecting over 1.6 million acres of wilderness in the Amboseli-Tsavo-Kilimanjaro ecosystem of East Africa, Big Life partners with local communities to protect

Merry Christmas from Wildworksphotography.

Give a gift that gives back. Links below.

https://biglife.org/wildworksphoto

https://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/orphans

Big can be small…

Though it’s’ been a difficult year for most it has certainly been a difficult year for the Elephants of Kenya and the Rangers who protect them. Wouldn’t it be nice to gift those who gift you constantly with the protection of wildlife with there life. Any small donation is something BIG.
It all adds up to something that makes a difference and Big Life will be grateful as I.

A simple link for a simple gift of any size and a BIg Thank you.

Wild Works Photography - Big Life Foundation Protecting over 1.6 million acres of wilderness in the Amboseli-Tsavo-Kilimanjaro ecosystem of East Africa, Big Life partners with local communities to protect