Investigation Reveals Wild Elephants Sold Into Captivity in UAE

In March 2022, a gaggle of untamed Namibian elephants landed within the UAE. An unique investigation by The New Arab reveals that the sale served to simulate an African safari expertise in Emirati zoos with no profit for the animals and Namibian locals, and violates worldwide protocols.

Initially captured from their pure habitat in Kamanjab, north-western Namibia in early September 2021, these African elephants — an endangered species — spent six months in quarantine captivity. They have been then closely sedated earlier than being loaded into transport containers, onto a airplane, and transferred to their last locations: the Sharjah Safari Park and Abu Dhabi’s Al-Ain Zoo.

For Emirati rulers, the tourism-driven African theme of their wildlife parks apparently mattered greater than the success of breeding programmes. It was made clear to Al-Ain Zoo Director Mark Craig that there have been no imports from Africa with a European Affiliation of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA)-accredited breeding programme as a result of previous ones had not been profitable. Arne Lawrenz, the EAZA Ex-situ Programme (EEP) coordinator for elephants, described the “philosophy” of the Emirati zoos as “I acquired the cash, I need to have it. I don’t care if that works.” The end result was a profitable deal finalised by way of middlemen reasonably than a non-commercial alternate between zoos.

After months of forwards and backwards between The New Arab and EAZA officers, throughout which TNA shared the data it obtained and questioned the position of the European affiliation’s members within the elephant sale, the EAZA determined to terminate the Al-Ain Zoo’s membership on September 15. John Grobler, a Namibian journalist concerned on this investigation, is planning to attract on this exposé to name for sanctions in opposition to Namibia on the CITES CoP 19 assembly in November, which is taken into account the world’s most vital annual summit on wildlife commerce.

Wildlife trafficking is the fourth most profitable illicit commerce on the planet, price an estimated USD 15 billion yearly. Is that this a case of unlawful elephant trafficking? Our unique investigation (click on right here) sheds gentle on the involvement of shadowy intermediaries, the violation of worldwide conventions on endangered species, the mistreatment of the elephants, and the dearth of long-term advantages for conservation or the African communities affected by their presence.

“Whereas all events concerned declare that the commerce was authorized and finished with the well-being of the elephants in thoughts, worldwide pointers have been clearly flouted, and concerned events have been seemingly conscious of this.”