The Ivory War

Scott Pelley On The Challenging War On Elephant Poachers

(CBS)  60 Minutes is going to take you to one of the last places where enormous herds of elephants -- hundreds of them -- range free across the African savannah. It’s remote, on the border of Chad and Sudan, and violent -- near Darfur, the scene of the civil war that became a genocide.

It wasn't so long ago, from 1970 to 1990, that nearly half the elephants in Africa, about 700,000, were slaughtered. Then, the species was saved by the world ban on the ivory trade. Since then elephants have done well in southern Africa. But in a different region, that knows no law, the hunt for elephants is on again.

In central Africa, where almost no one is looking, 60 Minutes ran into an ivory war.

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60 Minutes spotted a great herd of mothers leading infants, foraging in the Zakouma Wildlife Reserve in southeastern Chad. It’s a sight one might have expected in Africa 40 years ago, before the ivory slaughter of the 1970's and 80’s.

But it's the start of the wet season, and water is luring them out of the protection of the reserve and into danger.

"This is like a refugee camp. And everything else around it for hundreds of kilometers, hundreds of miles has been exterminated," Mike Fay, a world-renowned biologist working with the Wildlife Conservation Society and National Geographic, explains.

"A refugee camp for elephants?" Pelley asks.

"Yeah. Basically," Fay says. "It's the only place left with wildlife."

Zakouma lies in central Africa. About 150 miles away is Darfur. Soldiers, rebels and bandits prey on ivory to fund their operations and satisfy their greed.

Fay came to Africa as a Peace Corps volunteer nearly 30 years ago. He’s an explorer and naturalist who has made an alarming discovery. He spent two years counting Zakouma elephants from the air.

In his 2005 elephant survey, Fay says he counted 3,885 elephants.

The following year, there were only 3,050 elephants. "So we lost 835 elephants. Most elephants that die in Africa, the vast majority of them die prematurely at the hands of man," he says.

He proved it last year, capturing pictures of elephants killed only hours before. The poachers were still there. One man was even photographed shooting at Fay's plane.

"They always want more. So if they get ten elephants, they want 100. If they get 100, they want 1,000. And they won't stop until every single elephant is dead unless they meet resistance," Fay.

Resistance to poaching comes from Chadian park rangers, some of the toughest men we've found anywhere. There are 80 of them, mostly on horseback, patrolling the 1,200 square miles of the Zakouma refuge. The chief ranger is Nicola Talua.

"Most of your men are armed with AK-47s, this guy has a rocket propelled grenade, this guy up here has a machine gun mounted on his truck. This looks more like a war to me," Pelley points out.

"We have to be ready for war and stop the killing of elephants. The poachers wear no uniforms. They come here and open fire. In the face of such behavior, we are at war," Talua explains.

[mistered45]

Scott Pelly''s compelling report on the slaughter of elephants for the blatant consumption of ivory by our "friends" in Asia is very disturbing. With China at the source of countless recalls (toys to tires) isn''t it time for the American people to boycott products produced in that country? It seems that the "savings" companies are realizing by off-shore production are eaten up by these recalls. Wouldn''t it be better to keep the jobs in the USA, keep the wages in the USA and let American citizens spend their money on products and services made in the USA???

[somo88]

As though the slaughter of innocent people in Dafur and the suffering of refugees in Chad is not enough, Scott perry highlights the wasteful slaughter of the great African Elephants. What a waste it is to kill an Animal almost weighing a tonn for a less than 50 pound ivory, What a Waste? This problem will not go away unless there is the education of Africans to protect their natural resources not only from poachers but also from the vanity of the outsiders.

[mosesthedog]

Next time some Chicago school economist tells you capitalism is optimal, tell him I would gladly trade 1,000 economists of his ilk for one free range elephant, and it would still be a poor bargain.

If poachers are successfully being kept at bay elsewhere in Africa, why aren''t their methods being transferred to Chad? If China thinks people aren''t going to link the demise of the elephant to its people, they are sadly mistaken. China will never live this down if it continues to fuel this disaster.

[kadwell-2009]

I agree - really disturbing. Is there no limit to what people will do? Reducing demand is the best way to stop the slaughter. In lieu of that, does anyone know of the best nonprofit to support to help fight this problem? Any out there that directly support the rangers attempting to defend the elephants?

[barbarajable]

How can you show such a travesty without giving the viewer an outlet to help stop this! My husband made me leave the room because I had seen previews and wanted to watch. I give money to the David Shedrick Wildlife (Elephant) Sanctuary, the Elphant Sanctuary in Tennessee and many other animal groups. I am appalled that not one group has informed me of this or tried to stop it. I asked my husband if the segment had a happy ending and he said no. I work for a large company that is putting ALL it''s future investment in China. I do not want to invest in a country with no regards for animals. I have already seen what they do to cats and dogs. How about a story to explain how their outlook on life is formed and why is it so different from my own? I will continue my search to find a way to help these elephants.

[janah3]

It struck me as incredibly ironic to juxtapose this tragic story of the African elephants with the one about the megamillion dollar toys of megaego Tom Perkins. With a fraction of the money Tom Perkins spent on his "sailing yacht", or his sports car collection, he could end the impoverishment that gives poor Africans a rationale for slaughtering elephants because they need the money to feed their families. What kind of world do we live in when one person can spend close to $300,000 million on a totally unnecessary "toy" just to feed his ego! And he even mentioned that his money could be put to better uses. The elephants are a tragic example of what is happening all over the globe as human greed destroys, in one way or another, the future of many species. Some say we are in a period of a 6th great extinction. It would be heartening if some of these people with megamillions would spend that money to do some good in the world (at least some of them "get it" i.e. Bill Gates).
I agree, in the case of the new ivory trade, boycott all chinese made goods in protest and in protest of the trash china is dumping on the rest of the world!!!

[sharelcubed]

My sister & I were sickened by this heartwrenching story - these beautiful elephants are one more species to add to the list of "soon to be extinct in the wild" (joining orangutans, mountain gorillas, polar bears....) I agree - the story should have concluded with contact information so that viewers could forward funds and raise awareness. There are many ways to fight this battle short-term and long-term and those who care should be able to rally together. If anyone knows how we can directly support the group of rangers patrolling Zakouma, please advise - it''s tragic that these brave men are also losing their lives in this conflict. Until then, we will send funds to the Wildlife Conservation Society and hope these small steps can make a difference.

[resu279]

The 60 minutes expose regarding Ivory Wars sickened my heart. What a discouraging display of human greed and heartless behavior. I would have appreciated at least a hint of what what can be done to stop this outrageous waste of truly precious life.
Sandra B.

[kellyacci-2009]

I too, donate to The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Fund for The Elephant Sanctuary in Kenya and adopt these wonderful elephants.I have also donated to the de-snaring fund and the Tennessee Sanctuary as well
as many other animal groups. The segment on the Ivory War was hard to watch and eye opening to many people,I''m sure.More segments should be shown, as a
CONSTANT follow - up and ways in which we can help stop this poaching problem.I cannot emphasize how important it is to present such a tragedy and NOT include a way to help.
Another potential segment should be an expose` about
China, they eat ANYTHING that moves, whether it be slaughter of dolphins,whales or endangered species.
They affect the precious wildlife all over the world.
They take MORE than their share.It''s selfish and heartbreaking. Can we follow up PLEASE?

[sharelcubed]

I completely agree - follow up segments on this story would be very effective in moving people to action and preventing this crisis from disappearing off the radar. Save-the-Elephants.org is also engaged in this battle and we need to do what we can to draw attention to the brave efforts of such organizations.