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2016YearEndReport

“Elephantscannotbemanufactured.Oncethey’regone,theycannotbereplaced.”

—Dr.IainDouglas-Hamilton,DPhil,CBE, FounderandCEO,SavetheElephants

TableofContents

Wearedeeplygratefultothephotographerswhohaveallowedustousetheirphotosforthisreport.Photocreditsinclude:FrankafPetersens:FrontCover,Page2,Page3,Page7,Page10,Page18,Page27,BackCover/SusanMcConnell:Page8/TomStahl:Page9,Page19

ExecutiveSummary 4TheContinentalPictureForElephants 5-6NineKeyElements 7FinancialStatement 8Testimonials 9ProjectUpdates 10Anti-PoachingProjects 11-12Anti-TraffickingProjects 13-15DemandReductionProjects 16-17StoriesFromTheField 19-23Anti-PoachingProjectsMap 24Anti-TraffickingProjectsMap 25DemandReductionProjectsMap 26

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ExecutiveSummaryhilecommittedconservationistsacrossthecontinenthavemadegreatstridesoverthepastyear,Africa’selephantsarestillindeeptrouble.TherearesignsthatthesituationisimprovinginplaceslikeKenya,butelephantsarestillbeingkilledfortheirivoryatanunsustainablerateinotherpartsoftheircontinent.

NewcontinentalreportsbyboththeWorldConservationUnion(IUCN)andVulcanInc.releasedthisyearconfirmtheperilousstateofelephants.

TheElephantCrisisFund(ECF)workstosupportthebesteffortsfromorganizationsworkingtosaveelephants.Indeed,theECFfundsideas,notjustwell-knowninstitutions,enablingorganizationslargeandsmall,internationalandgrassroots,tohaveaccesstoemergencyandinnovationfundingtoendthesewildlifecrimes.TheECFisalsonimbleandhighlyefficient,with100%ofdonatedfundsgoingdirectlytoactionstosaveelephants,andzerooverhead.Supporterscanrestassuredthatthefundsgototrustedprojectsandinstitutions,aseachisassessedfortheirpotentialimpactusingSavetheElephants’profoundknowledgeofelephantsandAfricanconservationorganizations,aswellasitsdeepnetworkofcontacts.Todate,theECFhasfunded114projectsand45organizationsin25differentcountriesacrossAfricaandAsia.

OrganizationssupportedbytheECFhavemadegreatstridesinelephantprotectioninthelastyear.Inmoreandmorecoreelephantareas,eveninsomeisolatedones,territoryisbeingreclaimedfromthepoachers.

Wehaveprovidedairsupport,radiocommunications,andspecializedtrainingforanti-poachingrangersinthefield.Wehavesupportedradio-collaringofelephantssorangerscantracktheirlocationsandprovide“closeprotection”services.TheECFhasalsosuppliedspecializedsoftwareandhardwarethatenablerapidreactionunitstouseintelligencegatheredfrominformernetworkstoguidetheirmissions.Thankstosomeofthebestpeopleandorganizationsinthebusiness,thisintegratedapproachisnowworkinginAfrica’sforestenvironmentswheremovement,observation,andcommunicationsaremuchmorechallengingthaninsavannahs.

Theabilityofourpartnerstostopillegaltradershasgreatlyexpandedinthelastyear.Inninecountriesandacrossmanybordersouranti-traffickingworkisleadingtoaclearerunderstandingoftheillegaltradenetworksandhowtostopthem.Lawenforcementagencies,andtheirspecialunitswithinthepoliceorwildlifeauthorities,havebeensupportedbycollaboratingnonprofitswhichhelptostrengthentheircapacityandhonetheirskills,resultinginanimpressiveincreaseinarrests.Withtrainingofprosecutorsandthejudiciary,thesearrestsareincreasinglyleadingtofargreatersentences—makingtheseactionsagainstelephantsaseriouscrime.

Ourunderstandingoftraffickingnetworksisimprovingfast,butwerealizethatthenextstepofbringingdownthesekingpinswillbemoredifficult.Detailedinvestigationsandstrongevidenceareneededtothwartthesepowerfulanddangerouscriminals.Thetypeofsupportweareprovidingtoourpartnersisshiftinginresponsetothisnewneed,withmorementoringinareaslikeevidencechainofcustody.

MomentumtoclosedownivorymarketsgatheredpacethisyearfollowingthelandmarkjointdeclarationbetweenPresidentObamaandPresidentXiJinping—announcingthatbothChinaandtheU.S.wouldshuttertheivorytradewithintheirnations.Inperhapsthegreatestsignofprogressindemandreduction,ChinajoinedtheU.S.asapowerfulvoiceincallingforunitedactiontoenddomesticivorymarketsontheinternationalstageatkeyglobalpolicymeetings.ECFpartnersareworkingtohelpChinacreateadomesticbanthatiseffective,timely,andenforceablewhilealsoensuringpublicsupport.Meanwhile,ECFsupportedfieldinvestigationshaveshownanemergingthreat;aswemoveclosertoabanontradeinmainlandChina,marketsaremushroominginneighboringcountriessuchasHongKong,Vietnam,Laos,andCambodia.ThesecountrieswillbeanincreasingfocusoftheECF’sinvestmentstoreducedemandforivoryandensurethativorystaysonelephantsthatareabletoroamacrossthewildsofAfricainsafety.

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ByDr.ChrisThoulessManageroftheElephantCrisisFun&StrategicAdvisortoSavetheElephants

eknowmuchmoreaboutthestatusofAfrica’selephantsthanwedidayearago.Twolandmarkstudieshavebeenproduced;thefirstisapapersummarizingtheresultsoftheGreatElephantCensus,carriedoutbyVulcanInc.andcollaborators,inwhichthelargestsavannahelephantpopulationswerecountedfromtheair.ThesecondistheAfricanElephantStatusReport2016,

whichbroughttheseresultstogetherwithotherinformationfromtherestofAfrica,includingnewresultsandanalysesfromtheforests,toshowhowtheoverallstatusofelephantshaschangedinthelasttenyears.

AschairoftheAfricanElephantSpecialistGroup’sDataReviewWorkingGroupItooktheleadincollectingandreviewingtheinformationandwritingthereport.Bringingtogetherdatastreamsonelephantlossacrossthecontinentenabledthedevelopmentofscience-drivenguidancefortheElephantCrisisFund’sinvestmentpriorities.

Thepictureforelephantsisnotgood,thoughitisevidentthatthereportedlevelsofpoachingarelowerinsomeimportantplacesthantheywerethreeorfouryearsago.Overall,elephantnumbershavedeclinedsubstantiallyacrossAfrica,withcountriesinsouthernAfricathathadpreviouslyseemedsafebeinghithard.Thecontinentalpopulationhasfallenbyatleast110,000elephantsoverthepast10years,andperhapsconsiderablymore,givenhowlittleweknowaboutwhatishappeningintheforestsofCentralAfrica.Sincethestartoftherecentpoachingupsurgein2009,itislikelythat20-30%ofAfrica’selephantshavebeenlost.MorethanhalfoftheknowncontinentaldeclinecomesfromTanzania,whichinthemid-1970sheldthelargestelephantpopulationinAfrica.

However,therearesignsofhope.In2016lawenforcementagencies,manyofthemsupportedbytheECF,causedseriousdisruptiontotraffickingnetworks,makinganumberofhighprofilearrests.PoachinghasbeenreducedtomanageablelevelsinKenyaandinUgandawhererecentaerialcountsindicatethatelephantpopulationsarestableorincreasing.

Insomeareasthekillinghasdecreasedonlybecauseelephantshavebecomerareanddifficulttofindduetopoachingandbecausetheyfleefromhumanpresence.Poachersthenmoveontonewtargets,suchasthelargerherdsofsouthernAfrica.PoachinghasincreasedinZambiaandovertheborderinZimbabwe,aswellasinKrugerNationalParkinSouthAfrica.Further,thereareworryingsignsofanupsurgeofkillinginBotswanaandNamibia.BeyondsouthernAfrica,beleagueredstrongholdssuchastheNiassaReserveinMozambiqueandGarambaNationalParkintheDemocraticRepublicofCongo(DRC)areunderintenseandincreasingthreat.Wehaveprojectsinallthesehotspots,andwemustdomuchmore.

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TheContinentalPictureForElephants

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Gabon,thelastmajorrefugeforforestelephants,isunderunprecedentedassault,butduetodenseforestcoveritisdifficulttoaccuratelyassessthescaleandextentofthepoachingandtoprotectsuchavastarea.Inresponse,theElephantCrisisFundishelpingthegovernmentofGabonshoreupitsanti-traffickingandintelligenceworktorootoutcriminalsyndicates.WehavealsosuppliedatrackingappdevelopedbySavetheElephantsandpoweredbyVulcanInc.,tothemanagementofWongaWongueNationalParkincentralGabontotestnewapproachestofollowanddefendtheseelusiveforestelephants—anapproachthatmaybescaledacrossGabon.ForestelephantselsewherearealsobenefittingfromECFinvestments,inplaceslikeOdzalaNationalParkandNouabalé-NdokiNationalParkintheRepublicofCongo.

WhileitisimprobablethatAfricanelephantswillbecomeextinctinthewildinthenearfuture,smallisolatedpopulationssuchasthoseinWestAfrica,incountrieslikeMali,areinrealdangerofdisappearing—althoughwehavebeensurprisedbyhowmanyhavesurvivedinthemostdifficultcircumstances,atributetotheadaptabilityofelephants.Eventhoughthenumbersintheseareasmaybetrivialinacontinentalcontext,theyareimportantforconservationatanationallevel.TheECFhasplayedacriticalroleinhelpingpreservesmall,overlookedpopulationsincludingthoseinGuinea,Nigeria,andEthiopia.

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OneGoalTheElephantCrisisFund’sonlygoalistoendtheivorycrisis.WewelcomethedaywhenthatgoalisachievedandtheECFcanbewounddown.

100%Allfundsraisedgotothemosteffectivepartnersandprojectsinthefield.EvenbanktransferfeesarepaidbytheWildlifeConservationNetwork,separatelyfromyourdonation,ensuringeverycentofeverydollardonatedforelephantsgoestoelephants.

CollaborationNosingleorganizationcansolvethisglobalproblem.TheECFisfocusedonendingtheivorypoachingcrisisthroughunitingdiverseactorsintoconcertedactionforwildlife.Onlytogethercanwesaveelephants.

Ideas,NotInstitutionsTheECFseeksoutthebestandmosturgentinitiativestoaddresstheivorycrisis,regardlessofwhopresentsthem.Weseektosupporttheproposalswiththemostpotential,nomatteriftheycomefromlarge-scaleinternationalorganizationsorlocalfieldoperations.

Data-DrivenSavetheElephantsisattheheartofscientificunderstandingofelephantsandtheirstatus.With50yearsoffieldexperienceandadeepnetworkacrossthecontinentandaroundtheworld,theECFisabletotargetstrategicprioritiesacrossAfrica,withsharpfocusandduediligence.

PioneeringTheECFsupportsconservationinnovation,thensharessuccessfulconceptswithotherpartnersandprojects.ExamplesofsuchinnovationincludeGPStrackingtechnologies,ivoryDNAanalysis,andcourtroomaccountabilityefforts.

Range-WideWebelievethatelephantconservationisnotjustaboutnumbers;weareconcernedabouttheconservationofsmall,butregionallysignificantpopulationsaswellaslargepopulations.Wehavesupportedelephantconservationin22rangestates.

RapidResponseTimingmatters.Delaystobiggovernmentgrantsandgapsinfinancingcansabotageconservationefforts.TheECFcandeployemergencyfundswithin24hours.

MinimalBureaucracyWeuseourunparalleledpracticalknowledgetofindthebestpartnerstosupport.Werelyonthisknowledgeandfield-basedduediligencetosolicitvetted,targetedprojectsandensurepaperworkisminimized.

NineKeyElementsofTheElephantCrisisFund

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FinancialSummaryearepleasedtoreportthattheElephantCrisisFundhasraisedover$10.3MsinceitslaunchinMay2013,andwithyourhelp,we’veraisedmorethan$2.4Min2016alone(atthetimeofthiswriting).Withpoaching,trafficking,anddemandforivorystillatcrisislevels,wehavedevelopedanewgoaltoraiseatotalof$15MbyMay2018.

AsofNovember1,2016,atotalof$7,921,709hadbeenallocatedtowardsthemosturgentandinnovativeelephantconservationprojects.ThereremainsapipelineofcriticalprojectsunderdevelopmentandSavetheElephantsandtheWildlifeConservationNetworkcontinuetheirmissiontoraisefurthersupporttoensurethefundingofthesecrucialactions.

TheReturnsonYourInvestment:ElephantCrisisFundSupporttoStoptheKillingofElephantsandtheTraf=ickingandDemandforTheirIvory

Theworldhasunitedaroundasimplestrategytosaveelephantsfromthescourgeoftheivorycrisis:StoptheKilling,StoptheTrafficking,andStoptheDemand.TheECFhasbeenacatalyticanddeepinvestorineach.

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“OverthepastfewyearsECFhasprovidedtimelyfundingtoprotectcriticalpopulationsofelephants,dismantlepoachingnetworks,traineliterangerteams,andstopthedemandforivory.Weapplaudyourworktopromotecollaborationandrapidresponsestothemostcriticalthreatstoelephants,andareproudtobeapartoftheseefforts.”CristiánSamper,PresidentandCEO,WildlifeConservationSociety

“AfricanParksisresponsibleforbetween25%and100%ofthenationalelephantpopulationsoffivedifferentcountriesinAfrica.TheElephantCrisisFundhasbeenanessentialpartnerinprovidingsupporttosomeofourconservationefforts,usuallyattimeswhentheneedforinterventionhasbeenurgent.InparticularECFenabledustoovercomeanescalatingpoachingprobleminLiwondeNationalParkinMalawithroughtherapiddeploymentofrangersbyhelicopter;andhelpedusestablishanintelligencenetworkaroundGarambaNationalParkinDRC…ECFlivesuptoitsnamebydeliveringresourcestothefield,whereweneedthemmost.”PeterFearnhead,ChiefExecutiveOfficer,AfricanParks

“TheElephantCrisisFundsponsoredbySavetheElephantsandWCNhasbeenrecognizedasanimportantleaderintheeffortstoslowtheepidemicofslaughteroftheAfricanelephantherds…ThevoiceofAfricanconservationisloudandclearaboutelephantsandivorytoday;stopthekilling,stopthetrafficking,andstopthebuying.TheAfricanWildlifeFoundationhassupportedtheElephantCrisisFundalongwithWCN,WildAid,andotherconservationentitiesandIurgeyoutoalsojointhiscollaborativeeffortforurgentelephantconservationeffortsnow.”DavidThomson,Chair,AfricanWildlifeFoundation

“WehaveseenChinaandHongKongannouncebansonsalesofivory,afiftypercentincreaseinawarenessofpoachingasaproblemanddeclinesinthewholesalepriceofivoryfrom50–80%insomecases.ThiswasonlypossiblewiththesupportofourpartnersatSavetheElephantsandAfricanWildlifeFoundationandthroughthevitalfundingfromtheElephantCrisisFund.”PeterKnights,FounderandCEO,WildAid

“ThesupportthattheElephantCrisisFundhasprovidedtoprojectsinFFI’sAfricaProgrammehasbeeninvaluable.ECFhasdeliveredfundingandtechnicalsupportquicklythathasbothallowedustoaddressemergingorchangingthreatsandbeflexibletothesituationontheground.”AlisonMollon,AfricaDirector,Flora&FaunaInternational

“Thebeautyofthisinitiativeisthatitoftenfillsavacuumofsupportforthemyriadofsmall,butdedicatedandextremelyeffective,groupsandindividualsinvolvedintacklingtheillegalivorytrade;groupswithoutahighprofileorcelebritystatuswhobattletheinternationalcriminalnetworksengagedinthisinsidioustradefromAfricathroughtotheendmarkets.Itisextremelyrefreshingtoseetheemergenceofadonorwhoispreparedtoinvestinwhatareoftenconsideredintangiblegoalsandoutputs,butwhichnonethelessareapowerfulcatalystforpositivechangeandenforcementaction.”MaryRice,EnvironmentalInvestigationAgency

Testimonials

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ProjectUpdates

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Anti-PoachingSTOPTHEKILLING:ANTI-POACHINGINVESTMENTS

oachingnetworksareconstantlylookingfornewelephantstotargetfortheirivory,andconservationpartnersacrossAfricastruggletooutpacethesecriminals.TheElephantCrisisFund(ECF)supporthasexpandedtheanti-poachingeffortsofacoalitionofthesepartners.In2016the

ECFcontinueditssupportfor“bootsontheground”and“eyesinthesky”projectstokeepelephantssafe—andhasacceleratedinvestmentinemergencyresponses,intelligence-ledanti-poachingpatrols,andnewapproachestosatellitetrackingofelephantmovementsforgreatersecurity.

TheECFprovidesemergencysupportwhereeitherapoachingcrisishaseruptedorafundingshortfallhasoccurred.WhenahelicopterwasdamagedbymachinegunfirefrompoachersinGarambaNationalParkinanincidentinwhichfourrangerswerekilled,theECFsteppedinandprovidedemergencyfunding.Within32hoursareplacementhelicopterwasbackintheairconductingsurveillanceoperations,survivingrangerswerereinforced,andAfricanParksNetworkwasabletoensuresupporttothegrievingfamiliesofthefallen.AspoachingacceleratedinthevastNiassaReserveofnorthernMozambique,oneofthelastmajorstrongholdsforelephants,theECFinvestedinaradiosysteminonecoreareatoallowmoreefficientrealtimedeploymentofrangersandforthemtocommunicatewhenpoachingattackshappened.Whenfundingisatriskofrunningdrybeforeadditionalcommitteddonationscanarrive,theECFhassteppedintoprovidecontinuityofprotectionforelephantsunderpressureinplaceslikeZambiaandZimbabwe.

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Photocredit:FrankafPetersens

Helicoptersaresometimestheonlywayofprovidingrangerswithaccesstoremotepartsofprotectedareasandcanbecriticaltosuccessfulenforcement.ThishelicopterinLiwonde,Malawi,wasfundedbytheECFtoassistAfricanParkswithpatrolsduringthewetseason.

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Anti-PoachingTheconservationcommunitylackstheresourcestoensurerangerpatrollingspanstheAfricanelephantrange.Deploymentofpatrolsmustbestrategicandtargetedandintelligence-led.Intelligencegatheringallowspartnerstoworkmoreefficiently,deployingtroopsattherightplacesandtherighttimetominimizethevulnerabilityofelephantsandotherwildlife.Whileintelligence-ledpatrollinghasprovensuccessfulinsavannahhabitats,increasedECFinvestmentsintheforestsoftheCongoBasinshowthatthisintelligence-drivenapproachmayalsobepossibleinforesthabitats.Forexample,withECFsupport,theWildlifeConservationSocietyisusingthisintegratedapproachtolawenforcementintheforestsofNouabaléNdokiNationalParkintheRepublicoftheCongo.Informationoncriminalmovementsguidesanti-poachingactions,anddatagatheringbyrangersfurthersupportsprosecutions.

ThisapproachprovedeffectiveinJuly2016whenagroupofnewlytrainedrangersdiscoveredapoachers’campwhilepatrollingtheNdokiRiveraroundthepark’speriphery.ThepoachersopenedfirewithAK-47sbuttherangers,whohadbeenequippedbytheECFandtrainedinsmall-unittactics,fannedout,firedbackandeventuallyseizedthecamp.TheyrecoveredsixpairsofelephanttusksandanAK-47withsixemptymagazineclips.Therangersthenusedtheirsatellitephonestoalertarapid-reactionunittosetuproadblocksalongnearbyloggingroads.TheymanagedtocaptureSamuelPembele,amainplayerinoneofthemostnotoriousivory-traffickinggroupsinnorthernCongo.Pembele’scaptureprovedparticularlyfruitfulasheprovidedinformationtoauthoritiesaboutothersinthetraffickinggroup,includinganotherringleader.PembelewastriedonNovember15thintheSanghaRivertownofOuéssoanddespiteabriberyattempt,wassentencedtofiveyearsimprisonment.SuchstoriesareincreasinglyreplicatedacrossAfrica,thankstoyoursupportoftheElephantCrisisFund.

TRACKINGFORSECURITY

TheECFisnotonlyrespondingurgentlytopoaching,butisalsodevelopingandfundinginnovation.Oneofthemostsignificantinnovativeinvestmentsinvolvesradio-trackingelephantstogivelawenforcementmanagersreal-timedatafortacticalandstrategicpurposes.SavetheElephants,alongwithPaulAllen’sVulcanInc.,havedevelopedanappthatallowscollaredelephantstobetrackedfromalmostanywhere—insecuredcontrolroomssetupinnationalparks,onfootorinLandRoversinthebush,orinaircraftpatrollingtheskies.

Whenacollarindicatesanelephanthasstoppedmovingandhasbeenkilled,arapidresponsewillimprovethechancesofinterceptingthepoachersbeforetheycanmaketheirescape.SavetheElephantsisworkingtotryandreducethetimebetweenanelephantfatalityandtheinformationbeingreceivedinthefieldinordertomaximizethechancesofasuccessfularrest.Suchrapidresponsetooneelephant’sdeathcanpotentiallysavemanymore.

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STOPTHETRAFFICKING:INVESTMENTSTOSTOPTHEILLEGALPURCHASEANDMOVEMENTOFIVORY

nti-traffickingeffortsareoftenoverlooked.Sincemuchofthisworkiscarriedoutintheshadows,asitinvolvesdeepinvestigationsandundercoverworkwithdangerouscriminalnetworks,itislessvisiblethananti-poachinganddemandreductionefforts.Yettoendtheivorycrisisthesetraffickers

mustbefound,arrested,andsuccessfullyprosecutedsothatcriminalnetworksrejectivoryasbeingmoretroublethanitisworth.TheElephantCrisisFundhasmadedealingwithivorytraffickingapriorityareainthelastyear—supportingtrustedlawenforcementunitsacrossAfricatofind,arrestandprosecutetraffickers,helpinglocalpartnerstodevelopcourtroommonitoringprograms,andsupporting

cross-borderintelligencesharingandoperations.Today,theECFisoneofthemosteffectivefundersofanti-traffickingeffortsforivoryandwildlifecrimeintheworld.

Wehaveaclearerintelligencepictureofthetraffickingnetworksoperatingacrossthecontinentthaneverbefore,aswellastheirlinkswithillegaldrugandarmstraffickersthroughoutAfrica.CollaborativeinvestigationsbyourpartnershaverevealedthatalargeproportionofivoryleavingAfricaisfacilitatedbyarelativelysmallnumberofkingpinswhosenetworksaregenerallyorganicandflexibleratherthantightlycontrolledfromthetopdown.

Thetechniquesusedbyourpartnershavebeenmoresuccessfulatachievingmidtolowlevelarrestsandprosecutions,thanindealingwithhighvaluetargets.Directstingoperationswillnottrapthekingpinswhomayneverseetheivorytheytrade.Insomecases,kingpinsareclosetothepoliticalleadersinthecountrieswherethey

areoperating,andprosecutionscaneasilybecompromisedorobstructedbypeoplewhothreatenandbribeonamassivescale.Totakeonthesechallengeswewillincreasinglysupportlonger-terminvestigationsandengagewithnewpartnersfromtherealmoflawenforcementandanti-corruptiongroups.

Forourpartnerstocloseinonpowerfultraffickers,theymustverycarefullyengageinformantstogatherinformationandadmissibleevidenceforprosecutions.TheECFisprovidingexpertadvisorstoguidehowtorecruitandassessinformants,guardsensitivedataontargets,establishintelligencesharingprotocols,andimprovepersonalsecurity.

Anti-Trafficking

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InformernetworksandasupportivecommunityhavebeenakeypartofanECFprojecttoboosttheactivitiesoftheforestguardsworkingwithFauna&FloraInternationalinGuinea'sZiamaReserve.

Photocredit:Fauna&FloraInternational

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OnesyndicateinKenyahasbeenexposed(throughacombinationofDNAanalysisandotherevidence)ashavingshipped40tonsofivoryoutoftheportofMombasaoverthelastfiveyears.AkeybreakthroughwasmadewiththearrestofFeisalAliMohamed,amemberofthissyndicate,whowassentencedto20yearsimprisonmentinJuly2016,largelythankstotheeffortsofECFgranteeWildlifeDirect.Feisalwasamid-levelplayer,however,andtheleadersofthesyndicatearestillfreeandoperatingwithrelativeimpunityoutofMombasa’sport.Tochangethis,severallayersofthetraffickingnetworkneedtobetakenout.TheECFhasinvestedfundingandtimeintobuildinggreatercoordinationbetweendedicatedgovernmentandcivilsocietypartiesandnowvariouslawenforcementeffortsareunderwaytoshutthesyndicatedown.TheU.S.ispushingfortheextraditionofkeymembersofthegang,butmorewillbedonetothwartthecorruptionandthreatsthatcouldleadtothesecriminalswalkingfree. UsingtheexperiencegainedfromECFinvestmentswithWildlifeDirectinKenyawearenowsupportingeffortstobolstertheprosecutionprocessinothercountries.Byensuringthatcourtroomproceduresaretransparent,corruptioninthecriminaljusticesystemisminimized,andwildlifecriminalsareprosecutedtothefullestextentofthelaw,therehasbeenanimmediateincreaseinsuccessfularrestsandconvictions.PriortoJanuary2016,courtsinMalawihadnotservedasingleprisonsentenceforanyelephantivorytradeoffensesince2009.Thisyearoutof19cases,15endedinprisonsentencesofanaveragefouryears.

TheElephantCrisisFundhasalsomadeprogressinpromotingcollaborationbetweenactiveinvestigationsacrossborders—whichrequiresadifferentapproachasgovernmentsareinherentlyresistanttoshareintelligencewithothernations.PartnersworkingacrosseasternandsouthernAfricathroughECFsupportaremovinginonhigher-leveltraffickersoperatingintheregionandhelpingtostemflowsofivory.

In2016,severallargeAsiannetworksoperatingoutofMozambiquehavebeenidentified.ThesenetworksarebehindtheongoingkillingofelephantsandivorytraffickinginnorthernMozambique.Inthecomingyear,ECFaimstohelpbuildupfurtherintelligencetoallowlawenforcementofficerstoarrestandconvictthesetraffickers;adifficultundertakingbecauseofweaklawenforcementinMozambique.

Anti-Trafficking

TheElephantCrisisFundhassupportedWildlifeDirect’scriticalworkincombatingwildlifecrimeinKenyaleadingtotheprecedentsettingconvictionandsentencingofoneofAfrica'smostnotoriousivorycriminals,FeisalMohamedAli.ThisalonehassentastrongdeterrentmessageacrossKenyaandelephantsaresaferforit.ThestrategicapplicationofECFFundsisgoingalongwaytowardsendingtheslaughterandachievingjusticeforelephants. PaulaKahumbuFounder&CEOofWildlifeDirect

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GabonNationalParksAgency(ANPN)haslaunchedanewinvestigationsunittorecruit,assess,andtrainanti-traffickingintelligenceoperativestoprotectitsforestelephants,whichrepresentthespecies’largestremainingpopulationinAfrica.TheECFisprovidingbothstrategicadviceandgrantstoprovidetop-levelmentorstotrainandbuildcapacityoftheinvestigationsunit.ANPNhasidentifiedatleastthreekeytraffickingnetworksinoperationnationallyand,withsupportfromtheElephantCrisisFund,cannowadvancetheireffortstodismantlethesenetworks.

TheElephantCrisisFundisworkingtocreateaclearpathforotherfunderstosupportorganizationswithfuturelong-termoperationalcosts.In2017wewillfurtherstrengtheninvestigationsandprosecutionstodismantlecriminalnetworksbyelevatingthedepthandqualityofinvestigations.Thisworkwillenhancecollaborativecross-borderandinternationalintelligencesharing,improvetheratesofsuccessfulprosecutions,andexaminetraffickinglinksbetweenAfricaandAsia.

Anti-Trafficking

Photocredit:AlexHofford

IvoryisanattractivepropositionforcrimesyndicatesinvolvedintraffickingcontrabandasshownbythisseizurebycustomsofficialsinHongKong.

Photocredit:JayCrafter,InvictusK9.

Snifferdogscanbeavaluableassetfordetectingivoryhiddenbytraffickersaswellastrackingpoachers.PicturedaredogsworkingwithFauna&FloraInternationalinGonarezhouNationalPark,Zimbabwe.

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DemandReductionSTOPTHEDEMAND:ENDINGTHEDESIREFORANDTRADEINIVORY

ttheendof2015thepresidentsoftheU.S.andChinaannouncedthattheywouldshutdownvirtuallyallivorytradewithintheirborders,adecisionofhugesignificancethatshouldhaveprofoundimplicationsforelephants.Momentumtowardsthesenationalbansontradingivory(the

internationalbanremainsinforce)continuedtobuildthisyearattwomajorglobalconservationmeetings—theWorldConservationCongressandtheConventiononInternationalTradeinEndangeredSpecies.Chinaemergedasthestrongestvoiceonthesestages,callingforcountriestoclosetheirdomesticivorymarkets.

Thefinishlineiswithinsight,butstillsomewayoff.ItiscriticalthattheU.S.andEuropemaintaintheircommitmentsandprogresstoensurethatChina’sbanisstrongandimplementedinatimelyfashion.ElephantCrisisFundactivitiestoreducedemandforivoryin2016haveconcentratedonbuildingsupportforeffectivedomesticbansonivoryinnationswherethetradeismostactive.

TheECFhassupportedtheNaturalResourcesDefenseCouncil(NRDC)inpromotingastrongdomesticivorybaninChina.TheteamhelpedconvinceChinatostrengthenitsexistingwildlifelawsandhaveworkedwiththeU.S.governmenttopersuadeChinatoestablishatimelinefortheban.Tohelpensurethattheresultingbanisenforceable,NRDChasbeenworkingwithChinatoimprovethestandardofwildlifeforensics,allowingformoreeffectiveprosecutionoftraffickersandsellersoncethebanisinplace.

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Photocredit:SavetheElephants/FrankPope

Thedestructionofivorystockpiles,suchastherecord105tonsburnedinKenyain2016,isadeclarationthattusksshouldnotbetreatedasacommodity.

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DemandReductionNewinvestigationsbyECF-fundedconsultantsLucyVigneandEsmondBradleyMartinin2016revealedunexpectedconsequencesofthechangestakingplaceinChina.NeighboringVietnamisnowoneofthebiggestmarketsintheworld,withthenumberofivorypiecesonsalehavingincreasedbyafactorofsixinjustsevenyears.Noothercountryisknowntobeasactiveintheillegalimportofrawtusksandillegalexportofivorygoods,asmainlandChinesearenowseekingtobuyivorymorecheaplybycrossingtheseporousborders.WehavethereforefocusedondemandreductioneffortsinVietnamandaresupportingWildAidintheirworktoprovidefurtherinformationontheivorytradeinVietnamandbuildcampaignstodiminishit.

Suchinvestigationscanelectrifyanation’seffortstoenforcethelawonivoryandholdtheirgovernmentsaccountable.WhileotherrecentstudiesonivoryinVietnamhadsuggestedthetradewasalmostnon-existent,theECFreporthasalreadystimulatedverbalcommitmentsfromgovernmentofficialstotakeactiontoclosedowntheillegaltraders.AsimilarprocessfollowedthereleaseoftheECF-supportedreportHongKong’sIvory:MoreItemsforSaleThaninAnyOtherCityintheWorld,whichhelpedcatalyzetheHongKong’sLegislativeCounciltobanivorytradeintheterritory.

AnecdotalreportsandaninitialscoutingtripsuggestedthatmarketsinLaosarealsomushrooming,andinNovember2016LucyVignetravelledtoLaostogathermoreevidenceontheextentofthesemarkets.Welookforwardtoreportingtoyoutheresultsofthisinvestigation.

Photocredit:LucyVigneandEsmondBradleyMartin

InHanoi,Vietnam,ivoryitemssuchastheseareusuallydisplayedatthebottomshelforatthebackoftheshoponlytobespottedbykeenbuyerslookingforivory.Whereasivoryitemsinthenorthvillagesareusuallydisplayedonthetopshelvesofcabinetsforeasyviewing.

ElephantsmadeoutofivoryinanantiquesshopinBangkok'sChinatowndistrict,Thailand.

Photocredit:AlexHofford

“TheECFbringsthekindofinnovative,nimbleresponseweneedtosolvetheelephantcrisis.ItaddressesbothsidesoftheproblembysupportingeffortsonthegroundinAfricaandalsoaddressingdriversofpoachingaroundtheglobe.”CarterRoberts,PresidentandCEO,WorldWildlifeFund

StoriesFromTheField

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StoriesFromTheField

PROTECTINGANELEPHANTOUTPOST

nasmall,hillyforestonthewesternedgeoftheAfricancontinent,thelastelephantsintheRepublicofGuineaclingtosurvival.Withonly200remaining,theZiamaforestthatliesontheborderwithLiberiaprovidesthemwithafinalrefugeinanincreasinglyhumandominatedlandscape.

AcrossWestAfrica,tinyscatteredgroupsofelephantshideinwhateverpocketsofcovertheycanfind.Theregionisnowhometolessthan3%ofthecontinent’sremainingelephants,andtheymightseemdoomedtoeventualextinction.Thelargeelephantpopulationsthatcanstillbefoundinotherpartsofthecontinentareamoreattractivepropositiontothebulkofdonorsbecauseoftheirsizeandfame.Remnantelephantpopulationsmattertothenationsthathostthemandtheirpeople,tothegeneticsofthespecies,andtotheultimaterecoveryofelephantsfromthescourgeoftheivorycrisis.WebelievethattheseforestelephantsinZiamacanhaveafutureandtheycanteachuslessonsaboutcoexistencebetweenelephantsandpeoplethatwillbeapplicableelsewhere.Wealsobelievethatelephantconservationisnotjustaboutnumbers;ourgoalistoachievethesurvivalofelephantsinasmanypartsoftheirrangeaspossible.GovernmentsofmanyofthesecountriesarerealizingthattheyareindangeroflosinganextremelyimportantpartoftheirnationalheritageandarenowseekingthesupporttheECFandourpartnerscanprovide.

AsthepressuresontheelephantsoftheZiamaforestcontinuedtoincrease,disasterstruckwiththe2014Ebolaepidemic.Theforestwasclosetothecenteroftheoutbreak,andallconservationworkcametoastandstill.

Inearly2015,astheepidemiccametoanend,FaunaandFloraInternational(FFI)approachedtheECFtoaskforsupportoftheirworktoprotecttheZiamaelephants.Aftercarefulvetting,weprovidedfundingforequipment,training,andprovisionsfor30rangersandtosetupvillageliaisoncommitteestoengagethelocalcommunitiesintheconservationworkofthereserve.

IPhotocredit:C.Thouless

OneofAfrica’sfewremainingforestelephants,picturedhereinaclearinginNoubalé-NdokiintheRepublicofCongo.Forestelephantshavebeenshowntoreproduceslowerthanalmostanyothermammal,makingthemparticularlyvulnerabletopoaching.

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Byearly2016thesituationhadcompletelychanged.Therangersinnewuniformsandwithnewtraininghadbecomeacapableteam,takingprideintheirwork.Theyarenowcarryingoutfive-daypatrolsintheforestandrecordingroutesandobservationsusingGPSdevices,ratherthanwordofmouth.Theyfoundanddestroyed627steelcablesnaresthatthreatenelephantsandotherwildlifealike.And,inamerefewmonths,elevenpoacherswerearrested.

Theworkwithlocalcommunitiesborefruit.InOctober2015,upondiscoveringafreshelephantcarcasstherangerteamswereabletoenlistthehelpofthevillagesclosetotheincidenttotrackdown,andsubsequentlyarrest,theindividualsresponsibleandconfiscatetheivoryandmeat.

ElephantpoachersarestillarisktoZiama,buttheforestrangersarenowequippedandmotivatedtoaddressthethreat.Thankstothesuccessofthisinitialphaseofsupport,otherdonorshavesteppedintokeepthemoperational,andthegovernmentofGuinea,aftertheendoftheEbolaoutbreak,hasshownarenewedinterestintheconservationoftheselastremainingelephants.

StoriesFromTheField

Photocredit:Fauna&FloraInternational

WithsupportfromtheECFforestguardsinGuinea'sZiamaReservehavebecomeaneffectiveforceagainstpoachers.

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SHININGALIGHTONTHEIVORYTRADEINVIETNAM:THEPOWEROFIMAGES

henanecdotalreportsbegansuggestingthatVietnamwasbecomingamarketforivory,ratherthanjustatraffickingroute,LucyVigneandEsmondBradleyMartintooknotice.

Twooftheworld’sleadingexpertsontheivoryandrhinohorntrade,VigneandMartinknowthataccurateandconsistentinformationiscriticalifwildlifeistoreceivetheprotectionitneeds.Inlate2015

theywenttoVietnamtoinvestigate.VigneandMartincarriedoutasurveyintheirusualmeticulousmanner.Carefulnottodrawmoreattentionthanpossibletothemselves,theyvisitedmarketswhereivorycouldbeonsale,andusedtheirhard-wonknowledgeofallthedifferentformsofivoryanditsimitationstorecordeverysinglepieceondisplay,withoutarousingthesuspicionsofthedealers.Wheneverpossibletheyengagedthedealersinconversationtogetadeeperunderstandingofthedynamicsofthemarket,andtookphotographssurreptitiouslyiftheycould.

Theirfindingswerealarming.TheVietnameseivorymarkethasgrownfasterthananywhereinAsia.VigneandMartinfound242outletswithover16,000ivoryitemsondisplay.InadditiontothemajormarketsinHoChiMinhCity,thereareanumberofsmall

villageswhereartisansarecarvingivoryintosmallartifactssuchasbanglesandchopsticks.Comparedtoapreviousstudyin2008thenumberofitemsseenforsalehadrisensix-fold,withthenumberofartisansincreasingten-foldoverthesameperiod.MostofthebuyersareChinese,takingadvantageofthelowerpricesinVietnam.Somearewholesalers,whileothersareChinesetouristsbuyingindividualpieces.Withnoreallawenforcementonivoryoutsidethemajorcitiesthetradehasexpandedrapidly.

StoriesFromTheField

WPhotocredit:LucyVigneandEsmondBradleyMartin

InNorthernVietnam,skilledhandcarvingofpiecesofivoryasshownhereisrelativelyuncommonsincemostoftheproductionisofmass-produced,machine-carveditems.

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ThisinvestigativeworkwascompiledintoagenerouslyillustratedreportthatwasreleasedinJuly2016andreceivedconsiderableattentionataninternationallevel.ThereportwasalsotranslatedintoVietnameseforuseinsidethecountry.TomMilliken—theElephantandRhinoProgramLeaderandlongestservingstaffmemberofTRAFFIC,theUN-mandatedwildlifetradeinvestigationbody—presentedthereporttoseniorVietnameseofficialspriortotheworld’sbiggestwildlifetrademeeting,theConventionontheTradeinEndangeredSpecies(CITES),heldinJohannesburginOctober2016.Theofficialsbeganbydenyingthatanyproblemsexisted,butchangedtheirpositionafterseeingtheevidence.Beyondthefactsandfigures,itwastheunequivocalnatureofthephotographsthathadthebiggestimpactonthem.TheyrequestedfurthercopiestodistributetootherVietnameseofficials.

AttheCITESmeetingtheVietnamesedelegationnotonlyacknowledgedtheexistenceoftheproblem,theyalsoaskedforhelptocombatit.InNovember2016,VietnamheldthethirdIllegalWildlifeTrademeetinginHanoi,anindicationoftheircommitmenttocaptheillegalwildlife.Thereportcontinuedtomakewavesamongsthighlevelgovernmentofficialsatthemeeting,helpinggeneratethevitalpoliticalwillneededtohalttheivorytradeinVietnam,anddemonstratingthepowerofrigorousresearchbackedupbycompellingimages—allaresultofstrategicallyplacedsupportbytheElephantCrisisFund.

StoriesFromTheField

Photocredit,leftandright:LucyVigneandEsmondBradleyMartin

MostbuyersofivoryinnorthernVietnamesevillageslikethisone,BuonMaThuout,areChineseseekinglowerpricesthantheycanfindathomeinChina.

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ASOFYEAREND2016$7.9Mdeployedforelephantsin3years

25 Countries

114 Projects

45 Organizations

ECFhasinvestedin

ElephantCrisisFund.org