Eritrea becomes the 20th member of the EPI
29 August 2019
The State of Eritrea has joined the Elephant Protection Initiative (EPI). Speaking in Geneva, where he was representing the Eritrean government at the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) conference, the Director of Natural Resources, Regulatory Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Yacob Yohannes, said ‘We are very pleased to join this important coalition. This shows the determination of the Eritrean government to protect its natural resources and in particular its elephants’.
Mr Yacob Yohannes with Miles Geldard
Eritrea has one of Africa’s most northerly and isolated elephant populations. Miles Geldard, CEO of the EPI Foundation, which serves as the secretariat for the member states, said ‘We are delighted that Eritrea has joined the EPI. Elephants have been recorded in Eritrea since Biblical times, and today the elephants of the Gash Setit region, which are believed to migrate between Eritrea and Ethiopia, are a symbol of resilience and hope. We will do our utmost to assist the Eritrean government in their conservation, and in ensuring Eritreans derive benefits from these efforts'.
Photography by Karel Prinsloo copyright ©
The elephant Crisis
Africa’s elephants are disappearing. Some 20,000 are killed each year- that’s 55 every single day- mostly for the illegal ivory trade. The overall number has declined by about one third over the last decade. Many elephants now live in small and isolated populations; if current trends continue, they will be wiped out in the next decade.
Africa's Solution
We, the EPI, comprise 20 African countries determined to end the killing of our elephants. The majority of surviving elephants live in our countries. We span the continent, from east to west, from savannah to dense forests. We are Anglophone, Francophone and Lusophone. We have a plan to protect our elephants. We can do most of the work ourselves, but we also welcome your support.
Keep updated...
-
RT @WCS_Nigeria: Yankari's elephants 🐘🐘🐘are now a lot safer from poachers! Earlier this month we placed satellite collars on six ele… https://t.co/XsBb8yympR -
Do bees keep elephants away from crops? An important question for all trying to solve Human-Elephant Conflict. Th… https://t.co/sNOigcAaDv
-
Taking the Elephant Out Of The Room.... "In captivity elephants are less aware, they move slowly, they seem to dro… https://t.co/mRDueOFPZu
