as you probably have guessed from my first image I’m here today to talk about
first image I’m here today to talk about
first image I’m here today to talk about wildlife or more accurately our growing
wildlife or more accurately our growing
wildlife or more accurately our growing absence of wildlife several scientists
absence of wildlife several scientists
absence of wildlife several scientists have theorized that we’re in the midst
have theorized that we’re in the midst
have theorized that we’re in the midst of a sixth great mass extinction there
of a sixth great mass extinction there
of a sixth great mass extinction there are the World Wildlife Fund estimates
are the World Wildlife Fund estimates
are the World Wildlife Fund estimates that up to two-thirds of all species in
that up to two-thirds of all species in
that up to two-thirds of all species in the wild could be going extinct in the
the wild could be going extinct in the
the wild could be going extinct in the next decade or two and there are many
next decade or two and there are many
next decade or two and there are many causes for this global warming
causes for this global warming
causes for this global warming widespread changes in land use and even
widespread changes in land use and even
widespread changes in land use and even overfishing but today I’m here to talk
overfishing but today I’m here to talk
overfishing but today I’m here to talk about one small yet significant part of
about one small yet significant part of
about one small yet significant part of this growing extinction and it occurs in
this growing extinction and it occurs in
this growing extinction and it occurs in probably the most popular wilderness of
probably the most popular wilderness of
probably the most popular wilderness of our imaginations and that’s East Africa
our imaginations and that’s East Africa
our imaginations and that’s East Africa now to get a sense of the decline in
now to get a sense of the decline in
now to get a sense of the decline in 1974 there were about 20,000 rhino
1974 there were about 20,000 rhino
1974 there were about 20,000 rhino now that was only an estimate because
now that was only an estimate because
now that was only an estimate because there were too many to actually count
there were too many to actually count
there were too many to actually count but by 1984 there were just 260 right
but by 1984 there were just 260 right
but by 1984 there were just 260 right now similarly there were about 1.3
now similarly there were about 1.3
now similarly there were about 1.3 million elephant ten years later that
million elephant ten years later that
million elephant ten years later that was down to roughly a third so what
was down to roughly a third so what
was down to roughly a third so what caused this growing this growing decline
caused this growing this growing decline
caused this growing this growing decline what made it so quick and the answer is
what made it so quick and the answer is
what made it so quick and the answer is poaching the illegal hunting of wildlife
poaching the illegal hunting of wildlife
poaching the illegal hunting of wildlife with elephants ivory elephants are
with elephants ivory elephants are
with elephants ivory elephants are killed for ivory which is mainly sent to
killed for ivory which is mainly sent to
killed for ivory which is mainly sent to Asia to be turned into decorative
Asia to be turned into decorative
Asia to be turned into decorative objects there’s a myth that rhino horn
objects there’s a myth that rhino horn
objects there’s a myth that rhino horn cures cancer which drives an insanely
cures cancer which drives an insanely
cures cancer which drives an insanely expensive market of desperate people all
expensive market of desperate people all
expensive market of desperate people all hoping to buy a cure even smaller
hoping to buy a cure even smaller
hoping to buy a cure even smaller animals are not immune gazelles and
animals are not immune gazelles and
animals are not immune gazelles and monkeys are hunted and eaten as bush
monkeys are hunted and eaten as bush
monkeys are hunted and eaten as bush meat so you’re probably asking what did
meat so you’re probably asking what did
meat so you’re probably asking what did any of this have to do with me am i a
any of this have to do with me am i a
any of this have to do with me am i a scientist no I’m a filmmaker oh you like
scientist no I’m a filmmaker oh you like
scientist no I’m a filmmaker oh you like oh you’re in nature filmmaker you make
oh you’re in nature filmmaker you make
oh you’re in nature filmmaker you make documentaries on furniture no actually I
documentaries on furniture no actually I
documentaries on furniture no actually I mostly do films about humanity I’ve made
mostly do films about humanity I’ve made
mostly do films about humanity I’ve made documentaries about artists who struggle
documentaries about artists who struggle
documentaries about artists who struggle to create despite having mental illness
to create despite having mental illness
to create despite having mental illness and I
and I
and I made films about how gentrification
made films about how gentrification
made films about how gentrification happens in a New York City neighborhood
happens in a New York City neighborhood
happens in a New York City neighborhood most of my films deal with questions
most of my films deal with questions
most of my films deal with questions where there seemed to be lots of
where there seemed to be lots of
where there seemed to be lots of opinions but no easy answers and that
opinions but no easy answers and that
opinions but no easy answers and that led me to a question that I couldn’t get
led me to a question that I couldn’t get
led me to a question that I couldn’t get out of my mind
out of my mind
out of my mind what are poachers killing these
what are poachers killing these
what are poachers killing these endangered animals I mean don’t they
endangered animals I mean don’t they
endangered animals I mean don’t they know it’s wrong
know it’s wrong
know it’s wrong don’t they care it seemed that the
don’t they care it seemed that the
don’t they care it seemed that the mechanisms of poaching were pretty well
mechanisms of poaching were pretty well
mechanisms of poaching were pretty well understood as well as all the where all
understood as well as all the where all
understood as well as all the where all these endangered animal products were
these endangered animal products were
these endangered animal products were going but when it came to the poachers
going but when it came to the poachers
going but when it came to the poachers themselves they seem to remain
themselves they seem to remain
themselves they seem to remain mysterious and actually very demonized
mysterious and actually very demonized
mysterious and actually very demonized and that led me to want to know more
and that led me to want to know more
and that led me to want to know more about why they did what they did well
about why they did what they did well
about why they did what they did well I’m a filmmaker so I grabbed my camera
I’m a filmmaker so I grabbed my camera
I’m a filmmaker so I grabbed my camera hopped on a plane flew to Kenya drove
hopped on a plane flew to Kenya drove
hopped on a plane flew to Kenya drove out into the bush so that I could find
out into the bush so that I could find
out into the bush so that I could find the poachers and I could ask them and
the poachers and I could ask them and
the poachers and I could ask them and yes that is probably the craziest thing
yes that is probably the craziest thing
yes that is probably the craziest thing I’ve ever done going 50 miles from the
I’ve ever done going 50 miles from the
I’ve ever done going 50 miles from the nearest town to confront guys with guns
nearest town to confront guys with guns
nearest town to confront guys with guns and demand to know why they were doing
and demand to know why they were doing
and demand to know why they were doing what they did first I’d like to
what they did first I’d like to
what they did first I’d like to introduce you to nanu ki who is one of
introduce you to nanu ki who is one of
introduce you to nanu ki who is one of Kenya’s most notorious poachers good I
Kenya’s most notorious poachers good I
Kenya’s most notorious poachers good I get all my year and that’s all I don’t
get all my year and that’s all I don’t
get all my year and that’s all I don’t know exactly how many elephants are
know exactly how many elephants are
know exactly how many elephants are killed it’s around 1500 I knew they were
killed it’s around 1500 I knew they were
killed it’s around 1500 I knew they were looking to arrest me so I fled into the
looking to arrest me so I fled into the
looking to arrest me so I fled into the bush by hitting the bush for 18 months
bush by hitting the bush for 18 months
bush by hitting the bush for 18 months if something was made of me I would kill
if something was made of me I would kill
if something was made of me I would kill it the village elders came out to find
it the village elders came out to find
it the village elders came out to find me I had killed a lot of elephants and
me I had killed a lot of elephants and
me I had killed a lot of elephants and they asked me to stop so I asked how can
they asked me to stop so I asked how can
they asked me to stop so I asked how can I survive if I stop poaching I have
I survive if I stop poaching I have
I survive if I stop poaching I have nothing people who live in the towns can
nothing people who live in the towns can
nothing people who live in the towns can borrow food or money from someone but
borrow food or money from someone but
borrow food or money from someone but out where I’m from you can’t so many
out where I’m from you can’t so many
out where I’m from you can’t so many people there are poaching I see people
people there are poaching I see people
people there are poaching I see people who are poaching are getting a lot of
who are poaching are getting a lot of
who are poaching are getting a lot of money they could afford to buy cows and
money they could afford to buy cows and
money they could afford to buy cows and goats you probably have guessed but the
goats you probably have guessed but the
goats you probably have guessed but the name nin Yuki is an alias it’s actually
name nin Yuki is an alias it’s actually
name nin Yuki is an alias it’s actually the name of a town in Kenya near where
the name of a town in Kenya near where
the name of a town in Kenya near where he operates
he operates
he operates Kenya so nanu key was on Kenya’s
Kenya so nanu key was on Kenya’s
Kenya so nanu key was on Kenya’s most-wanted list for a number of years
most-wanted list for a number of years
most-wanted list for a number of years the police and several patrols out into
the police and several patrols out into
the police and several patrols out into the wild to try and catch him and they
the wild to try and catch him and they
the wild to try and catch him and they never did next I’d like to introduce
never did next I’d like to introduce
never did next I’d like to introduce Olesya
Olesya
Olesya protip for all your filmmakers out there
protip for all your filmmakers out there
protip for all your filmmakers out there if you’re dealing with people who speak
if you’re dealing with people who speak
if you’re dealing with people who speak languages that are difficult for English
languages that are difficult for English
languages that are difficult for English maybe don’t let them choose their own
maybe don’t let them choose their own
maybe don’t let them choose their own aliases anyway so we’ve all seen these
aliases anyway so we’ve all seen these
aliases anyway so we’ve all seen these photos of these poachers of these
photos of these poachers of these
photos of these poachers of these hunters coming from the United States
hunters coming from the United States
hunters coming from the United States and Europe posing with their big kills
and Europe posing with their big kills
and Europe posing with their big kills boasting about how difficult and
boasting about how difficult and
boasting about how difficult and dangerous it is but I is going to dispel
dangerous it is but I is going to dispel
dangerous it is but I is going to dispel some of those myths let’s wind to help
some of those myths let’s wind to help
some of those myths let’s wind to help wind whichever way the wind blows it’s
wind whichever way the wind blows it’s
wind whichever way the wind blows it’s much easier to give the short in so
much easier to give the short in so
much easier to give the short in so unfortunately wildlife is incredibly
unfortunately wildlife is incredibly
unfortunately wildlife is incredibly easy to track and kill now I should
easy to track and kill now I should
easy to track and kill now I should mention that poaching looks very
mention that poaching looks very
mention that poaching looks very different in different parts of the
different in different parts of the
different in different parts of the world in South Africa for example these
world in South Africa for example these
world in South Africa for example these are generally paramilitary operations
are generally paramilitary operations
are generally paramilitary operations that are done with ex-military working
that are done with ex-military working
that are done with ex-military working out of helicopters and using
out of helicopters and using
out of helicopters and using high-powered automatic weapons however
high-powered automatic weapons however
high-powered automatic weapons however in East Africa it’s driven by poverty
in East Africa it’s driven by poverty
in East Africa it’s driven by poverty poaching is about economics in a country
poaching is about economics in a country
poaching is about economics in a country where unemployment unemployment can
where unemployment unemployment can
where unemployment unemployment can reach up to 40 percent in times of
reach up to 40 percent in times of
reach up to 40 percent in times of political unrest or recession even in
political unrest or recession even in
political unrest or recession even in the best of times roughly 42 percent of
the best of times roughly 42 percent of
the best of times roughly 42 percent of the population lives on less than $3 a
the population lives on less than $3 a
the population lives on less than $3 a day
day
day Nanook II and olesya as well as other
Nanook II and olesya as well as other
Nanook II and olesya as well as other poachers I interviewed all knew that
poachers I interviewed all knew that
poachers I interviewed all knew that hunting wildlife was wrong yet they
hunting wildlife was wrong yet they
hunting wildlife was wrong yet they continued to do it why I’ll let always
continued to do it why I’ll let always
continued to do it why I’ll let always say so you explain what happens after
say so you explain what happens after
say so you explain what happens after he’s killed an elephant i Cindy
he’s killed an elephant i Cindy
he’s killed an elephant i Cindy to the somalis they pay about $36 per
to the somalis they pay about $36 per
to the somalis they pay about $36 per pound I don’t know what they do with it
pound I don’t know what they do with it
pound I don’t know what they do with it my job and that’s where it stops from $3
my job and that’s where it stops from $3
my job and that’s where it stops from $3 a day to a quick $800 you can see why
a day to a quick $800 you can see why
a day to a quick $800 you can see why someone might want to take a shot this
someone might want to take a shot this
someone might want to take a shot this is worth almost a year’s wages in this
is worth almost a year’s wages in this
is worth almost a year’s wages in this part of the world now here in the
part of the world now here in the
part of the world now here in the developed world we tend to see these
developed world we tend to see these
developed world we tend to see these animals this wildlife as cute or
animals this wildlife as cute or
animals this wildlife as cute or majestic we make animated films about
majestic we make animated films about
majestic we make animated films about their adventures we also see them as
their adventures we also see them as
their adventures we also see them as part of our environmental heritage but
part of our environmental heritage but
part of our environmental heritage but for rural Kenyans one elephant can eat
for rural Kenyans one elephant can eat
for rural Kenyans one elephant can eat the entire crop of a small farmer in
the entire crop of a small farmer in
the entire crop of a small farmer in just one night
just one night
just one night lions kill livestock and sometimes
lions kill livestock and sometimes
lions kill livestock and sometimes people these animals are more often
people these animals are more often
people these animals are more often viewed as pests every year we give 10
viewed as pests every year we give 10
viewed as pests every year we give 10 million tens of millions of dollars to
million tens of millions of dollars to
million tens of millions of dollars to protecting wildlife in Kenya alone we
protecting wildlife in Kenya alone we
protecting wildlife in Kenya alone we surround these animals with electric
surround these animals with electric
surround these animals with electric fences we watched them from spotter
fences we watched them from spotter
fences we watched them from spotter planes and High Rocks and when there’s
planes and High Rocks and when there’s
planes and High Rocks and when there’s an intruder we send armed guards and
an intruder we send armed guards and
an intruder we send armed guards and bloodhounds after them but until we
bloodhounds after them but until we
bloodhounds after them but until we change these economics there’s always
change these economics there’s always
change these economics there’s always going to be the next person in line
going to be the next person in line
going to be the next person in line waiting to take that shot so what can we
waiting to take that shot so what can we
waiting to take that shot so what can we do if we want to change poaching in
do if we want to change poaching in
do if we want to change poaching in Africa we in the developed world all of
Africa we in the developed world all of
Africa we in the developed world all of us in this room need to change too we
us in this room need to change too we
us in this room need to change too we need to change our mindsets from seeing
need to change our mindsets from seeing
need to change our mindsets from seeing this as a simple abstract evil to human
this as a simple abstract evil to human
this as a simple abstract evil to human beings we need to add a holistic side to
beings we need to add a holistic side to
beings we need to add a holistic side to our conservation efforts that recognizes
our conservation efforts that recognizes
our conservation efforts that recognizes that these people are part of the same
that these people are part of the same
that these people are part of the same environment that we’re trying to protect
environment that we’re trying to protect
environment that we’re trying to protect the poachers themselves see how this
the poachers themselves see how this
the poachers themselves see how this change can work diamond buyer I have
change can work diamond buyer I have
change can work diamond buyer I have four daughters
I usually don’t get into coaching so I’m
I usually don’t get into coaching so I’m not worried about that education is the
not worried about that education is the
not worried about that education is the key they need to know that if you stay
key they need to know that if you stay
key they need to know that if you stay in them all the way through job you can
in them all the way through job you can
in them all the way through job you can be a tour guide a ranger
be a tour guide a ranger
be a tour guide a ranger but you have to stay in school the best
but you have to stay in school the best
but you have to stay in school the best scenario that I encountered while I was
scenario that I encountered while I was
scenario that I encountered while I was there
there
there nayuki actually turns himself in to the
nayuki actually turns himself in to the
nayuki actually turns himself in to the authorities imagine that he turned
authorities imagine that he turned
authorities imagine that he turned himself in because his life was unstable
himself in because his life was unstable
himself in because his life was unstable and his kids were not in school
and his kids were not in school
and his kids were not in school letting him it I can only I’ve been
letting him it I can only I’ve been
letting him it I can only I’ve been arranging for five years yes I was a
arranging for five years yes I was a
arranging for five years yes I was a poacher I’m a good man I can show my
poacher I’m a good man I can show my
poacher I’m a good man I can show my patrol where poachers can hide and
patrol where poachers can hide and
patrol where poachers can hide and that’s why I’m here out on patrol every
that’s why I’m here out on patrol every
that’s why I’m here out on patrol every morning now when I come across an animal
morning now when I come across an animal
morning now when I come across an animal that’s been killed I use my experience
that’s been killed I use my experience
that’s been killed I use my experience and track down the killer until he’s
and track down the killer until he’s
and track down the killer until he’s arrested or killed Danny he’s now been a
arrested or killed Danny he’s now been a
arrested or killed Danny he’s now been a ranger for several years his kids go to
ranger for several years his kids go to
ranger for several years his kids go to attend school regularly and he’s made a
attend school regularly and he’s made a
attend school regularly and he’s made a better life for himself and his family
better life for himself and his family
better life for himself and his family even as he helps track down guys just
even as he helps track down guys just
even as he helps track down guys just like he used to be how can we those of
like he used to be how can we those of
like he used to be how can we those of us here help move more people like nanoo
us here help move more people like nanoo
us here help move more people like nanoo key out of poaching and into legitimate
key out of poaching and into legitimate
key out of poaching and into legitimate jobs there are two simple things that we
jobs there are two simple things that we
jobs there are two simple things that we can actually do right now
can actually do right now
can actually do right now first and most obviously we as a culture
first and most obviously we as a culture
first and most obviously we as a culture need to stop buying endangered animal
need to stop buying endangered animal
need to stop buying endangered animal products its supply and demand but that
products its supply and demand but that
products its supply and demand but that demand starts here it’s no secret that
demand starts here it’s no secret that
demand starts here it’s no secret that most ivory and rhino horn goes to Asia
most ivory and rhino horn goes to Asia
most ivory and rhino horn goes to Asia but the reality is that most people
but the reality is that most people
but the reality is that most people there can’t actually afford to buy it
there can’t actually afford to buy it
there can’t actually afford to buy it these products are intended for Western
these products are intended for Western
these products are intended for Western tourists this summer two tons of ivory
tourists this summer two tons of ivory
tourists this summer two tons of ivory that work that were confiscated in New
that work that were confiscated in New
that work that were confiscated in New York were crushed in Central Park to
York were crushed in Central Park to
York were crushed in Central Park to make it unusable the street value of
make it unusable the street value of
make it unusable the street value of that ivory was nearly eight million
that ivory was nearly eight million
that ivory was nearly eight million dollars just this week the Trump
dollars just this week the Trump
dollars just this week the Trump administration moved to allow hunters to
administration moved to allow hunters to
administration moved to allow hunters to bring back ivory trophies from Africa
bring back ivory trophies from Africa
bring back ivory trophies from Africa as Wayne Purcell if the president of the
as Wayne Purcell if the president of the
as Wayne Purcell if the president of the Humane Society put it what kind of
Humane Society put it what kind of
Humane Society put it what kind of message does it send that a poor African
message does it send that a poor African
message does it send that a poor African struggling to survive can’t hunt an
struggling to survive can’t hunt an
struggling to survive can’t hunt an elephant to earn a living but it’s just
elephant to earn a living but it’s just
elephant to earn a living but it’s just fine for a rich American the second
fine for a rich American the second
fine for a rich American the second thing that we can do is recognize that
thing that we can do is recognize that
thing that we can do is recognize that not all game preserves are created equal
not all game preserves are created equal
not all game preserves are created equal some like the label Wildlife Conservancy
some like the label Wildlife Conservancy
some like the label Wildlife Conservancy supports 21 schools in its region as
supports 21 schools in its region as
supports 21 schools in its region as well as fresh water supplies and medical
well as fresh water supplies and medical
well as fresh water supplies and medical and medical clinics they also provide
and medical clinics they also provide
and medical clinics they also provide 400 scholarships in a country where
400 scholarships in a country where
400 scholarships in a country where education is not free to all these
education is not free to all these
education is not free to all these clinics and schools not only create jobs
clinics and schools not only create jobs
clinics and schools not only create jobs but they allow the larger community to
but they allow the larger community to
but they allow the larger community to recognize that wildlife brings economic
recognize that wildlife brings economic
recognize that wildlife brings economic value to their people the reason that
value to their people the reason that
value to their people the reason that anuki surrendered himself to the
anuki surrendered himself to the
anuki surrendered himself to the authorities that laila specifically was
authorities that laila specifically was
authorities that laila specifically was because of the schools there from Hunter
because of the schools there from Hunter
because of the schools there from Hunter to homebody now new keys change was
to homebody now new keys change was
to homebody now new keys change was profound now I’m grounded
profound now I’m grounded
profound now I’m grounded I owned his Monyetta you were able to
I owned his Monyetta you were able to
I owned his Monyetta you were able to find me here and visit because I have a
find me here and visit because I have a
find me here and visit because I have a home my life has changed completely in a
home my life has changed completely in a
home my life has changed completely in a good way now my children have a school
good way now my children have a school
good way now my children have a school in the area to go to but I was thinking
in the area to go to but I was thinking
in the area to go to but I was thinking not only about the animals but about the
not only about the animals but about the
not only about the animals but about the environment and living in peace and what
environment and living in peace and what
environment and living in peace and what about all it says here the reason he
about all it says here the reason he
about all it says here the reason he agreed to be interviewed by me was he
agreed to be interviewed by me was he
agreed to be interviewed by me was he wanted to show the authorities that he
wanted to show the authorities that he
wanted to show the authorities that he was serious about making a change and
was serious about making a change and
was serious about making a change and becoming a ranger like nan Yuki so the
becoming a ranger like nan Yuki so the
becoming a ranger like nan Yuki so the next time you hear another grim
next time you hear another grim
next time you hear another grim statistic about the decline of our
statistic about the decline of our
statistic about the decline of our species I hope that you’ll remember nan
species I hope that you’ll remember nan
species I hope that you’ll remember nan Yuki Andalusia when I had my crazy
Yuki Andalusia when I had my crazy
Yuki Andalusia when I had my crazy mission to go to Africa and interview
mission to go to Africa and interview
mission to go to Africa and interview poachers what I learned was that their
poachers what I learned was that their
poachers what I learned was that their actions didn’t come out of nowhere
actions didn’t come out of nowhere
actions didn’t come out of nowhere they’re motivated by the same pressures
they’re motivated by the same pressures
they’re motivated by the same pressures we all face pressures of money of owning
we all face pressures of money of owning
we all face pressures of money of owning a home of getting a decent job and of
a home of getting a decent job and of
a home of getting a decent job and of raising the family if we want to get
raising the family if we want to get
raising the family if we want to get serious about saving wildlife we need to
serious about saving wildlife we need to
serious about saving wildlife we need to commit also to saving our poorest people
commit also to saving our poorest people
commit also to saving our poorest people next time when you donate for wildlife
next time when you donate for wildlife
next time when you donate for wildlife conservation
conservation
conservation and I think this week shows that it’s
and I think this week shows that it’s
and I think this week shows that it’s it’s more important now than ever please
it’s more important now than ever please
it’s more important now than ever please consider giving to organizations like
consider giving to organizations like
consider giving to organizations like Laila that also commit to supporting
Laila that also commit to supporting
Laila that also commit to supporting their communities
their communities
their communities helping men at risk of poaching get the
helping men at risk of poaching get the
helping men at risk of poaching get the education and the jobs they need maybe
education and the jobs they need maybe
education and the jobs they need maybe the best deterrent we have against
the best deterrent we have against
the best deterrent we have against future decline of wildlife in East
future decline of wildlife in East
future decline of wildlife in East Africa
Africa
Africa thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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