On the last day of 2016, we are seeing a positive headline; one of not so many this year. China is banning Ivory Trade.

In March 2017 trading and processing Ivory will be banned, apart from auctions of "legitimately" sourced antiques (this exception seems a little vague and largely undefined which could cause problems, but overall this is excellent news). China currently buys an estimated 70% of all Ivory, and so this ban will lead to a huge decrease in trade, and pressures other countries to follow suit. 

This decision is being described as "historic" and a "game-changer." I personally hope this ban is properly enforced, and does lead to dramatic change. Without a major decrease in Ivory trade, the future of African elephants is pretty bleak. 

However, banning any form of trade obviously brings with it the risk of the black market. I worry that this announcement will cause a dramatic spike in poaching until March, and following it the illegal trade will boom. However, being illegal to sell and process in China will make a difference, and if this announcement continues to meet great support, and links well with educating people on the importance of not trading Ivory to keep elephants alive, I think it will be great for elephants. 

BEFORE I get rained on by a host of comments asking why I support this, and yet fight for a legal trade in rhino horn, let me say this: you can successfully remove a rhino horn with no risk of harming a rhino. This does not work with elephants. Removing their tusks, or even broken tusks, lead to fatal infections. Therefore a legal trade by opening up the market to elephant owners simply won't work. Poachers shoot the animals too, but even without this, the animals would still die. Elephants and rhinos are not the same; Ivory and Keratin are not the same. 

Sadly in the world we live in, there is never a perfect answer. Poaching will not be wiped out 100% by this ban from China. Elephants will still be poached for their Ivory. What this ban can do, is decrease the trade; decrease the number of elephants killed per year; help the population. 

I welcome this change and good news. According to the WWF, there are roughly 415,000 African elephants left. These giants of Africa have been hit hard by an increase in poaching. I hope this ban is enforced well, and makes all attempts to squash the black market before it can even begin. Elephants are majestic, intelligent and beautiful animals. I hope 2017 is a good year for African elephants; they need it. 

Hello people of the internet. 

As I mentioned in this post, I am fundraising for my trip to South Africa in 2017 to study black rhinos! Therefore, I would ask you all to please click the following link:

https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/so164-monitoring-the-populations-and-ranging-patterns-of-the-critically-endangered-black-rhino/

By clicking the link above, you will be re-directed to  my cause on easyfundraising's webpage, where you can support my cause by installing a button that looks like this: 

Once this is installed (takes less than one minute), when you are shopping online at one of the over 2,700 places associated with easyfundraising, this will appear:

Ps. These screenshots were on my laptop, and may appear differently on different makes of PC/laptop!

Sir David Attenborough (source)

It's hardly surprising that I watched and LOVED Planet Earth II. I adored Planet Earth the first time, and so I was very excited for this one. The advert alone brought tears to my eyes. 

I mentioned in my previous post that I think this documentary is a game changer. I think it's a cut above anything made before, and the extent of wildlife and ecosystems filmed is outstanding. The main reason I loved it so much, was it filmed so many animals that had never been caught on camera before. 

David Attenborough has been a hero of mine for as long as I can remember. His documentaries have educated people on the importance and beauty of the natural world, and his passion is so inspiring. I think the decision to film in the cities was a bold one, and an ingenious one. Showing people how our world and the natural world interacts is so important, including how detrimental it can be for wildlife. 

I honestly don't have a favourite scene; but here are some of my highlights:

Those are just a few of my favourite bits but I could honestly go one forever, and there was no part of it that I didn't love. 

People always react to "shocking" footage. Hunts, or any dying animal scenes always cause mixed reactions and controversy. I personally don't understand how you can watch a nature documentary and not expect to see hunting, or death. It's nature; it's the circle of life. I'm not saying it's not sometimes horrible to watch, and I know you're always torn between wanting the prey to live, and not wanting the predator to starve, but to be able to see some of the animals hunt in the way we did in Planet Earth II is so special. It gives a realistic insight into the natural world, and the struggles animals face to survive. 

I will inevitably be re-watching Planet Earth II forever more. Sir David Attenborough, you've done it again. 

Let me know if you were watching, and which bits were your favourite! And lastly, for all my fellow students out there.. the soundtrack is great to work to! 

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I'm sorry I haven't posted for so long.. it's bad. I know. I have been really busy though with uni and coursework and deadlines, but as I write this I have just submitted my final piece of work for this semester! The semester is over which means I am half way through my degree! (Officially, it's not over until after January exams but this is still a scary thought.) I can't believe it's been a year and a half already, but I also sometimes can't remember my life before uni. And to think I didn't know some of my now closest friends two years ago, is ridiculous.

I am now 20! I had my 20th birthday last week, and it was fabulous, and now that it's over I am fully embracing the Christmas spirit. 

I have been absolutely loving Planet Earth 2. This documentary is a cut above the rest, and the footage they've caught it outstanding. I cannot pick a favourite bit (I know David Attenborough's favourite is the snow leopard - I can see why). I absolutely love everything David Attenborough does, and this really has changed the face of wildlife documentaries, and is possibly the greatest series yet. 

I also met Albina Hume, wife of John Hume, for lunch in London recently. It was incredible to meet her, and she is a lovely, inspiring woman. She told me so many amazing stories of life on the largest rhino breeding farm in the world, and sadly some of the darker sides of the conservation world. It seems that she faces some strong opinions, and some not nice people like to make it clear what they think of her. Luckily she is an incredibly strong woman, just like so many other female conservationists I know, and she can't be deterred from fighting for what she believes in. 

A big thing I want to share with you is my summer plans for 2017. Surprise surprise, I'm heading back to Africa. I am joining an Opwall expedition for 6 weeks to work on a Black Rhino population and ranging patterns project, to collect data for my dissertation in my third year of uni! I am so excited and pleased that I can centre my dissertation around rhino conservation and monitoring, and I can't wait to be back in the bush. 

I am planning to stay in South Africa for longer than 6 weeks, and visit some other friends and reserves, but nothing more is finalised yet. 

I am going to blog my trip (obviously) and I'm going to blog the planning. I am officially in fundraising mode to pay for it - it's not cheap but I am hoping to raise the full amount. I'm here to ask for help. If anyone has any tips on fundraising, or has done a similar thing before please get in touch!! I welcome any help at all! Equally, if anyone knows of any grants I could apply for, or ways I could get donations to get me to Africa to help work on this project for the critically endangered Black Rhino, I would hugely appreciate it!

I am back and will be blogging regularly again; as always, send in requests and I will do my best to write about what you want to read about, as well as keeping you updated on my fundraising journey! If you're interested in hearing more about my lunch with Mrs Hume, or my thoughts on the challenges she faces let me know! I would love to write a post about some inspiring people I know in the conservation industry, if that's something you would want to see.

Here are some photos from the first semester of year 2, including my birthday!