One of the most profitable illegal businesses in the world. A Czech who's exposing poaching in Africa. The first episode of the VAKOVAKO podcast
You can also listen to the podcast on Spotify
The first episode of the new podcast VAKOVAKO opens up an issue that is not only ecologically crucial, but also deeply human - the dramatic decline of Central African forest elephants. Their population has plummeted by a shocking 86 %and the species has been listed as critically endangered since 2021.
The guest of the episode is Arthur F. Sniegon, founder of the Czech organisation Save Elephants, which has long been dedicated to the conservation of elephants in Africa and the fight against poaching. Arthur brings an authentic perspective from the field, where more than 90% of the remaining elephants live in a region whose inhabitants are often dependent on dwindling natural resources for their livelihoods.
One of the main topics is poaching. Document Congo: The price of an elephant featuring Arthur alongside Ben Cristovao, reveals that 9 out of 10 dead elephants have been killed by poachers in recent decades. Every year, ivory kills over 20 000 elephants and the black market is heading around 240 tonnes of ivory worth more than 30 billion crowns.
The podcast uncovers the full mechanics of this trade - from poor hunters to traffickers to wealthy consumers in the world's capitals. It also explores the conflict between humans and elephants that is growing with the loss of rainforests and the rapid growth of the human population.
Arthur also explains why elephants are irreplaceable for the ecosystem. As "gardeners of the rainforest", they maintain biodiversity and allow the growth of many species of plants and trees that are essential for carbon storage. Without them, the rainforest could become a poor monoculture.
And what is an elephant worth to you? Support Fundraiser: The Price of an Elephant. We send 100% of the collected donations to Save-Elephants.
