Investigation shows wild elephants being sold and kept in captivity in UAE

In March 2022, a herd of Namibian wild elephants landed in the UAE. The sale, which was designed to simulate an African safari experience at the Emirates Zoo, did nothing to benefit the animals and Namibian natives, and violated international agreements, an exclusive investigation by The New Arab has revealed.

The African elephants, an endangered species, were originally captured from their natural habitat in Kamanjab, northwest Namibia, in early September 2021 and spent six months in isolated captivity. They were then heavily sedated before being loaded into containers, boarded on planes and transferred to their final destinations: Sharjah Safari Park and Al Ain Zoo in Abu Dhabi.

For the rulers of the UAE, the tourism-driven African theme of their safari is clearly more important than the success of the breeding program. Al Ain Zoo director Mark Craig made it clear that the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums did not import from Africa (its) – accredited breeding program as past programs have not been successful. Arne Lawrenz, EAZA Elephant Ex situ Programme (EEP) coordinator, describes the Emirates Zoo’s “philosophy” as “I have money and I want to have it. I don’t care if it works.” Results are through middlemen, not between zoos The non-commercial deal made a lucrative deal.

After months of back and forth between New Arab and EAZA officials, TNA shared information it had obtained and questioned the role of European Association members in elephant sales, EAZA decided termination Members of the Al-Ain Zoo on September 15. Namibian journalist John Grobler, who was involved in the investigation, plans to use the exposure to call for sanctions against Namibia at the CITES CoP 19 meeting in November, considered the world’s most important annual summit on the wildlife trade.

Wildlife trafficking is the fourth most lucrative illegal trade in the world, worth an estimated $15 billion a year. Is this a case of illegal elephant trafficking? Our exclusive survey (Click here) reveal the involvement of shady intermediaries, violations of CITES, the abuse of elephants and the lack of long-term benefits for African communities that protect or are affected by their presence.

“While all the parties involved claim that the trade is legal and takes into account the welfare of the elephants, it is a clear violation of international norms and the parties involved may be aware of this.”