Category Archives: Rhino

Africa, Biodiversity, Black Rhino, Breeding in captivity, Christopher J. Gervais, conservation, Documentary Films, Endangered Species, environment, Extinction, Film Festival, Mt. Kilimanjaro, Nature Documentary, Nature Films, Poaching, Poaching, Power of Film, Rhino, Rhinos, Tanzania, Tony Fitzjohn, Uncategorized, WCFF, wildlife, Wildlife Conservation, Wildlife Conservation Film Festival, Wildlife Documentary, Wildlife Films

“In The Footsteps of Giants” – Official WCFF Selection

June 13, 2018 christopherjgervais Leave a comment

“In The Footsteps of Giants” produced by Dave Taylor with Stop Drop and Roll Productions is an official selection to the 2018 WCFF. Documentary on the Climb for Conservation on Mt Kilimanjaro for black rhino conservation at Mkomazi Reserve in Tanzania with legendary wildlife conservationist Tony Fitzjohn

SYNOPSIS: Experience a summit climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro with a group of climbers from “Climb For Conservation as they raise money for the black rhino conservation and breeding program at Mkomazi Reserve in Tanzania and meet the extraordinary Tony Fitzjohn and family that is dedicated their lves to bring the black rhino back from the brink of extinction.

The WCFF mission is to inform, engage and inspire wildlife conservation through the power of film. Join us October 18-28, 2018. Over 100 documentary films, many World and North America premieres. Panel discussions, receptions, field trips, networking, virtual reality/360 & more. All Access Film Festival passes are available now for purchase: wcff.org/nyc-festival-2018/

Contact: info@wcff.org to join the planning committee. Sponsor the film festival, advertise on the big screen. Take a full or half page in the full color, hard copy program book, istributed in Africa, Australia, China, Europe, India, North & South America.

Christopher J. Gervais, FRGS
Twitter: @CJGERVAIS
Christopher@WCFF.org

Wildlife Conservation Film Festival
October 18-28, 2018 | New York, NY
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Africa, Biodiversity, Christopher J. Gervais, conservation, Documentary Films, Elephants, Endangered Species, environment, Extinction, Film Festival, Giraffes, Hunting, Indigenous People, Lions, Namibia, Nature Documentary, Nature Films, New York City, Power of Film, Rhino, Uncategorized, WCFF, wildlife, Wildlife Conservation, Wildlife Conservation Film Festival, Wildlife Documentary, Wildlife Films

Ancient People of Namibia – Official WCFF Selection

June 2, 2018 christopherjgervais Leave a comment

“The Ancient People of Namibia” produced by Akin Esgin & Burak Dogansoyal of BBA Broadband Films is an official selection to the 2018 WCFF.

OFFICIAL TRAILER: https://vimeo.com/265045383

The WCFF mission is to inform, engage and inspire wildlife conservation through the power of film. Join us for our eight year anniversary October 18-28, 2018. Ten days with over 100 documentary films screened, many World and North America premieres. Panel discussions, receptions, field trips, networking, virtual reality/360 and more. All Access Film Festival passes are available now for purchase: wcff.org/nyc-festival-2018/

Contact: info@wcff.org to join the planning committee. Sponsor the film festival, advertise on the big screen during the outdoor summer series and the October festival. Take a page in the full color program book to be distributed in USA, China and other countries.

Christopher J. Gervais, FRGS
Twitter: @CJGERVAIS
Christopher@WCFF.org

Africa, Animal Rights, Biodiversity, China, Christopher J. Gervais, conservation, Dehorning, Documentary Films, Endangered Species, environment, Extinction, Film Festival, Hunting, Illegal Wildlife Trade, Nature Documentary, Nature Films, New York City, Poaching, Power of Film, Rhino, Rhino horn, Rhinos, Uncategorized, Vietnam, WCFF, wildlife, Wildlife Conservation, Wildlife Conservation Film Festival, Wildlife Crime, Wildlife Documentary, Wildlife Films, Zakouma National Park

Rhino’s return to Chad

May 14, 2018 christopherjgervais Leave a comment

Six black rhino return to Zakouma National Park in Chad. The species has not been seen in this country for nearly 50 years after having been killed off by poachers.

The population of black rhinos is down nearly 98% since 1960 with an estimate at just 5,000 black rhinos remaining in Africa. Poaching for their horns, used in traditional medicine in Asia continues to be significant threat to their survival.

The WCFF informs, engage and inspires wildlife conservation through the power of film. Join us for our eight year anniversary in New York, NY, October 18-28, 2018. Ten days of film screenings, pan el discussions, receptions, field trips, networking, Virtual Reality and more. Get your 2018 All Access Film Festival pass today: http://www.wcff.org/nyc-festival-2018/

Christopher J. Gervais, FRGS
Twitter: @CJGERVAIS
Christopher@WCFF.org

animal abuse, Animal Cruelty, Animal Rights, Biodiversity, Captive Exotic Animals, Christopher J. Gervais, conservation, Elephants, Endangered Species, environment, Extinction, Facebook, Illegal Wildlife Trade, Ivory, Mark Zuckerberg, Nature Documentary, Nature Films, Poaching, Power of Film, Rhino, Rhino horn, tigers, Uncategorized, WCFF, wildlife, Wildlife Conservation, Wildlife Conservation Film Festival, Wildlife Crime, Wildlife Documentary, Wildlife Films, Wildlife Smuggling

Facebook Allegedly Making Profit on Wildlife Trafficking of Endangered Species

April 19, 2018 christopherjgervais Leave a comment

An Associated Press article indicates that Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook are making a profit by selling ads on pages that are operated by illegal wildlife traffickers. The pages sell the body parts of endangered animals, according to a complaint filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Facebook has allegedly been making money off of the sellers of items like elephant ivory, rhino horns and tiger teeth. The article from the Associated Press includes a screen grab of a Facebookgroup page displaying buckets full of the teeth. See atop this page.

According to the complaint, Facebook is violating its responsibilities as a publicly-traded company by knowingly profiting from the criminal trafficking of endangered species. The anonymous whistleblower complaint was filed in August 2017 by the law firm of Kohn, Kohn and Colapinto.

Facebook released a statement saying it does not permit the sale of wildlife, endangered species or their parts, and that it removes groups that have been identified as engaging in illegal conduct. However according to the statement from Kohn, Kohn and Colapinto, a months-long investigation of various social media platforms by the law firm’s undercover team found “rampant wildlife activity in two places: Facebook and Instagram.”

Christopher J. Gervais, FRGS
Twitter: @CJGERVAIS
Christopher@WCFF.org

Africa, Animal Intelligence, Animal Rights, Biodiversity, Christopher J. Gervais, conservation, DBE, Documentary Films, Elephants, Endangered Species, environment, Film Festival, Ivory, Kenya, Nature Documentary, Nature Films, New York City, Poaching, Power of Film, Rhino, Rhino horn, Rhinos, Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, Uncategorized, WCFF, wildlife, Wildlife Activists, Wildlife Conservation, Wildlife Conservation Film Festival, Wildlife Documentary, Wildlife Films

Dame Daphne Sheldrick, DBE

April 15, 2018 christopherjgervais Leave a comment

With great sadness we announce the passing of Dame Daphne Sheldrick, DBE. She was leader in wildlife conservation for over 60 years. An author, conservationist and expert in animal husbandry. Co-warden of Tsavo National Park and created the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Nairobi, Kenya. A pioneer to save orphaned elephants, rhinos and many other species.

Christopher J. Gervais, FRGS
Twitter: @CJGERVAIS
Christopher@WCFF.org

Africa, Animal Rights, Biodiversity, Christopher J. Gervais, conservation, Dehorning, Documentary Films, Endangered Species, environment, Extinction, In vitro fertilization, Kenya, Mammals, Nature Documentary, Nature Films, New York City, Northern White Rhinocerous, Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Poaching, Poaching, Rhino, Rhino horn, Rhinos, Sudan-The Last Northern White Rhino, Uncategorized, WCFF, WCFF Education Outreach, White Rhinocerous, wildlife, Wildlife Conservation Film Festival, Wildlife Crime, Wildlife Documentary, Wildlife Films

The last male Northern White Rhino

March 20, 2018 christopherjgervais Leave a comment

Sudan, the world’s last male northern white rhinoceros, has died at the age of 45 years old in Kenya at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy. His death leaves the species functionally extinct, as only two females remain. Northern white rhinos used to be found in an area spanning Uganda, Chad, southwestern Sudan, the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Some 2,000 existed in 1960, but war and poaching drove them to extinction in the wild. Ignorance & greed lead to this tragedy.

Less than 12 Vaquita porpoise remain, fewer then 40 Sumatran Rhinoceros are left, the Yangtze River Dolphin is gone and the North Atlantic Right Whale population is crashing. How many more species must we lose before the world wakes up?

The WCFF informs, engage and inspires wildlife conservation through the power of film. Join us for our eight year anniversary in New York, NY, October 18-28, 2018. Ten days of film screenings, panel discussions, receptions, field trips, networking, Virtual Reality and more.

Christopher J. Gervais, FRGS
Twitter: @CJGERVAIS
Christopher@WCFF.org

Asia, Biodiversity, Christopher J. Gervais, conservation, Deforestation, Documentary Films, Endangered Species, environment, Extinction, Film Festival, Hunting, Illegal Wildlife Trade, Indonesia, Javan Rhino, Mammals, Nature Documentary, Nature Films, Poaching, Poaching, Power of Film, Rhino, Rhino horn, Rhinos, Uncategorized, WCFF, WCFF Education Outreach, wildlife, Wildlife Conservation Film Festival, Wildlife Crime, Wildlife Documentary, Wildlife Films

Javan Rhinoceros population holding steady

March 10, 2018 christopherjgervais Leave a comment

The Javan rhinoceros, one of the world’s most endangered species, continues to persevere in its last remaining sanctuary, latest census from the Indonesia government finds a minimum of 67 individuals. The species is restricted to Ujung Kulon National Park, which is only 185 square miles, roughly the size of New York City boroughs, Queens and Brooklyn combined

The Javan Rhino was once the most widespread of all rhino species in Asia, found from Assam and Bengal (where their range would have overlapped with both the Sumatran and Indian rhinos) eastward to Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and southwards to the Malay Peninsula and the islands of Sumatra, Java, and possibly Borneo. Today the species is only found in the western tip of the island of Java. Deforestation, human population, poaching have decimate the species.

The WCFF informs, engage and inspires wildlife conservation through the power of film. Join us for our eight year anniversary in New York, NY, October 18-28, 2018. Ten days of film screenings, panel discussions, receptions, field trips, networking, Virtual Reality and more.

Christopher J. Gervais, FRGS
Twitter: @CJGERVAIS
Christopher@WCFF.org

Africa, Animal Rights, Biodiversity, Botswana, China, Christopher J. Gervais, conservation, Dehorning, Documentary Films, Endangered Species, environment, Extinction, Film Festival, Hunting, Illegal Wildlife Trade, Kenya, Mammals, Nature Documentary, Nature Films, Poaching, Poaching, Power of Film, Rhino, Rhino horn, Rhinos, Rwanda, South Africa, Uncategorized, Vietnam, WCFF, WCFF Education Outreach, White Rhinocerous, wildlife, Wildlife Conservation, Wildlife Conservation Film Festival, Wildlife Crime, Wildlife Documentary, Wildlife Films, Zimbabwe

Dehorning Rhino – Official WCFF selection

February 25, 2018 christopherjgervais Leave a comment

Dehorning Rhino in the Wild, produced and directed by James and Sam Suter, is an official selection to the 2018 WCFF. This short documentary will screen this October in New York.

The WCFF mission is to Informs, Engage and Inspire wildlife conservation through the power of film. Join us for our eight year anniversary in New York, NY, October 18-28, 2018. Ten days of film screenings, panel discussions, receptions, field trips, networking, virtual reality and more.

Wild Earth & Safari Live

January 23, 2018 christopherjgervais Leave a comment

We are pleased to announce a new partnership between the WCFF and Wild Earth TV. Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 09:00-10:30 EST we will broadcast on our Facebook page Safari Live. Sign up today https://www.facebook.com/WCFForg/ to enjoy this great program. This many of the free education outreach programs WCFF will offer this year.

Learn more about wildlife conservation and protecting global biodiversity through the power of film. Join us for our eight year WCFF anniversary, October 18-28, 2018 in New York, NY. Ten days of film screenings, panel discussions, receptions, field trips, networking events, virtual reality programs and more.

Contact: info@wcff.org to join the planning committee Sponsor the film festival, advertise on the big screen during the outdoor summer series and/or October festival, Take a full or half page ad in the full color program book to be distributed in New York and China.

Christopher J. Gervais, FRGS
Twitter: @CJGERVAIS
Christopher@WCFF.org

Animal Rights, Biodiversity, Breeding in captivity, Christopher J. Gervais, conservation, Deforestation, Endangered Species, environment, Extinction, habitat destruction, Hunting, Illegal Wildlife Trade, In vitro fertilization, Indonesia, International Rhino foundation, Malaysia, Nat Geo WILD, Pleistocene, Poaching, Poaching, Rainforest, Rhino, Sumatran Rhino, Uncategorized, WCFF, White Rhinocerous, wildlife, Wildlife Conservation, Wildlife Crime

Is this the End of the Sumatran Rhino?

December 19, 2017 christopherjgervais Leave a comment

Some years ago when i was in high school there were an estimated 800 Sumatran Rhino left in the world. Today estimates have as few as 30 to no higher than 90 animals left in the wild and captivity combined.

Habitat destruction has been the primary culprit along with poaching for rhino horn. Mismanagement of wildlife conservation has been another factor that has plagued the protection of this unique species. For the years the governments of Indonesia and Malaysia have not cooperated to devise a comprehensive management plan to include captive breeding and habitat protection. Now with perhaps as few as 30 animals left on earth is it too late.

History has shown that it is not too late. The White Rhinoceros was nearly exterminated and number were reduced to as low as 50 animals. Today there are around 15,000. The number was higher a decade ago but years of poaching have reduced the species by over a thousand animals a year for the past ten years.

Captive breeding has been successful recently at the Cincinnati zoo until their last female rhino died. The International Rhino Foundation (IRF) breeding center in Sumatra has had success but the number of offspring is not competing with the overall birth/death rate.

The Sumatran Rhino s the smallest of all five rhino species, it is also a close relative of the extinct Wooly Rhinoceros that dies out at the end of the Pleistocene Era. To lose another rhino species in such a short time in geological history would be a tragedy.

More can and needs to be done to save this species. IT IS NOT TOO LATE! An aggressive captive breeding program must be implemented with combined efforts of Indonesia and Malaysia. Some scientists believe that In vitro fertilization may be the answer. It is certainly worth a try. We will not know unless an effort is put to the test.

Recently the Wildlife Conservation Film Festival (WCFF) partnered with NatGeoWild to host a program on Sumatran Rhino Conservation in Dali, China. The event screened clips from Operation Sumatran Rhino and discussed conservation work for tis endangered species. In the audience were over 150 wildlife conservation experts, biologists, government representatives from multiple South-east Asia countries and leaders in the nature/wildlife documentary film industry. All were in agreement, more needs to be done to save this species and the power of this film is getting the word out.

Christopher J. Gervais, F.R.G.S.
Twitter: @CJGERVAIS
Christopher@WCFF.org

From the Founder: Wildlife Conservation Film Festival