Ivory Wars Out Of Africa

Watch Ivory Wars Out Of Africa

  • 2012

Ivory Wars Out Of Africa is a hard-hitting factual series produced by BBC Worldwide in 2012 that delves deep into the dark worlds of ivory poaching and smuggling. The show highlights the shocking decline of African elephant populations, particularly in Tanzania and Mozambique, where ivory poaching has reached epidemic proportions.

Throughout the series, the filmmakers take viewers on a journey through the African savannahs and into the shadowy backstreets of Asian cities, where the illegal ivory trade flourishes. The show is a powerful indictment of the illegal ivory trade as it uncovers the horror and brutality of this multibillion-dollar industry.

The first episode of Ivory Wars Out Of Africa sets the tone for the series as it introduces viewers to the key players in the illegal ivory trade. The filmmakers highlight the corrupt networks involved in the trade, from poachers on the ground to corrupt officials and wealthy buyers in Asia.

Through hard-hitting interviews with ivory smugglers, conservationists, and government officials, the series covers the full range of issues related to ivory poaching and smuggling. The show captures the desperation of African poachers who are willing to risk their lives to kill elephants, often using crude and inhumane methods.

The second episode of Ivory Wars Out Of Africa reveals the devastating impact of the ivory trade on elephant populations in Tanzania. The show documents the horrifying scale of illegal poaching, showing that up to 30,000 elephants are being killed every year to feed the insatiable demand for ivory in China and other Asian countries.

Throughout the episode, the filmmakers follow anti-poaching patrols as they try to combat the trade, showcasing the incredible danger faced by those fighting to save Africa's elephants. The viewers also get to see the scale of the problem faced by conservationists, with widespread corruption and a lack of resources preventing effective action to halt the trade.

The third episode of Ivory Wars Out Of Africa focuses on the smuggling networks that transport ivory out of Africa and into Asia. The show exposes the ruthless gangs that control the smuggling operations, highlighting the use of sophisticated methods to evade border controls and the efforts of law enforcement officers.

Through undercover operations and interviews with smugglers, Ivory Wars Out Of Africa shows how ivory is smuggled from Africa into Asia, where it is sold on the black market. The show reveals the extent of the demand for ivory in China, with wealthy buyers willing to pay vast sums of money for ivory products such as ornamental carvings and traditional medicines.

In the final episode of the series, Ivory Wars Out Of Africa brings the issue of ivory poaching and smuggling to the forefront of public consciousness. The filmmakers ask difficult questions about the responsibility of governments and the international community to act against the trade. In particular, the show criticizes China for not doing enough to reduce demand for ivory and for failing to clamp down on the domestic ivory trade.

Overall, Ivory Wars Out Of Africa is a powerful and thought-provoking series that highlights the scale and urgency of the problem of ivory poaching and smuggling. Through its skilful storytelling and hard-hitting footage, the show forces viewers to confront the brutal reality of the trade and to ask difficult questions about how to combat it. The show serves as a wake-up call to audiences around the world to take action to protect Africa's elephants, before it is too late.