Can religion save Africa's elephants and rhinos? [View all]

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http://www.times-standard.com/lifestyle/ci_21607870/can-religion-save-africas-elephants-and-rhinos

Jason Straziuso/The Associated Press
Created: 09/22/2012 02:19:48 AM PDT




NAIROBI, Kenya -- Standing before a pile of charred elephant ivory as dusk covered the surrounding savannah, Christian, Muslim and Hindu religious leaders grasped hands and prayed. Let religion, they asked, help “God's creatures” to survive.

Poachers are escalating their assault on Africa's elephants and rhinos, and conservationists warn that the animals cannot survive Asia's high-dollar demand for ivory tusks and rhino horn powder. Some wildlife agents, customs officials and government leaders are being paid off by what is viewed as a well-organized mafia moving animal parts from Africa to Asia, charge the conservationists.

Seeing a dire situation grow worse, the animal conservation group World Wildlife Fund is enlisting religious leaders to take up the cause in the hopes that religion can help save some of the world's most majestic animals.

”We are the ones who are driving God's creatures to extinction,” said Martin Palmer, secretary-general of the Britain-based Alliance of Religions and Conservation.

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