Page 48 - Dark Matter:Women Witnessing Issue2

Poachers hack off the faces of male elephants

to retrieve the whole tusk. The process takes

hours with axes and is done while the elephant
is still alive, because gunfire would attract

attention. The tusks are literally worth more

than their weight in gold and become more

valuable as the elephants near extinction. 2014
was the largest elephant kill in history, not

because there is a huge demand for ivory, but

because individuals who trade in ivory are
attempting to make elephants extinct, at which

point ivory will go up in value tenfold. Elephant

extinction is an intentional operation led by
sophisticated Asian businessmen who are

stockpiling the tusks. The extinction trade is

one of the darkest things happening in the
world.

Photos copyright Chris Jordan

http://www.chrisjordan.com/gallery/ushirikian

o/ -­‐ elephcarcasspano

Megan Hollingsworth, MS, is a mother, poet, dancer, and compassion

activist. She is founder and creative director at ex·∙tinc·∙tion wit·∙ness, a

collaborative art project offering creative witness for large groups

being and becoming extinct. The work exemplifies, and encourages the

felt experience and expression of sorrow commensurate with the loss

of an estimated 200 species per day and the intolerably violent deaths

so many endure.

See www.extinctionwitness.org and www.meganhollingsworth.com