Communication short film with the message on prevention of elephant poaching and ivory trade (11/04/2023, 10:28)

On March 31, the Education for Nature Center (ENV) released a new short film to condemn the distorted view that ivory is a symbol of luxury and luck. The short film aims to raise awareness and reduce demand for ivory for jewelry.

Short film to raise awareness and reduce demand for ivory jewelry in Vietnam.

The main character in the story is a famous, stylish and popular young girl. She was invited to participate in a luxurious party and after receiving a "precious" gift from the owner of the party, this girl excitedly wore it and showed it off on social networks. However, instead of becoming more famous, the girl's image was tarnished when the online community condemned her use of ivory jewelry because this is the cause of elephants being killed.

The product was jointly made by the Elephant Crisis Fund and the U.S. Department of State in collaboration with ENV to spread the message that ivory is not a jewelry product, in order to protect elephants from being hunted and killed.

This short film will be broadcast widely on central and local televisions as well as at Buon Ma Thuot International Airport.

According to ENV, every day, hundreds of African elephants are killed to meet consumption in some countries.

The exhibition "Elephant protection" at the 8th Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Festival in 2023.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong Dung - Deputy Director, ENV shared: “Fighting the ivory trade in Vietnam is not only the responsibility of the authorities but also the whole community. Consumers of products made from ivory need to understand that without buyers there would be no elephant poachers and ivory traders. Traders as well as consumers of ivory products need to stop trading ivory as this is shameful behavior and should be condemned.”

Dung also called on the community to join hands to protect elephants: “We should not just stand aside and watch the tragedy of elephants being killed for their tusks, instead we should join hands in action by notifying the ivory-related crimes and help family, friends and colleagues understand that wearing ivory jewelry does not help them attract wealth or good luck. On the contrary, to get those luxury jewelry, many elephants have been killed”.

 

 

Visual communication activities at a Dak Lak souvenir shop

 

This is part of ENV's long-term campaign to end the trade in ivory products in Dak Lak province - a hotspot for ivory trade across the country. The campaign is implemented with many activities in the province, from offices or tourist attractions. ENV encourages owners of accommodation businesses, tours or shops to sign a commitment not to trade wildlife products. EVN coordinates with the Department of Information and Communications of Dak Lak province to convey the message to protect elephants, which has been shared to more than 2 million mobile subscribers or created a wildlife violation report function on the application "Dak Lak Online".

Buon Ma Thuot Volunteer Club was also established in May 2022 with the core members being high school students in the province. Up to now, the club has organized 6 exhibitions on "Protecting Elephants", the most recent being the one at the Coffee Festival in March. In addition, the club has also placed information boards at 13 public offices and 14 tourist sites in the province.

Ms. Dung said: “The authorities need to make efforts to reduce ivory trade and consumption in Vietnam because this is the main cause of the ivory trade in the world. As long as the misconception that bracelets, rings, or products made from ivory are luxury fashion products persists, elephants will continue to be killed. Hopefully, through communication campaigns, people will raise awareness and responsibility because only then will elephants stop being killed.”

Kim Bao