USFWS Crushes 1 ton of Elephant Ivory in Times Square

In an historic effort to reduce demand for illegal wildlife parts and to raise awareness about the international poaching crisis, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service crushed 1 ton of confiscated elephant ivory in Times Square, the heart of New York City, on Friday.

Confiscated elephant ivory in Times Square

A coalition of NGOs from all over the globe, including Tigers for Tigers, came together to witness this symbolic event in one of our country’s most iconic locations. Among others, special guests included Sally Jewell, Secretary of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe, actress Kristen Davis, and representatives in Congress from New York State. This year marks the second Ivory Crush event hosted by the United States - the first one occurred two years ago, in Denver.

The message is loud and clear - we need to do everything in our power to discourage illegal trade, increase enforcement and reduce demand for illegal wildlife products and parts. We cannot wait any longer and we need to take action now, before it is too late.

“If we want our children, our grandchildren, to see elephants in the wild and other species, we owe it to them to shut down the market that motivates poachers,” said Jewell.

Secretary of Interior, Sally Jewel

The U.S. Ivory Crush event is just one of several recent ivory destruction events taking place throughout the world. We hope that other countries will follow, in hopes of stigmatizing the value of illegal wildlife products. Unless a tusk is connected to an elephant, it has no value. Unless we reduce the demand, the poaching will continue. We must stand up and tell the world that this matters to us! Only by shedding light on such dark practices can we end the threat of illegal poaching.  

Over the past few years, the United States has made significant advances towards addressing wildlife trafficking, starting with President Obama’s Executive Order on Wildlife Trafficking in 2013. The establishment of a National Strategy to Combat Wildlife Trafficking followed suit, as did the introduction of the Wildlife Trafficking Act of 2015 and the new Global Anti-Poaching Act. There is still more work to be done, but we are very confident that change is coming, and Tigers for Tigers will continue to tirelessly support these efforts.

You can participate in this week’s event by spreading the message about the Ivory Crush using the hash-tag #IvoryCrush. Follow our friends @USFWSInternatl and support their great work!

For more information about the Ivory Crush, click here.

Have a great weekend everyone!

All the best,

Sean Carnell

National Coordinator

National T4T Coalition

607.280.4331

t4tcoalition@gmail.com

Meet the Intern: Robin Lloyd

The National Tigers for Tigers Coalition has recently partnered with  the Refuge Association to provide special internship opportunities for Tigers for Tigers members on various refuges throughout the country.

Robin Lloyd, a Zoology and Animal Biology major at Auburn University, is interning this summer at Clarks River Refuge in western Kentucky. Robin is a rising Junior and has been involved with Tigers for Tigers this past year alongside sophomore Jessie Schieler. I sat down for a quick Q&A with Robin about his internship and time at Clarks River.

Robin Lloyd helping to manage a beaver dam. 

C: What have you done so far/what are your duties as an intern?

R: As an intern as Clarks River it is hard to say what my duties are in a routine nature. Something new and unexpected happens everyday. The internship is 75% maintenance work and 25% wildlife biology, education and policy work. A few examples of things I have done on the refuge is beaver dam control to preserve bottomland hardwood habitat, migratory bird banding with mist nets, environmental education from small children to college adult level, raptor rehabilitation from an injured kestral we are taking care of at the refuge, animal rescues in the community (turkeys, raccoons, groundhogs, etc.), community outreach with the people of Benton, KY and of course Landscaping of the refuge. Each day is something new that keeps the internship exciting.

C: Have you been to a refuge before your internship? 

R: The only other refuge I can think of that I have been to is Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia. Although when I went to Okefenokee at the time for a fishing trip I did not know the major difference between a refuge and a park. A short version of a difference is that a refuge is for conservation and a park is for preservation. 

Landscape shot on a beautiful day in Clarks River. (C) Robin Lloyd

C: What were you expecting out of your internship?

R: I was expecting a good work environment to develop crucial work ethic skills that I could later use in life. Working at Clarks River has given me just that and much more. I have learned valuable skills that will help me to become a better biologist and have acquired some great connections.

C: What's one thing you've learned so far?

R: A few things I have learned working at Clarks River is bird banding, working with other people, educating other people about conservation, public policy, and some of the complex problems working in the government.

C: What's it like interning on a refuge?

R: Interning at Clarks River is great. The land is absolutely beautiful and the people I work with I feel like I have known them for years! Clarks River has given me nice lodging and work vehicles to use for work around the refuge. My boss Michael Johnson is a great guy and is very approachable, knowledgable and fair with everyone who works at the refuge. He is a straight shooter and does not beat around the bush. I am taking an online genetics class at night and everyone at the refuge has been real understanding and have been helping me out in anyway possible. 

C: Would you recommend the internship to other students?

R: I would recommend the internship to other students. It is a great experience and you will learn a lot working here, but I will warn it is a lot of work and someone who does not have a good work ethic could not work here. 

C: What's been your favorite moment/day so far?

R: My favorite day was the first day of migratory bird banding. In one of our mist nets we caught a huge and beautiful pileated woodpecker. I got to help out with the survey, and I released the bird. 

Robin Lloyd pictured with a biology class visiting Clarks River.

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In addition to interning at Clarks River, Robin just finished up his first trip to Washington D.C. advocating for better wildlife trafficking policy. Go Robin! Stay tuned to hear more about other T4T members who are interning this summer.

Go Tigers!

Carrah Lingo

Communications Associate

NT4TC

T4T Tackles Wildlife Trafficking in D.C.

Hello Tigers!

Last week we had students, alumni, and faculty from four of our Coalition Schools make the trip to Washington, D.C., to speak to their Congressmen about supporting international conservation efforts. T4T’s objective was to gain an increase in funding for the Multinational Species Conservation Fund (MSCF) and to obtain co-sponsors for bills in the Senate (Wildlife Trafficking Enforcement Act) and the House (Global Anti-Poaching Act).

The MSCF is used by the US Fish and Wildlife Service to provide grants for on the ground conservation projects that benefit not only tigers, but also elephants, rhinos, great apes, and sea turtles. Additionally, the two bills we were looking for supporters for are incredibly important in the United States’ effort to combat illegal wildlife trafficking.

(Pictured L to R) Pete Stone, Taylor Tench, Dr. Baker, Robin Lloyd and Sienna Fisher.

I had the privilege of working toward our goals on the Hill last week with Sean Carnell, our National Coordinator, Robin Lloyd of Auburn University, Sienna Fisher of the Rochester Institute of Technology, Pete Stone of Clemson University, and Dr. David Baker of LSU.

For most this was their first time meeting with their Congressmen to discuss issues important to them. “I was very surprised on how accessible people in Congress really are,” remarked Robin of Auburn University.

In our meetings, we communicated to the Congressmen and their staffers the importance of protecting our mascot in the wild, and exactly how the initiatives we were asking them to support would do so.

Dr. Baker, Director of Laboratory Animal Medicine at LSU and in charge of the care for their live mascot Mike, mentioned, “It was interesting to see how much the legislators have to ‘juggle’ at one time. It’s understandable that their personal knowledge of Acts might be minimal…if it is not in an area in which they have particular interest.”  This is exactly why our voice on the Hill is so important, and as constituents to these Congressmen protecting our mascot is of importance to them. They are well aware of the tiger schools that so many of their constituents identify with, and many times are alumni or fans of those very same universities. In fact, when we walked into Representative Duncan’s (R-SC) office, he and Pete were wearing the exact same Clemson lapel pin!

Pete Stone & Taylor Tench pose outside Jeff Duncan's Office

These types of experiences are also great bonding experiences among Coalition members and strengthen relationships between schools that can be turned into great collaborative work throughout the academic year. When asked what he enjoyed most about the trip, Dr. Baker said, “Spending time with and getting to know the students and the T4T staff, and visiting with legislators and their aides.”

When asked what he enjoyed most about the trip, Robin said, “Meeting with Senators and Representatives on the Hill was very insightful and it felt good to be doing some real political conservation and using my voice for tigers in the wild.”

As a Coalition, our strength is in our numbers. So many students, faculty, alumni, and fans from across the country working toward a common goal can make a tremendous difference for tigers. Even in the current political climate, where it is difficult to make forward progress on any issue, we can still make great strides for conservation as Sienna from RIT so excellently pointed out: 

“I have hope though, for the legislation that we were supporting. It is certainly of bipartisan interest to protect species such as tigers from poaching, as it is certainly a very broad scope as far as the impact it has on the US. Some may see the environmental implications as enough reason to act, but not everybody is willing to throw resources into conservation simply to preserve a species and an ecosystem. National security may be the primary concern of others when tackling the issue of poaching and wildlife trafficking. Still, no matter the true motive, by reauthorizing and continuing to raise the amount of money allocated to the MSCF and supporting bills that increase the enforcement of trafficking laws and further incentivize anti-poaching stances around the world, we are all helping save tigers.”

If you want to build on the work T4T does in DC, write to your Congressmen asking for their support on these pieces of legislation to help ensure the continued survival of our mascot. 

GO TIGERS!

Taylor Tench

Policy Intern

NT4TC

Meet the Intern: Taylor Tench

The National Tigers for Tigers Coalition is proud to announce that we have our first official intern at the offices in Washington, D.C.! Taylor Tench will be a Policy Intern this summer for Tigers for Tigers tackling wildlife trafficking issues, planning for our first ever leadership conference, and aiding in communication with all of our T4T students across the country. Let's just say this intern won't be fetching morning coffee!

A 2015 Clemson graduate, Taylor is getting real life experience right out of college in the conservation world. Saving our mascot from extinction is vital, but so is offering our students amazing opportunities to learn, network, and get jobs that they are passionate about. I sat down with Taylor last week to learn more about his experience with T4T, and what he hopes to get out of it!

Taylor with his T4T gear in the D.C. office!

C: How did you get involved with Tigers for Tigers?

T: I became involved with Tigers for Tigers my freshman year at Clemson University. I had always been interested in endangered species conservation and once I discovered an organization on campus dedicated to saving our mascot I was immediately hooked.

C: What have you learned through your involvement with T4T?

T: T4T taught me so much throughout my college career, not only about tigers but also about the field of conservation, teamwork, leadership, and the value of hard work. Before my involvement in T4T I had a very narrow view of conservation in that I assumed “conservation” was limited to going out to some exotic location, studying an animal, and somehow that was all it took to make a difference. I have learned that it takes collaboration from all different disciplines (science, policy, law, communications, education, etc) to enact successful conservation efforts. Through my time as a T4T member at Clemson I transitioned from an ordinary member, to an officer in the organization, to President my senior year. My experiences in T4T at Clemson showed me just how important teamwork is to accomplish your goals. It takes hard work from a team of like-minded individuals to achieve difficult objectives, and thankfully T4T is full of members across the country ready to do what it takes to save our mascot! Even now as an intern I continue to learn each day, and that is what keeps me so interested in and excited about the work this organization is undertaking.

 Taylor volunteers at Clemson's organization fair "Tiger Prowl" in 2013

C: What kinds of things are you taking on this summer for your internship with NT4TC?

T: I’m taking on any and every task the Coalition needs me to do to this summer. So far I’ve been helping out with planning for Global Tiger Day, writing letters, attending hearings on newly introduced legislation, corresponding with students and faculty coming up to DC next week, and am working on putting together information for some new Coalition publications. Soon I’ll begin putting together content for the Coalition’s fall leadership conference. So needless to say, I have plenty to keep me busy!

Taylor speaks at the 2013 5K he organized

C: What do you hope to get out of your internship?

T: I want to contribute as much as I can to help the Coalition grow and succeed. I’ve been a part of the Coalition ever since its inception and believe this organization is on its way to be a huge player in the world of tiger conservation. Additionally I’m hoping to learn as much as I can about the policy side of conservation and understand how things get accomplished here in our nation’s capitol. 

C: You’re from Florida, went to college at Clemson and are now in D.C. How are you enjoying it?

T: I love it! It’s very different from what I’m used to, but I think that’s what makes it so exciting.

C: What advice would you give to other T4T members?

T: Stay open-minded and don’t lose sight of your goals. Take chances and expose yourself to different fields and experiences outside of your main interest. As long as you continue to work hard and seize every opportunity handed to you, you will succeed.

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Taylor is currently helping lead T4T leaders on a three day trip in D.C. to talk to senators about wildlife trafficking. Stay tuned for a blog this Friday all about their accomplishments!

Go Tigers!

Carrah Lingo

Communications Associate

NT4TC

Make a Difference Where You Want To

Guest blog by: Jessie Schieler

You know what my favorite thing is about Tigers for Tigers? You can be whatever you want and still get the chance to work with students from all over the United States and make a difference for tigers. How cool is that?

Let me give you a quick introduction: hi, my name is Jessie. I’m an upcoming sophomore at Auburn University, and I’m changing my major from Organismal Biology to Secondary Science Education. In more comprehensible words, I want to be a high school science teacher. More specifically, I want to be a high school zoology teacher. That’s kind of an interesting jump, am I right? It’s kind of in the same ball park, but not really. 

Ever since I was a little girl I had always wanted to be involved with animals. I was that one child who went up to a snarling dog saying, “oh, he just needs a hug!!” while my mother was pulling me away saying, “OH NO, he doesn’t!!!!” Or that one child who came up holding a snake, “look what I found, dad!!” (While he would secretly be proud I was the little snake wrestler) but would have to tell me “Jess, you cannot just go picking up any snake you find.” I’m still surprised at how chill he was about that, I mean, I could’ve been bitten! But hey, at least I was fearless. (Maybe more oblivious.) Anyways, I have always had a passion for animals, I wanted to be able to do something with them, somehow. So, when the time came, I started off as you would think, a scientist. My problem was, I never particularly liked the scientist part—the experiments and what not—I enjoyed telling people about the cool facts. I didn’t necessarily care where those cool facts came from, just as long as I could be the one to tell them.

Well, luckily this science major led me to an interesting find, Tigers for Tigers. My professor noticed my knack of talking to people about what I love, big cats, and introduced me to a guy named Sean. Tigers for Tigers was definitely cool, and it got me excited. I had to be involved.

I took on my first project, Cubs for Cubs. Silly me, the first thing I was drawn to was the teaching part of the organization and was still oblivious to how much I loved it. Cubs for Cubs is a branch off of T4T where students attend elementary and middle schools to educate kids about why it is important to save tigers, and more importantly why it is important to want to.

As I got more involved in the group I still noticed how much I enjoyed working with the people and more importantly how much I enjoyed talking to people about the neat things we were doing. I think what really made me click with this group was that in a world full of scientists, I was not one. That’s kind of weird, right? The cool thing about it was that we all had the same passion, so we all got along really well. However, a scientist is different than a teacher, yes? So, why did we work together so well? Because we have the same passion for saving tigers, we can bring each other into our different worlds and see different perspectives which I believe really makes our organization stronger.

Jessie Schieler pictured in orange while filming Earth Day video at the National T4T Summit at LSU

Tigers for Tigers made me realize how much I do enjoy working in the science field, but not as the scientist. It’s important in an organization to have  strengths in various disciplines so you can reach out to different people, but find that same passion. We always focus on trying to get people outside of the science world into our clubs. In order for the scientists to proclaim their work, they need the teachers to share it. The teachers need the scientists to give them something to share. It’s a cool “circle of life” we have going on at T4T.

I honestly think being a teacher is the best move for me, and I would have never realized it without working with such an awesome group of students with T4T. I hope that when I graduate and get a job, I can inspire high school kids to do what they want to do, regardless of the “stereotypes” that jobs normally come with. You don’t have to be a doctor to work in the medical field, and you don’t have to be a scientist to work in the animal field. You can be whatever you want to be, just as long as you love it.

Of course my mom is a teacher. Funny, that’s how it normally goes, doesn’t it? I always said, “I’ll never be a teacher” and yet, here I am!

Jessie Schieler

Auburn University

C/O 2018

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A huge thanks to Jessie for participating as a guest blogger for T4T. We look forward to featuring her many more times in the future!

Carrah Lingo
Communications Associate
NT4TC