You are on a safari, you have your camera, you point and shoot. You get your perfect photo of a rhino, or elephant and you cannot wait to show the world. You post it on social media. You use hashtags, and tag the location to show where in the world you was. With every ‘like’ and ‘repost’, your photo is seen across the world.
Unfortunately poachers have begun to use social media platforms as a way to plan their next kill. Images of rhinos with large horns and elephants with their long tusks excite the poachers. They no longer see a animal, they just see the horn/ tusk. They no longer see it for what it is, keratin, no different to our hair and nails. They see money signs, a huge price tag, they want it and all at the expense of the animals life.
That is why you may see ‘somewhere in Africa’ set as the location. It is advised to keep the location of the animal a secret for their safety.
Social media can be a powerful tool to help raise awareness to help conserve wildlife, but there can be consequences.
Share your photos , not their location, help protect our wildlife from poachers!