lecture on elephants

Trip to the Elephants of Africa

Lecture by Birgit Hampl

The giants of the savannah, majestic, calm and family-focused - that is how we experience elephants on safari. But who of us knows that very soon they maybe will not exist any more? A plea for these wonderful animals and a presentation of not only the elephants themselves but also of how to protect them best.

The lecture starts with a virtual trip to Kasane in Botswana, where the audience meets a lot of elephants in Chobe National Park. First explanations of elephant behaviour are given and more information about elephant features follows. (What tusks are for, hearing not only with ears, how to differentiate between males and females, their intelligence, their very social behaviour, dung to be used for what/relation to forests, etc.)

Next chapter is explaining how very endangered elephants are, that they will be extinct within the next 10 - 15 years if poaching goes on like it does at present. The development of population numbers over the years is highlighted, extreme poaching since exception ivory sales is being discussed, why 1 elephant is poached every 15 min., etc.

In the next chapter various conservation projects are shown in Malawi, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, (Hongkong, too) – and finally (mainly) Kenya with most of DSWT’s (The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust‘s) activities,  specially the orphan‘s project which is explained in detail.

Then: Virtual flight back to Germany and illustration/information about how everyone can help elephants from home in Europe, too. Emphasizing how important the 100% sales ban on ivory is. And how to try to influence governments - by petitions, demonstrations. Showing photos of worldwide demonstrations for elephants.

After this lecture nobody in the audience can avoid to know how very special and wonderful elephants are – and how close to extinction they are.

The African Elephant:

Born 10 million years ago.

Died in 2025

Many of you cared

just not enough.

This lecture was held in castle Oettingen for the first time, in the supporting programme to the exhibition "The Grey Giants and the Humans" which can be seen there until 2018.  After this lecture, the nicest compliment came from the organizer of this event, the director of the Association of Friends of the Museum, who said:  'After this lecture, our exhibition now seems to be rather pathetic.'

The lecture will be repeated at further occasions (in German language).

3rd February 2015 - Oettingen

1st December 2015 - Ismaning

20th January 2016 - Munich

26th October 2017 - Duisburg