Last calendar month , I drop a line of an cause by the Wildlife Conservation Society ( WCS ) and others to urge the PBS series Antiques Roadshow to discontinue appraising pearl , given the devastating toll that poaching has on elephant populations . The WCS foretell today that the show has consort to their asking .
Antiques Roadshow Needs To kibosh Appraising Ivory
A statement put out by the WCS reads , in part :
The Wildlife Conservation Society is pleased to learn that Antiques Roadshow on PBS will no longer feature carve ivory tusks on air . In addition , the show has removed retiring appraisals from the series archive .
“ On behalf of WCS and all of the 96 Elephants effort partner , we commend Antiques Roadshow on their decision to terminate appraisals of bone tusks , ” said John Calvelli , Wildlife Conservation Society Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Director of WCS ’s 96 Elephants Campaign . “ It is vital to the survival of this iconic specie that we determine the demand of ivory products . These policy are an significant stone’s throw in reassure these point are not glorify on - air and the assumed monetary note value is not a factor . We look frontward to working with Antiques Roadshow in the coming month . ”
The conclusion number as Africa ’s elephant ’s struggle for survival due to ivory poaching . scientist estimate elephant numbers have plummeted by 76 percent due for the most part to the demand of elephant ivory with an guess 35,000 slaughtered by poacher in 2012 alone .
Antiques Roadshow , raise by WGBH Boston , has ferment close with USFWS to stay up - to - date on this issue , and now has an open dialog with the Wildlife Conservation Society .
According to the show ’s producers , when feature antique objects made from ESA materials , such as a historical portrayal on ivory or a musical instrument with an ivory inlay , Antiques Roadshow strive to put up context and use the appraisal as an opportunity to educate its viewers not only about the historical and ethnic significance of the object , but also about the larger subject at hand .
According to the insurance policy bring out on their website , Antiques Roadshow only sport items in agreement with U.S. law , including the Endangered Species Act ( ESA ) , U.S. regulations for implementing the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora ( CITES ) , and other applicable laws . Antiques Roadshow has not rap any bone tusk appraisals for the last three season ( the last one was film in Tulsa , Oklahoma for the series 16th time of year ) .
This seems like the best outcome imaginable : the show will no longer featured cut up off-white tusk in new materials , they ’ll move out that form of content from their site , and any succeeding appraisal that include ivory ( in its non - tusk manikin ) will let in a discussion about the larger issues require in the ivory trade .
Header persona : Ivory prehend from poacher viaENOUGH Project / Flickr .
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