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Arsenal owner (UK soccer team) Stan Kroenke pulls all trophy hunting footage from outdoor TV channel after massive public backlash.

My Outdoor TV costs £7.60 a month (about $10.00) and its vile shows feature animals including lions and elephants being stalked and shot by professional hunters.  Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke has pulled all bloodsports footage from his controversial outdoor TV channel after a massive public backlash.

The 70-year-old asked My Outdoor TV to “remove all content related to those animals in light of public interest”.  A statement read: "Outdoor Sportsman Group is dedicated to serving audiences around the world interested in the outdoors.

"In the past few days, there has been significant public attention to a small portion of programming on our MyOutdoorTV app that contains content associated with hunting certain big game animals.

"While many on both sides of this issue have made their voices heard, and this content is only available through paid subscriptions, Stan Kroenke has directed us to remove all content related to those animals in light of the public interest."

The new subscription channel, called My Outdoor TV, offers a host of hunting and shooting programs (Image: MOTV)

Chris Packham had earlier slammed Kroenke’s sick trophy hunting TV channel as “psychopathic” and “ugly”.

The conservationist and TV presenter spoke as the US billionaire faced a backlash over the My Outdoor TV streaming service’s UK launch last weekend.  Its vile shows featured animals including lions and elephants being stalked and shot by professional hunter Springwatch host Chris said Arsenal FC sponsor Emirates should “exert some pressure” on the club as 70,000 people signed a petition calling on sponsors to take a stand against hunting.

Chris Packham has torn into the Arsenal owner's TV business (Image: BBC) He said: “I’m sure an otherwise premium airline wouldn’t want to be associated with this ­celebration of slaughter of some of the world’s most beautiful species.”

My Outdoor TV is part of US-based Outdoor Sportsman Group, owned by Gunners majority shareholder Kroenke, and a subscription costs £7.60 a month.

Arsenal fans horrified at owner Stan Kroenke's 'sick' new 'trophy hunting' TV channel
Chris, 56, said: “What an ugly scenario – trophy hunting on UK television and so out of touch with the modern mood. As wildlife becomes rarer people are growing intolerant of wasting it by killing it for fun. The response to Cecil the lion’s death and to fox hunting and raptor persecution in the UK prove this.

“And the ‘hunter as conservationist’ line is largely a tired old lie they still trot out to justify their psychopathic need to kill defenceless things for pleasure.

“It would be nice to see Emirates exert some pressure because of the Arsenal connection.”

Presenter Ben Fogle called for Arsenal fans to boycott the club.  He said on Good Morning Britain: “My problem is that it glorifies hunting.

With young people suddenly having access to the hunting of elephants in Africa, whether people argue this is legal or not, it’s unethical and I don’t think that we should be promoting this.

Calls to boycott Arsenal after owner Stan Kroenke launches 'sickening' blood sports TV channel showing hunters killing elephants and lions “Stan Kroenke, as a billionaire philanthropist, I think he should be focusing on putting money into conservation.

“It’s still glorifying blood sports. You can’t underestimate the power of television. Television is a medium that makes everything very glamorous.

“If you glamorise someone out with a bow and arrow shooting a bear or someone hunting an elephant, whether it’s for conservation – whether you can argue that or not – it’s still glorifying murder, the killing of a beautiful animal that’s endangered.”

Ben, 43, added: “All the Arsenal supporters… your money is going into supporting hunting, whether you like it or not. I’m calling for a boycott, please.”

My Outdoor TV's promotional material, which glamorises bloodsports (Image: MOTV)
And GMB presenter Eamonn Holmes, 57, said the trophy hunting channel made him “sick”. Brandishing a copy of the Mirror’s front page, he said: “What I’ve seen, that’s made my blood run cold.

“That headline, people who pose as trophy hunters beside things like that. It makes me sick. I think a man who’s in charge of Arsenal has a social responsibility not to be peddling that.”

High-profile Gunners fans Piers Morgan and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn were also among those to condemn Kroenke over the footage.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/arsenal-owner-stan-kroenke-pulls-10928107

$8 Million of Elephant Ivory Destroyed in Central Park!

$8 Million of Elephant Ivory Destroyed in Central Park!

The carvings were confiscated in recent ivory busts in New York. They once belonged on the faces of a least 100 slaughtered elephants. Nearly two tons of ivory worth about $8 million was destroyed at the “Ivory Crush” event, which was timed to precede World Elephant Day on Aug. 12.

Honoring Rangers on this World Ranger Day!

If you follow Over and Above Africa on social media (and we hope you do!) you know that we are running a special promotion in honor of World Ranger Day, which was July 31st. Donate $100 or more between now and August 5th and we will send you a PERSONALIZED video message from a Ranger.  Please donate and support these amazing men and women that risk their lives every day! (Click the link below and scroll to the bottom of the page.)

Vietnamese Youth Vow to Make a Difference for Rhino!!

Vietnamese Youth Vow to Make a Difference for Rhino!!

The continued senseless killing of African rhino for their horn, is driven by the demand for horn in primary consumer countries in Asia, such as Vietnam and China. More than 90% of horn goes to or through Vietnam. With the older generations for the most part set in their ways, much hope lies with changing the hearts and minds of the 10-24 year olds who make up almost 25% of Vietnam’s 94 million population. The Wild Rhino demand reduction campaign focusses on tapping into these young minds and motivating change before it is too late.

Jamie Joseph of Saving the Wild works tirelessly to take down rhino kingpin!

At last, accusations of corruption and deliberate delays in the trial against alleged KwaZulu-Natal rhino poaching kingpin Dumisani Gwala have led to calls for the case to be moved to the high court. Gwala – whose network was alleged to have been responsible for about 80% of all poached horn in the province – and co-accused Wiseman Makeba and Aubrey Dlamini are facing a total of 10 charges, most related to the illegal purchase and possession of rhino horn, and of resisting arrest. Read more from Jamie about her quest to bring down this notorious rhino king pin via her blog!

Specially trained dogs being utilized in anti-poaching efforts!

Diego is an anti-poaching dog working for the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya, a critical sanctuary for endangered rhinos in Africa and the home of the last male northern white rhino. In this striking short film by Tom Aveling, we get a dog's-eye view of the obstacles Diego tackles in his training: scaling cliffs, leaping over fallen trees, and splashing across rivers.

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The First Undercover Investigation into Rhino Horn Trafficking in China in Decades!

 

Over and Above Africa Advisory Board Member, Andrea Crosta, along with the amazing team at Elephant Action League (EAL) are proud to release GRINDING RHINO, a public report detailing another expansive and successful undercover investigative operation. In response to unprecedented growth in rhinoceros poaching rates in the past ten years, and enduring consumer demand for rhinoceros horn in both China and Vietnam, EAL commenced Operation Red Cloud in August 2016 and ended it in June 2017.Operation Red Cloud is the first undercover investigation into rhino horn trafficking in China in decades. This 11-month intelligence gathering and investigative operation was designed to expose and map the networks, the players and the means (or ‘modus operandi’) by which rhino horn is trafficked into China. Read the entire report by clicking on the post title!

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Over and Above Africa members doing great things!

Recently, Over and Above Africa member Tami P.,  hosted a group of friends to raise awareness and funds for Over and Above Africa, Rhino Horn Coffee, International Anti Poaching Foundation & others... and to knit blankets for baby rhinos! Well done Tami & thank you for being a voice for the voiceless!! Do you have any projects you're working on? Let us know and we'll spread the word!!! 

Joining Over and Above Africa as a family.

This past weekend, we took our cameras to follow up with the Folsom family who became Over and Above Africa members several months ago. We've been following their experience as they teach their daughter, Makai, about philanthropy through the Over and Above Africa platform. We'll be bringing you a short film to share their experience soon! Stay tuned. 

The Folsom family watching their donations at work on Over and Above Africa!

The Folsom family watching their donations at work on Over and Above Africa!

Top Anti-Poaching Cop Gets Railroaded by Superiors?

Always ready and willing to bring you the news from the ground as it's shared with us by those closest and most trusted to the sources - this particular one makes our blood boil.   

"Warrant officer JP van Zyl-Roux is facing an internal disciplinary hearing this week for allegedly failing to hand over a docket to anti-corruption investigators‚ having private firearms at work and bringing the force into disrepute."  Read the full article here

Jamie Joseph and JP work together tirelessly for conservation and wildlife protection.  More recently they've focused on identifying corruption and it seems they've hit a nerve.  THIS kind of persecution is often the result of such work.  When that work encroaches on potentially exposing dishonest individuals holding high ranking positions - they usually go all out to discredit, railroad, fire and eliminate the threat before it dirties their doorstep.  

While JP Van Zyl-Roux deals with the hand he has been dealt and navigates these accusations, our friends Jamie Joseph (SavingTheWild.org) and Elephant Action League have joined forces to back him and bolster this hand.  They will share with us ALL that transpires so we can share it with you, while they fight to clear his name.   We'll bring you more on this as it unravels of course, meanwhile, our collective thoughts are with JP Van Zyl-Roux and his family - he must feel very alone right now.

Exclusive Interview With EcoWarrior, Jamie Joseph

Exclusive Interview With EcoWarrior, Jamie Joseph

Last Thursday was the 1st Annual Fundraiser for Elephant Action League - CoFounded by Over and Above Africa's Advisory Board Member, Andrea Crosta.  Held in conjunction with Jamie Joseph's Save The Wild Foundation where Thomas Mangelsen's hypnotizing photography was auctioned off to a breathtaking $160,000 - all to fight corruption and illegal wildlife trafficking.  It was a huge success.  We were fortunate enough to convince Jamie Joseph to give Over and Above Africa's Kerry David an exclusive interview before she flew back to her native South Africa to fight the terrorists who are slaughtering her beloved rhino.  

Elephant Action League's 1st Fundraiser, Beverly Hills, CA June 1st!

Elephant Action League's 1st Fundraiser, Beverly Hills, CA June 1st!

We're so excited to support our Advisory Board Member, Andrea Crosta and his outstanding team (Gilda and Mark you know who you are!) as they launch their 1st Official Fundraiser for Elephant Action League and Wildleaks at the Montage Hotel in Beverly Hills tomorrow.  Here are all the details and we'll be there too so come and say hello! 

COCKTAIL RECEPTION and BENEFIT AUCTION

   The Montage

225 N Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, CA

Reception 6-8:30 pm

Auction 8:00 pm

RSVP

info@elephantleague.org 

Here's a recent report on their findings.

 

We're Co-Hosting A Fundraiser, with The Explorers' Club For Damien Mander

Join us on Sunday, June 11th from 2pm - 5pm in Studio City, CA - as we Co-Host a fundraiser with The Explorer's Club of California for Damien Mander and his non-profit, IAPF. 

Damien Mander, is a former Australian Royal Navy Clearance Diver and Special Operations military sniper turned anti-poaching crusader. Damien used his life savings to fund the start-up and running costs of the International Anti-Poaching Foundation (IAPF) – an organization dedicated to the protection and preservation of wildlife in some of the world's most volatile regions.

A special presentation
DATE: Sunday, June 11, 2017
TIME: 2-5pm
LOCATION: Studio City, private residence. Address provided on ticket purchase
TICKETS: $25 per person ($15 for students) includes valet parking and vegan refreshments.

 

Thula Thula Rhino Orphanage Closes Its Doors

A very sad day today - to learn that Thula Thula Rhino Orphanage has decided to close its doors after the recent attack on its staff and rhinos, due to security issues.  Over and Above Africa sends everyone affected by this tragedy, our heartfelt condolences. 

Here's their press release: http://worldanimalnews.com/tragically-thula-thula-rhino-orphanage-shut-attacked-poachers/  

Tragically, The Thula Thula Rhino Orphanage Forced To Shut Down After It Was Attacked By Poachers

By Lauren Lewis 

May 2, 2017

Sadly, The Fundimvelo Thula Thula Rhino Orphanage (FTTRO) has shut its doors. The orphanage was unable to recover after an exceptionally brutal poaching attack in February, which left rhinos dead, caregivers severely beaten and one young woman sexually assaulted, The Rhino Orphanage issued a statement early Monday saying that it is in the process of closing down.

The news, that WAN learned from SAPeople, is bittersweet because while it is heartbreaking that Karen Trendler’s orphanage will close, we take some solace knowing that the remaining rhinos, along with their caretakers, will stay together in safer surroundings.

“Our supporters made donations in good faith to support the care of rhino orphans and we will ensure that their donations are still used for that purpose,” said Yvette Taylor from Lawrence Anthony Earth Organization (LAEO), which manages the facility.

“The animals have now all been moved together with their handlers to ensure continuity of care and all the rhino calves, as well as Charlie, the hippo, are doing well and have settled in their new surroundings,” she assured.

FTTRO has reportedly “made arrangements for the remainder of their donated funds to be channeled to the facilities who have taken over the care of the rhino calves.”

In the aftermath of the appalling attack, according to SAPeople, the focus of management was “on the immediate safety of the staff, volunteers and remaining animals on site, as well as providing support for the police and security experts investigating the incident.”

To keep the remaining rhinos and staff safe, LAEO directors moved them to a different location; also giving them the opportunity to recover from the trauma that was experienced by everyone. During this time, management conducted a series of independent security assessments and considered the findings of the criminal investigation.

“It is Lawrence Anthony Earth Organization’s responsibility to ensure that we meticulously weigh up all the factors of the investigation and security reports,” said Taylor at the time. “Our focus is ensuring that the facility is safe for both people and animals, managed according to best practice animal rehabilitation protocols, and is sustainable.”

Unfortunately, after reviewing the results of the reports and acknowledging the potential for ongoing and critical security challenges, as well as consulting with security experts, anti-poaching professionals and senior police officers, the LAEO Board of Directors decided it was time to permanently close the orphanage that had saved so many rhinos over the years.

According to the decision-makers, the “additional cost to adequately secure the facility in the long-term proved prohibitive and impacted on the sustainability of the facility.”

The horrific events that transpired on the evening of February 20th, 2017, when five criminals descended upon the once tranquil rhino sanctuary, was devastatingly the beginning of the end for the orphanage.

Perhaps this is the extreme wake-up call needed for everyone to understand how dangerous, unruly and catastrophic the rhino poaching industry in South Africa is; and that serious actions must be taken to end it once and for all!