News  |  14.04.2023

Ivory trafficking and poaching, a documentary reveals the mechanisms of international trafficking

Director Maxime Ginolin releases a hard-hitting documentary focusing on the work of the Belgian NGO Conservation Justice, which has led to the arrest of more than 500 wildlife traffickers in Gabon over the past 12 years.  The documentary dives us into the heart of Conservation Justice's impressive field actions to bring down a lucrative sprawling traffic.

Ivory trafficking and poaching, a documentary reveals the mechanisms of international trafficking

Fight against wildlife trafficking by Conservation Justice

Conservation Justice is an NGO created by Luc Mathot and which has been working since 2010 in Gabon (Central Africa). It is a member of the EAGLE network. This international network fights to protect elephants and other species threatened by poaching and wildlife trafficking. The Eagle network as a whole has contributed to the arrest AND conviction of more than 2000 wildlife traffickers in Africa. Indeed, each year, nearly 30,000 elephants are killed in Africa by poachers. These poachers are fed and organized by international trafficking networks.

Conservation Justice's actions in the fight against wildlife trafficking are as follows:

  • Identifying traffickers of ivory and other illegal wildlife products;
  • Collaboration with authorities to facilitate the arrest of perpetrators;
  • Legal support to strengthen prosecution;
  • Informing the general public about effective wildlife law enforcement.

In 12 years, more than 500 wildlife traffickers, primarily of ivory, have been arrested and convicted as a result of the partnership between Conservation Justice and Gabonese authorities.

 

Combating illegal logging

Conservation Justice has also developed a similar approach to combating illegal logging, which has resulted in the arrest of more than 300 people since 2012, including more than 100 village communities.

Conservation Justice also works with these village communities to ensure that their rights are respected.

Awareness-raising activities in schools are also organized, with more than 2,000 children reached each year. All these activities are made possible thanks to the support of technical and financial partners, mainly the European Union, who believe in the actions and effectiveness of Conservation Justice.

To make this documentary that aims to publicize its actions, Conservation Justice chose to work with Maxime GINOLIN and his team at MagiCJacK Production, which for over 10 years has specialized in the production of committed films.

 

About the making of the film

The committed director Maxime Ginolin and his partner Guillaume Martinez (cameraman/editor/composer) made a documentary presenting the actions of Conservation Justice in Gabon to fight against ivory trafficking. During their stay in Gabon in May 2022, the two teammates followed the NGO's coordination team and undercover informants. They risk their lives to help catch the traffickers who have been decimating forest elephants for decades.

Watch the trailer

Watch the full documentary

Download the documentary

Press contact :

Conservation Justice: luc@conservation-justice.org – Tel : 0032 495 92 25 58

Production : MagiCJacK:magicjackprod@gmail.com

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