Blog
Kirkus reviews Orangutan Houdini
Kirkus reviewed my new book ORANGUTAN HOUDINI, calling it “an interesting exploration of animal intelligence for budding zoologists.”
Read MoreCelebrate World Ranger Day
Published: Thursday, 31 July 2014 Written by Laurel Neme World Ranger Day is a time to honor the people who put their lives on the line protecting wildlife. It doesn’t take much to say thank you. But it makes a difference. Saying thanks helps spread awareness about these unsung heroes. And it helps to…
Read MoreChelsea Clinton shares Laurel’s NatGeo article on Rangers
I’m honored that Chelsea Clinton shared my NatGeo piece on the daily challenges facing rangers. It was painful to write, and it’s painful to read. But even more painful to live it. I’m grateful to her for helping to share their stories – and by doing so supporting these unsung heroes.
Read MoreNational Geographic: In Hong Kong, Kids Take Action to Stop the Illegal Ivory Trade
Schoolchildren are working together to raise awareness of the toll of the illegal ivory trade. Photograph by Katrina Shute Laurel Neme for National Geographic Published April 24, 2014 Part of our weekly “In Focus” series—stepping back, looking closer. Hong Kong schoolchildren are transforming attitudes about elephant ivory through small actions that are having…
Read MoreNational Geographic: Al Shabaab and the Human Toll of the Illegal Ivory Trade
Posted by Laurel Neme in A Voice for Elephants on October 3, 2013 By Laurel Neme, Andrea Crosta, and Nir Kalron As the bloody stain from Al Shabaab’s attack in Nairobi spreads, we grieve not only for those who died or were injured, and their families and friends, but also for the many innocents…
Read MoreNational Geographic: Chaos and Confusion Following Elephant Poaching in a Central African World Heritage Site
Posted by Laurel Neme in A Voice for Elephants on May 13, 2013 As poachers fired on forest elephants inside the Dzanga-Ndoki National Park, a World Heritage Site in the Central African Republic (CAR), the impotence of foreign governments and non-governmental organizations in preventing the slaughter of wildlife amid political chaos was, once again, revealed. Earlier this week, the World…
Read MoreFilming of Mad Max sequel wreaks havoc on Namibia’s desert ecosystem
The Namib desert is a remarkable but fragile ecosystem, containing many endemic species. One of these is the desert plant Welwitschia mirabilis, one of the longest lived organisms on the planet,with a lifespan of 500 to 1500 years. In 2012, areas of the Dorob and Namib Naukluft National Parks were utilized as…
Read MoreMongabay.com: Overview of the CITES 16th Conference of Parties: Interview with CITES Secretary-General John Scanlon
Overview of the CITES 16th Conference of Parties in Bangkok By Laurel Neme, special to mongabay.com March 01, 2013 Part 1 of 3 When countries meet in Bangkok, Thailand for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) 16th Conference of Parties…
Read MoreNational Geographic: Poachers Capitalize on Chaos in Central Africa
Posted by Laurel Neme in A Voice for Elephants on February 5, 2013 Poachers are capitalizing on the disarray in the Central African Republic (CAR) and appear to be moving freely in a search of elephants. Late last year several columns of Sudanese poachers, up to 200 well-armed men, were spotted traveling across northern CAR toward…
Read MoreA Tree Calls for Help
A new wireless device, called Invisible Tracck, can deter illegal logging by allowing authorities to track illegally cut trees in Brazil. Brazilian authorities will attach this small device onto valuable trees that might be targets for illegal loggers. If and when that tree is cut down and moved, the device will wake up and send a signal to authorities when it comes into…
Read MoreNational Geographic: Elephants in Cameroon and Chad face Imminent Threat
Posted by Laurel Neme in A Voice for Elephants on December 5, 2012 Gangs of heavily armed elephant poachers have crossed the Central African Republic (CAR) from Sudan and are reported to be close to the southern Chad and northern Cameroon borders. Several columns of Sudanese poachers, comprising between 150 to 200 men riding on…
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