Catherine Bigelow

Saving the World From Us: Strategies for Conservation

Amy Christensen, Catherine Bigelow, Greg, David Vonderman, Tom, Philippe Cousteau

Experts warn that wild elephants face extinction within four to eleven years as poaching networks fund terrorist organizations through a $1 billion illicit ivory economy. To counter these vertically integrated criminal enterprises, conservationists are deploying military-grade tactics such as armed rangers and helicopters, while simultaneously targeting demand markets in China and New York through stricter laws and cultural shifts. Strategic divergences persist regarding the use of aggressive enforcement versus traditional NGO approaches, yet there is a consensus that immediate, security-focused interventions are essential to protect apex predators and the ecosystems they sustain.