The National Commissioner’s Office

Officer Commanding ESPU

Very Big Building

25 Rue de Remarque

Cape Town

South Africa

 

Dear Sir / Madam

Congratulations, you have been appointed as an Inspector in the Endangered Species Protection Unit (ESPU) of the South African Police Service. Your job is to raise awareness of the trade in endangered species and its impacts in Africa and the world. What you have to do is select ONE of the following animals and produce a case file explaining:

1.      General information about the animal (habitat, eating habits, etc).

2.      How and why it is threatened.

3.      What is being done to protect it.

4.      What NEEDS to be done (realistically) to protect this animal.

The animals are:  Black Rhino / Cheetah / Elephant / Leatherback turtle / Gorilla / Hippo.

Your case file will include an A3 sized spider diagram that will be circulated around the world to raise people’s awareness of the threat to your chosen animal. Your case file should be at least 3 pages long and include relevant, sensibly sized, visuals.  In addition, it should also contain a Bibliography. In order to make your efforts more effective, you can enlist the help of one other colleague.

Your 3 page case file is designed to inform people around the world as to why these animals are threatened and the options that are available for people trying to stop the trade. You to explain why the trade exists and, when you suggest reasons to stop the animal trade don’t just think of imposing heavy fines and penalties – try and think of other ways of stopping this trade for the benefit of the animals AND the planet.

The format is up to you. You need to select the most appropriate way of getting the message across. You can use video, audio or any way of getting the information across. You could also consider starting a blog or forum to help raise people’s awareness…….the sky’s the limit!

Yours faithfully

Nikkem Crimms

Superintendent

Leads to help you:

ESPU Web Site (Sometimes offline!): http://www.saps.gov.za/divstat/espu/index.htm

ESPU Investigator: http://www.saps.gov.za/careers/career_quest/red/esp_investigator.htm

ESPU Newsletter: http://www.saps.gov.za/docs_publs/publications/journal/febmch05/kznwild.htm

Former Case Files: http://www.bagheera.com/inthewild/vanishing.htm

Species Information: http://www.go2africa.com/_safaris/endangered.asp

Elephant Info: http://www.environment.gov.za/ProjProg/Cites/CITES_SA_ele.htm

Chimpanzee Info: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQE7PAVQVLQ

Movie Star Against Animal Trade: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1AH_8y5Py4  

If you want to blog: www.blogger.com is a good start.

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