Time’s up for Rhinos and Elephants

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One Elephant is killed every 15 minutes for their tusks and approximately three Rhinos are killed every day for their horns. The model sits on the tortoise with his hands tied behind his back to represent how vulnerable animals are and how time is slowly running out for them. Religion plays a role in the poaching of these magnificent animals, extremist groups such as ISIS and Boko Haram use poaching to fund their terrorist activities, as not only is the amount of money available in poaching vast, but the risk of apprehension and the consequences are low. This is represented here by the robes and jewellery he is wearing. The stockings and shoes he is wearing represent women and how they are suppressed, persecuted and used as sex slaves by groups such as ISIS and Boko Haram. This photo series was a collaboration between Jacha Potgieter and Cristian Barnett to highlight poaching and it’s links to religious extremism.