Brutal Image Shows Elephant with Trunk and Tusks Cut Off

A drone has captured the horror of the barbaric death as the majestic beast’s body lies next to its severed trunk. The African elephant was killed for its ivory in Botswana, which recently lifted a ban on hunting animals.

Poachers used chainsaws to cut off the animal’s trunk and tusks before abandoning its carcass on the plains of the southern African country. Poaching in northern Botswana is increasing rapidly with an estimated 593% rise in the number of carcasses found between 2014 and 2018. The drone picture, entitled Disconnection, was taken by documentary filmmaker Justin Sullivan. It has now been selected for the prestigious Andrei Stenin International Press Photo Contest, the results of which will be announced in September.

He added: “They said an elephant had just been poached and I asked to be taken to the site. On arrival I used a drone to capture the image. The image is called “Disconnection”, the perspective of the image gives context to the situation which you would never be able to see from the ground. The high angle looking top down shows isolation and highlights not only the physical disconnection of the animal, but our disconnection from the situation. The image has drawn a lot of attention. People have obviously reacted with mixed feelings of anger and sadness, especially with the recent lift on the hunting ban in Botswana. But this photo has driven some constructive dialogue around how we can promote more sustainable elephant conversation and solve our current ecological crisis.”

Last month Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi lifted the country’s five-year ban on elephant hunting, claiming a booming beast population was damaging farmers’ livelihoods. The decision provoked outcry from environmental protection organisations.

Elephants without Borders research said there is currently a surge in elephant poaching and they estimate that nearly 400 were killed between 2017 and 2018 – even before the ban was lifted. A recent report by the group said there were five ‘hotspots’ in the north of the country.

It added: “This evidence suggests that ivory poaching on the scale of hundreds of elephants per year has been occurring in northern Botswana since 2017 or possibly earlier.”

After diamond mining, tourism is the second biggest contributor to the country’s economy and Botswana is a popular luxury safari destination.