The final results from Great Elephant Census show 352,271 African savanna elephants in 18 countries, down 30% in seven years. (Read full report)

Africa is facing a very serious vulture crisis. All of the eight species of vultures from the continent are declining at a rapid pace. It could be that vultures are ready to be included in the list of critically endangered species. In an excellent article in Earth Touch, Jason Goldman, explains the reason for their decline and draws attention to the need to protect this emblematic African species. Full article.

In an article in The Telegraph published yesterday, Hannah Furness, reports on the declarations made by Doug Allen about the lack of commitment of the BBC to follow important wildlife issues. Link to the article.

In an article on NPR, Barbara j. King writes about Chris Palmer´s new book on ethic in the wildlife filmmaking industry to be published in 2015. In the book “Confessions of a Wildlife Filmmaker” Palmer shows how programmes produced by Animal Planet and Discovery, among others, falsely depict animals such as wolves, bears and snakes as being vicious, nasty or agressive. He also explains how certain productions use computer animated images making believe viewers that these are in fact real. Link to article

The nature guiding profession is not an easy one. Taking people on safari is not like being a tourist guide in Paris, Berlin or New York where you know that iconic buildings and monuments will always be there. Going on safari involves an element of surprise and requires a dose of luck. While trying to please clients, safari guides must also keep in mind the need to respect the environment, abide by natural parks’ rules and act with solidarity towards fellow guides. All these are reasons why a Code of Ethics for the nature guiding profession is so important. Interpretives Guides Society just adopted its new Code of Ethics which aims at being a compass for guides and nature enthusiasts when going on safari. As voluntary rules let’s hope this Code of Ethics inspire a new conservation-oriented generation.

Wildlife films offer magnificent windows into nature, but is their romanticised view of wilderness hiding the darker side of habitat destruction and threatened species? Sarah L’Estrange asks whether David Attenborough and his ilk are keeping our eyes wide shut. Link to article.

Paul G. Allen in partnership with Elephants Without Borders has launched the Great Elephant Census project, an unprecedented initiative to count the number of elephants that subsist in Africa today. Current poaching of elephants in Africa is at its highest level in decades. This extraordinary effort will contribute to preserve the population of a keystone species, which is crucial to the African ecosystem. Learn more about the project at www.greatelephantcensus.com.