Are Elephants Worth Saving?: Andrew Stewart at TEDxUNE

Andrew Stewart presents shocking evidence and first-hand accounts from the brutal act of elephant poaching taking place in many countries throughout Africa. As a guide in Botswana, he became acquainted with both sides of the industry— those who do it for basic family survival and others who do it to profit off the illegal Asian ivory market. He provokes stimulating solutions, conversation, and debate on the inhumane practice of elephant poaching while changing the way his audience forever views this species. Although elephants are the spotlight of this talk, you will find yourself questioning the entire state of humanity.

Andrew Stewart is the Director of Hope Elephants, a Maine non-profit organization dedicated to the rehabilitation and conservation of elephants. Stewart has worked as a safari guide in Botswana and in the travel industry for Abercombie & Kent in London before moving to Maine, where he has worked as an Assistant elephant handler.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

TEDxUNE: November 22nd, 2013