WILMINGTON, Del. – On Saturday April 23 at 2 p.m., the Delaware Museum of Natural History will host U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del), a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, and the sub-committee on African Affairs, for a special screening of “Warlords of Ivory” produced by Delaware native Katie Carpenter. The film is a groundbreaking mission to expose how the ivory trade funds some of Africa’s most notorious militias and terrorist groups.
The screening and talk is free with paid admission to the museum. To RSVP for the program, please click HERE for the form. Please note: this film is not intended for audiences under 12 years old.
At the conclusion of the film, Sen. Coons and Carpenter will discuss the connections between wildlife trafficking and international security and stability as well as Sen. Coons’ recent bill, the END Wildlife Trafficking Act (S.2385). The proposed legislation will support the ongoing work of the Presidential Task Force on Combating Wildlife Trafficking by strengthening training for law enforcement, building capacity for inspections and investigations, and supporting community-based conservation programs in countries of concern. The bill is co-sponsored by Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz) and is currently awaiting markup in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
In February, Sen. Coons traveled to Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Botswana, where he witnessed first-hand the works being done to conserve wildlife in those countries and learned of more about the challenges these countries face combating the poaching and trafficking.
“The wildlife trafficking crisis is a massive national and international security issue, not simply a conservation question,” said Sen. Coons. “Poaching has become more weaponized and mechanized, and demand for ivory and other wildlife products continues to grow. It’s important for us as leaders to help combat this growing problem.”
Katie Carpenter is an award-winning documentary producer with extensive background in long-form specials and non-fiction series, specializing in environmental subjects from endangered species to climate change in diverse habitats around the world. She was trained as a climate presenter by Al Gore and the Climate Project in 2007 in Nashville, and now works also as a carbon consultant for film and television productions with Green Media Solutions of New York.