Gary says “EIA’s under-cover investigations, political
lobbying and widespread media coverage were vital in securing the ivory ban. In
1992, only two years after the ban first came into place, some Southern African
countries, including Zimbabwe tried to re-open the trade in ivory. Two years is
also about the gestation period for a baby Elephant. I drew the symbolic Love
and Protection for EIA’s Save the Elephant campaign to try and help them
highlight how criminal this new proposal was.
“My
reference material used for the drawing was shot on my first safari to Kenya
and Tanzania in 1990. We didn’t see so many elephants on that trip and they
seemed quite nervous. On more recent adventures, we’ve been privileged to get
really close on so many wonderful occasions and they definitely appeared more
relaxed. Elephants are safer, for now.
“Love
and Protection raised around £35,000 for EIA. The ivory ban is still in place.
“In
1993, I submitted Love and Protection into the second International Festival of
Animal Art held in France and was awarded Best Foreign Exhibit.”
