Wildlife Lunchtime Lecture: Elephant conservation in Africa
The ivory trade ban has stopped the mass slaughter of Africa’s elephants, but elephants and people are increasingly in conflict over land and resources. Do elephants have a future? Tutor: Barnaby Phillips.
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This one-off lecture will examine the history of Africa’s elephants, and the devastation wrought by the ivory trade over many centuries. It will explain the historic and current distribution of Savannah and Forest elephants (now recognised as two sub-species) in sub-Saharan Africa. It will show how the current moratorium on ivory trade appears to have stopped their slaughter, but that there are deep disagreements between African countries on the best way forward for elephant conservation. It will explain how, as Africa’s human population grows so rapidly, ivory poaching has to a large extent been eclipsed by human-elephant conflict as the most pressing issue in elephant conservation. Elephants and people are competing for land, and traditional migration routes are being cut by settlements and farms. What are the prospects of harmonious coexistence?
Tutor: Barnaby Phillips. Barnaby is a journalist, historian and writer who has worked in elephant conservation for many years.
What will we cover?
The historic impact of the ivory trade in Africa, with demand initially coming from Europe and North America, and more recently from Asia.
2) The current status and distribution of c 400,000 Savannah and Forest elephants in Africa.
3) The story of recent decades- demand for ivory from Asia, the CITES ban on trade, the impact of one-off sales of ivory, the mass slaughter of 2010-2015- and the recovery in some areas since.
4) How many non-African countries (eg USA, UK, EU countries, China, Singapore, New Zealand) have closed their domestic ivory markets in recent years.
5) Why most Southern African countries want to resume trade in ivory, and the merits of the various arguments
6) The emergence of human-elephant conflict (HEC) as the critical issue in elephant conservation.
7) The long term prospects for Africa’s elephants.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
How different parts of the world have contributed to the slaughter of Africa’s elephants over the centuries.
How CITES (the Convention of Trade in Endangered Species) works, and in what ways it has been used to conserve Africa’s elephants in recent decades, and the extent to which it has succeeded.
The arguments around sustainable use vs prohibition of trade.
Why elephant conservation is such an emotive subject, but also why attitudes towards elephants often vary between people concerned about their protection and people who live alongside them.
The challenges but also opportunities presented by Africa’s still substantial elephant population.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This lecture is suitable both for newcomers to the subject and for those who have some background knowledge. You will need a good grasp of English to keep up with the course. An ability and willingness to explore relevant shared resources will increase what you get out of the course.
However, as with most of our history, politics and current affairs courses, an open mind and a respectful willingness to listen to and think about views with which you do not always agree are more important than specific levels of skills.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
The lecture will be enlivened with contemporary photographs. There will be no work outside class.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
No other costs.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Please see the science & nature area for further details of the courses we run.
Barnaby Phillips was born in London, brought up in Kenya and Switzerland, and worked for 27 years for the BBC and Al Jazeera English, mostly in Africa. He was based in Mozambique, Angola, Nigeria, South Africa and Greece. His first book, ‘Another Man’s War’ (Oneworld 2014) told the story of the African soldiers who fought in Burma in the Second World War. His next book, ‘Loot, Britain and the Benin Bronzes’, (Oneworld 2021) looked at colonial loot, museums and restitutions, and was a Prospect and Art Newspaper Book of the Year. He examines these themes again in his new book, ’The African Kingdom of Gold- Britain and the Asante Treasure,’ published in March 2026.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/wildlife-lunchtime-lecture-elephant-conservation-in-africa2997518Wildlife Lunchtime Lecture: Elephant conservation in Africahttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/w/i/wildlife-lunchtime-lecture-elephant-conservation-in-africa-hs365-1200_1.jpg1919GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Business, marketing & technology/Courses/Business, marketing & technology/Science/Courses/Business, marketing & technology/Science/Science and nature22851211123615811228512111236<p>The ivory trade ban has stopped the mass slaughter of Africa’s elephants, but elephants and people are increasingly in conflict over land and resources. Do elephants have a future? Tutor: Barnaby Phillips. </p><p> </p><p> </p>002997512Wildlife Lunchtime Lecture: Elephant conservation in Africa1919https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/w/i/wildlife-lunchtime-lecture-elephant-conservation-in-africa-hs365-1200_1_1.jpgInStockDaytimeFriKeeley StreetAvailable coursesOne-off onlyWeekday2026-06-12T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allJun 2026Business, marketing & technologyHS3651919Wildlife Lunchtime Lecture: Elephant conservation in Africa151219Barnaby Phillipswildlife-lunchtime-lecture-elephant-conservation-in-africa/hs365-2526<p>The ivory trade ban has stopped the mass slaughter of Africa’s elephants, but elephants and people are increasingly in conflict over land and resources. Do elephants have a future? Tutor: Barnaby Phillips. </p><p> </p><p> </p>0000-Available|2026-06-12 00:00:00<p>This one-off lecture will examine the history of Africa’s elephants, and the devastation wrought by the ivory trade over many centuries. It will explain the historic and current distribution of Savannah and Forest elephants (now recognised as two sub-species) in sub-Saharan Africa. It will show how the current moratorium on ivory trade appears to have stopped their slaughter, but that there are deep disagreements between African countries on the best way forward for elephant conservation. It will explain how, as Africa’s human population grows so rapidly, ivory poaching has to a large extent been eclipsed by human-elephant conflict as the most pressing issue in elephant conservation. Elephants and people are competing for land, and traditional migration routes are being cut by settlements and farms. What are the prospects of harmonious coexistence?</p><p>Tutor: Barnaby Phillips. Barnaby is a journalist, historian and writer who has worked in elephant conservation for many years. </p><p>The ivory trade ban has stopped the mass slaughter of Africa’s elephants, but elephants and people are increasingly in conflict over land and resources. Do elephants have a future? Tutor: Barnaby Phillips. </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The historic impact of the ivory trade in Africa, with demand initially coming from Europe and North America, and more recently from Asia.</p><p>2) The current status and distribution of c 400,000 Savannah and Forest elephants in Africa.</p><p>3) The story of recent decades- demand for ivory from Asia, the CITES ban on trade, the impact of one-off sales of ivory, the mass slaughter of 2010-2015- and the recovery in some areas since.</p><p>4) How many non-African countries (eg USA, UK, EU countries, China, Singapore, New Zealand) have closed their domestic ivory markets in recent years.</p><p>5) Why most Southern African countries want to resume trade in ivory, and the merits of the various arguments</p><p>6) The emergence of human-elephant conflict (HEC) as the critical issue in elephant conservation.</p><p>7) The long term prospects for Africa’s elephants.</p><p>How different parts of the world have contributed to the slaughter of Africa’s elephants over the centuries.</p><p>How CITES (the Convention of Trade in Endangered Species) works, and in what ways it has been used to conserve Africa’s elephants in recent decades, and the extent to which it has succeeded.</p><p>The arguments around sustainable use vs prohibition of trade.</p><p>Why elephant conservation is such an emotive subject, but also why attitudes towards elephants often vary between people concerned about their protection and people who live alongside them.</p><p>The challenges but also opportunities presented by Africa’s still substantial elephant population.</p><p> </p><p>This lecture is suitable both for newcomers to the subject and for those who have some background knowledge. You will need a good grasp of English to keep up with the course. An ability and willingness to explore relevant shared resources will increase what you get out of the course.</p><p>However, as with most of our history, politics and current affairs courses, an open mind and a respectful willingness to listen to and think about views with which you do not always agree are more important than specific levels of skills.</p><p> </p><p>The lecture will be enlivened with contemporary photographs. There will be no work outside class.</p><p>No other costs. </p><p>Please see the science & nature area for further details of the courses we run. </p>ScienceScience and naturevirtual151912HS365NONEFri12/06/2612:45 - 14:1512:4514:151 session1One-off onlyDaytimeWeekdayKSKeeley StreetBarnaby PhillipsBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2026-06-12T00:00:00+00:00Jun 2026Business, marketing & technology1919Wildlife Lunchtime Lecture: Elephant conservation in Africawildlife-lunchtime-lecture-elephant-conservation-in-africa/hs365-2526<p>The ivory trade ban has stopped the mass slaughter of Africa’s elephants, but elephants and people are increasingly in conflict over land and resources. Do elephants have a future? Tutor: Barnaby Phillips. </p><p> </p><p> </p>0000-Available|2026-06-12 00:00:00<p>This one-off lecture will examine the history of Africa’s elephants, and the devastation wrought by the ivory trade over many centuries. It will explain the historic and current distribution of Savannah and Forest elephants (now recognised as two sub-species) in sub-Saharan Africa. It will show how the current moratorium on ivory trade appears to have stopped their slaughter, but that there are deep disagreements between African countries on the best way forward for elephant conservation. It will explain how, as Africa’s human population grows so rapidly, ivory poaching has to a large extent been eclipsed by human-elephant conflict as the most pressing issue in elephant conservation. Elephants and people are competing for land, and traditional migration routes are being cut by settlements and farms. What are the prospects of harmonious coexistence?</p><p>Tutor: Barnaby Phillips. Barnaby is a journalist, historian and writer who has worked in elephant conservation for many years. </p><p>The ivory trade ban has stopped the mass slaughter of Africa’s elephants, but elephants and people are increasingly in conflict over land and resources. Do elephants have a future? Tutor: Barnaby Phillips. </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The historic impact of the ivory trade in Africa, with demand initially coming from Europe and North America, and more recently from Asia.</p><p>2) The current status and distribution of c 400,000 Savannah and Forest elephants in Africa.</p><p>3) The story of recent decades- demand for ivory from Asia, the CITES ban on trade, the impact of one-off sales of ivory, the mass slaughter of 2010-2015- and the recovery in some areas since.</p><p>4) How many non-African countries (eg USA, UK, EU countries, China, Singapore, New Zealand) have closed their domestic ivory markets in recent years.</p><p>5) Why most Southern African countries want to resume trade in ivory, and the merits of the various arguments</p><p>6) The emergence of human-elephant conflict (HEC) as the critical issue in elephant conservation.</p><p>7) The long term prospects for Africa’s elephants.</p><p>How different parts of the world have contributed to the slaughter of Africa’s elephants over the centuries.</p><p>How CITES (the Convention of Trade in Endangered Species) works, and in what ways it has been used to conserve Africa’s elephants in recent decades, and the extent to which it has succeeded.</p><p>The arguments around sustainable use vs prohibition of trade.</p><p>Why elephant conservation is such an emotive subject, but also why attitudes towards elephants often vary between people concerned about their protection and people who live alongside them.</p><p>The challenges but also opportunities presented by Africa’s still substantial elephant population.</p><p> </p><p>This lecture is suitable both for newcomers to the subject and for those who have some background knowledge. You will need a good grasp of English to keep up with the course. An ability and willingness to explore relevant shared resources will increase what you get out of the course.</p><p>However, as with most of our history, politics and current affairs courses, an open mind and a respectful willingness to listen to and think about views with which you do not always agree are more important than specific levels of skills.</p><p> </p><p>The lecture will be enlivened with contemporary photographs. There will be no work outside class.</p><p>No other costs. </p><p>Please see the science &amp; nature area for further details of the courses we run. </p>ScienceScience and natureconfigurable
15811236Science and naturehttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/technology-science-and-business/science/science-and-nature-21/2/285/1211/1236/1581/Courses/Business, marketing & technology/Science/Science and nature
