I've seen a ton of children's movies but this one was one of those movies that sat on my desk for a few weeks mostly because it was not one of those exciting big budget films but boy did Elephant Tales leave an impression. Why on earth did I not watch it sooner?
Elephant Tales is a story of two baby elephants who sadly loose their parents and herd to the human poachers who come and kill their entire family. Don't worry though you see shots fired in the night you wont actually see any dead elephants, which is great as I honestly don't think I could have handled that. What is really unusual about the movie as though its not terribly obvious from the front cover but every scene in the movie is a dubbed over set of footage of real animals doing well.. animal things. No acting, no outrageous animal trainers, just animals doing basically what they would normally do other than the fact that you will see them in the same frame interacting at times.
So you end up following a set of orphaned animals on a quest to find their parents, Tutu and Zef the elephants, Chump a crazy chimp, Stretch a giraffe, and Cub a lion cub. The only problem is Zef knows that there is no way for them to find their parents as well, they are gone. Tutu is so determined and its almost painful to watch them try. There are also some really disturbing moments where the movie will really tug at your heart especially when Tutu finds the elephant tusks.
In the end obviously the animals do not find their parents but they do find a new safe place to live. I think its a fabulous movie to show your children the reality of poachers in Africa and start the conversation on what we can do as humans to help the animals. Though kids of all ages will love watching the animals I would be ready to discuss some of the sadder aspects of the movie with your kids after they are done watching. Also don't expect a super big budget style production as Elephant Tales is more geared towards the story than super amazing camera work though personally I'm totally taken back by how they got the animals to play nice in all those scenes.
You can pick up your own copy of Elephant Tales on Amazon right now!
I have five copies of Elephant Tales to give away to our readers!
To enter :
- Leave a comment on this post. Check out Elephant Tales and tell me what you think we should do about conservation of the animals in Africa?
- Make sure there is a way for me to contact you - if your email address is not on your profile or you are not a blogger you may leave it in your comment or email it to me directly (angelaandconnor at gmail dot com) We have had to disqualify a lot of potential winners as of late as many people do not have emails available in their profiles or leave anonymous posts without any way to contact you.
- Please US entries only.
- To get extra credit :
- For an extra entry :
- Bloggers - Blog about this contest and leave me the link on your comment, or add me to your sidebar and let me know its there.
- Non Bloggers (or bloggers) subscribe to my mailing list/RSS feed and earn another entry!
- One extra credit per person. Please post your extra credit in a separate post.
- This contest will end Jan 15th at midnight!
134 Comments:
I think we, via United Nations, should prosecute poachers for crimes against humanity, just like war criminals. Thanks for the giveaway!
I think there should be international laws to conserve wildlife in every country. In many third world countries endangered animals are prized for their "medicinal value" and that is why they continue to be poached.
onlycancan at hotmail dot com
We need to make and enforce better laws against poaching. We need punish those that decide to break them. Thanks for the giveaway!
enforce poaching laws
the economic gains of poaching are what motivate people to do it - the extreme poverty in the area needs to be dealt with.
subscriber
I think there should be more severe consequences for poachers.
I am a subscriber via email
I think if people would stop buying those products the demand would be less,an more stronger punishment for all involved
I do not think poaching should be allowed at all. There should be strictly enforced laws in all countries - particularly in the savannach in Africa, where a lot of poaching takes place. These animals are priceless and this movie sounds like a great one!
Thank you for the giveaway and please enter me.
hurdler4eva(at)gmail(dot)com
I am a subscriber via feed
brn2lisn(at)gmail(dot)com
I wish I could say something original but, I have to agree with what has already been said. We need to make and enforce better laws against poaching. Its terrible the lengths that these poachers take to make a few bucks. No regard for life at all.
brn2lisn(at)gmail(dot)com
I think that the current laws should be enforced, but I don't see that happening in these hard economic times.
barbaraeford@yahoo.com
I am a subscriber
barbaraeford@yahoo.com
we need to outlaw Ivory trade.
The UN needs to enforce pouching laws and prosecute the offenders to the maximum.
Increase Security so we can cut back or stop Poaching. I love animals in Africa. I believe wholy in Conservation in Africa.
mammalnut2000@yahoo.com
There needs to be a United Nations organization that does nothing but work to save the wildlife.
Theresa N
weceno(at)yahoo(dot)com
i don't think we (the US government or the UN) should do anything. let free people make their own choices.
I think we need to increase awareness about the problems we face due to the killing of these animals. I watched a special w/ gd that really shows what a problem this is. Thanks for the contest.
traceys[at]suddenlink[dot]net
I'm already a subscriber.
traceys[at]suddenlink[dot]net
I think the government needs to think of a way to create new jobs in the area so that the poachers won't need to kill the elephants for money.
I subscribe to your feed.
I agree with everyone about prosecuting poachers plus they have to better train diplomats in conservation programs so more can be done. Thank you.
I'm a subscriber.
your button's on my sidebar :)
I think it's good to help protect the animals from poachers, as long as were not ignoring the people who need our help as well.
I don't really believe that elephants should be hunted or poached for any reason. There is no reason to get rid of such a beautiful creature.
I'm also a subscriber.
Live and let live
great giveaway and kudos for increasing awareness. Life should be respected, things like what you're doing have a positive benefit on worthy causes like this.
Paying the local people to protect species has been proven to reduce poaching.It doesn't take much money to do it, and helps the poor and protects the animals at the same time.
I believe that there should be stiffer laws on those that poach these animals or any animal.
I also believe that by educating
and letting the people know that live there how important these animals and all animals are to their environment and that it is just so wrong to take the lives of these beautiful animals for gain of any kind. Thank you
Poachers should be held accountable for their actions. This is a major problem. thank you
tatertot374@sbcglobal.net
I believe education is the key to animal conservation. The locals in African towns should be shown the importance of preserving animal populations. TRigell at aol dot com
We need to make the punishment for poaching elephants harsher.
I subscribed to your feed!!
Laws won't change anything and neither will stronger punishments. It is too profitable. We need to stop making it worth it for them to do it and we need to find other ways for these people to support their families.
Carol M
mittens0831 AT aol.com
Enforce the rules against poachers and make the punishment harsher.
Tarah
tarah716[at]ymail.com
We need to make and enforce better laws against poaching.
jayme[dot]bouwens@yahoo[dot]com
i subscribe
We need to be harsh to the ones who take part in poaching!
jls_wss2003 at yahoo dot com
I think we should support the local economy and help them learn that eco-tourism can be a win-win.
I am a subscriber
Please feel free anytime to advertise current reviews or giveaways you've got going on at my site : http://www.reviewsandgiveaways.com/
People can stop buying the products that the Poachers are selling.
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
I am subscribed.
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
I tink maybe an increase in economic gains from tourism would help solve the problem of poaching because it would make it more important to keep the animals alive and decrease the poverty that is causing the poaching. I don't really know how to do that though. More commercials?
hollyollyberry[at]yahoo[dot]com
We need to fully enforce our existing laws.
ktgonyea at gmail.com
Africa is a continent rampant with poverty and illiteracy. It is not only foreign hunters who poach, but native people desperate for food and money. Tourism is not a big enough industry and is too privatized to solve Africa's problems. The only sustainable resource Africa has is it's wildlife. Banning hunting only strengthens the black market. But controlled hunting, and I stress controlled, could create an inexhaustible industry that would effectively destroy the black market and solve many of Africa's poverty problems while preserving it's national parks and treasured wildlife.
Enforce the current laws.
I have your button.
There should be stricter laws against poaching.
We need to have a 0% tolerance on Poaching!
We should better educate the locals about poaching and get them involved in stopping it.
I'd love to see something international for animals, a comity that sets laws for every country to help them out.
I agree with the no poaching enforcement... through the UN or some other organization that can make it happen.
subscriber
cdrury@gmail.com
there should be a world summit hosted by the United Nations and international laws and punishments and an international court.
I'd love to see more money thrown into building animal sanctuaries to protect these animals- thanks!
linjenals at yahoo dot com
I certainly no expert, but I'm guessing there are poaching laws in place that need to be enforced. I know they are here where hunting is very popular both for sport and survival (some families here depend on it for their meat). As far as Africa is concerned, we could certainly encourage them to enforce it, but we can't make them!
Button up!!
www.thebabblingbrooks.typepad.com
I think education could be one key to a solution. If the people of Africa are educated about the harms of poaching then it could possibly make a difference. I also believe that by helping the impoverished people of Africa with new sources of income then it would cut down on the poaching. I also think the government of Africa needs to have more controlled lands for the elephants to live on.
Thanks so much!
I am a subscriber1
make tougher laws against poaching. put more efforts into catching the persons responsible for poaching.
mommy2skie@yahoo.com
subscribed.
mommy2skie@yahoo.com
following you.
mommy2skie@yahoo.com
got your button.
mommy2skie@yahoo.com
blogged it: http://thismommyhasanopinion.blogspot.com/2008/12/elephant-tales-giveaway.html
mommy2skie@yahoo.com
thats where the United Nations should help
tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com
We need to do what we can to improve the economy in developing African nations.
prosecute poachers more heavely.
oldplace.betty(at)gmail.com
blogged ya
oldwaybecomesnewagain~simply southern contest/giveaways
It's sad but they still have so many poachers. They need to increase patrol for poachers and when caught, they should be charged and punished to the max for their crimes. It breaks my heart to see such beautiful animals killed for their fur, skin, tusks and even organs.
I'm also a subscriber.
Prosecute poachers to the full extent of the law and provide these beautiful animals much protected land so they can live in peace.
treflea4 at gmail dot com
I suscribe.
treflea4 at gmail dot com
subscriber here.....
God bless
the punishments for these crimes should be more severe and easier to enforce. this looks like a great movie with a great message. thanks!
christinbanda@yahoo.com
Try to catch poachers, of course, but also try to continually preserve as much land as possible for the animals to run freely. Disappearing habitat is just as big of a problem.
Enforcing the current law may help but definitely not a solution to stopping these actions, thanks
Our goverment demanding better enforcement of the laws concerning
poaching.
I think the poaching laws should be enforced with out any gray areas. I don't know if it should be us enforcing them. I think it should be the United Nations. I am proud that America has so much space that are considered conservation areas know as our National Parks.
babychooch (at) gmail {dot} com
Enforce poaching laws strictly, but beyond that I don't know. Africa is very poor and getting worse, so animal preservation is going to take a backseat.
We should protect their environment too. Please accept my entry. Thank you.
Try to enforce the current laws first then hopefully expand them from there. thanks, justicecw@hotmail.com
They need to enforce pouching laws and prosecute the offenders to the maximum.
a strong punishment for the poachers
tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com
Poaching needs stricter punishments!
kayceewilliams AT gmail DOT COM
I think there should be international laws to conserve wildlife in every country. In many third world countries endangered animals are prized for their "medicinal value" and that is why they continue to be poached.Enforce poaching laws strictly, but beyond that I don't know. Africa is very poor and getting worse, so animal preservation is going to take a backseat.
I agree with everyone...we need stricter laws, and we should not buy ivory or other products where animals have been killed just so the poachers can make a few dollars.
I've bloggged about your giveaway:
http://eightymphmom.blogspot.com/
I think we need more people to watch the parks and fight the poachers.
DH & I have discussed this many times as he was born in South Africa and has seen the problem firsthand. As long as there are buyers for blackmarket ivory there will be elephant poachers. It is so hard to police the problem because Africa is such a HUGE continent. But there have to be stricter laws and punishment for these atrocities.
Thanks for the chance to win!
proudyaya04 {at} yahoo {dot} com
they should harshly punish these poachers.i saw gorillas in the mist that was such a great and sad movie :(
What a great giveaway!! Thanks for the chance :)
I really believe poachers need more extreme measures of punsihment. I also think we should do something that helps relieve the poverty that causes them to need to do it.
mommyhoodisthankless{AT}gmail.com
I think there needs to be more education for the local people.
Unfortunately, I believe an 'unholy alliance' is the only solution. Strike a deal with the 'devil' (sportsmen/developers) and find a way to ensure cash flow while maintaining environmental diversity.
Dammit - I hate to suggest that but it's the only workable solution I see.
we need to educate against posching
weblynx at hotmail.com
There are so many problems reported daily from the continent of Africa. The UN needs to get involved, first to protect the people, then to protect the animals, all of which will protect the world's ecology for all of us.
Eliminate poaching!
froggypartyof2@aol.com
The poachers have to go, and stiff fines on top of significant jail time.
ardy22 at earthlink.net
I believe that education is key to ending the problem. The rest of the world needs to realize that this is not just an isolated problem and that we should all be invested in the conservation of animals in Africa.
I have your button on my sidebar
http://invisiblepedestrian.blogspot.com/
nice!
You can have all the laws you want, but until the people of Africa decide to get rid of their corrupt leaders, poaching will continue. If you are desperate for money, you will do whatever it takes.
We need stricter laws and should not buy the ivory or other products where animals have been killed just so the poachers can get rich. stupid people i swear
I believe that there should be more enforcement in the protection of the animals.
I think the laws against poaching need to be better enforced and the punishment more severe.
I'm subscribed to your RSS feed.
Don't support any country or products that use animal products.
Demand stricter laws regarding poaching as well. This is a crime against animals and against mankind. When we loose these animals a part of humanity dies as well.
teraustin@mindspring.com
Conservation of these animals may be approached in numerous ways. Lands has, and will continue to be, set aside. Laws are updated. Enforcement is difficult due to insufficient manpower covering large, and often remote, land masses. The local people need help and education, learning ways to support their families with what they have available. The locals need to value and take pride in the animals, which can be a means of attracting tourism dollars. The locals need to be on the receiving end of those tourism dollars. (etc.) lizzauski@hotmail.com
Unfortunately the United States cannot police the world. Until those countries are convinced to pass laws and convict those who break the laws it will continue. We need to provide a positive reason for those governments to change the way they look at poaching. Granting most favored nation status or increasing aid would help but we aren't in the position to be able to afford to do that right now.
poaching should have a stronger punishment. Better enforcement of poaching laws.
walters123 (at) hotmail (dot) com
Subscriber
walters123 (at) hotmail (dot) com
I think we, via United Nations, should prosecute poachers for crimes against humanity, just like war criminals.
i'm subscribed :)
Definitely need to have much stiffer penalties for poaching.
I think if consumers refuse to buy ivory and other products made from elephants, that poachers will get out of the business. We need to educate the public more.
Angie
angieplays4fun at gmail dot com
Laws on poaching should be enforced, as well as penalities for owning the products.
Make the penalties for poaching more severe!
Definately impose trade restrictions on the offending countries, and teach our children the wasteful nature of poaching and loving all living things. ashlyn@chuparkoff.com
I definitely agree that poaching needs to be outlawed internationally, but at the same time you have to look at the root of what is causing people to poach, and that is the extreme poverty and hardship of these people. If they can be inspired with hope to reach beyond their poverty and get stabilized with ethics, then you'd see less poaching and more conservation of nature and more love between everyone.
Thanks so much for this give~away! : )))
leahita[at]gmail[dot]com
I also subscribe! : )))
leahita[at]gmail[dot]com
prosecute the poachers
There should be a concerted effort to stop poaching by requiring governments to make it a high priority. Companies who process products using poached animal parts should be punished severely. Consumers should be smart and not buy products made from poached animal parts. garrettsambo@aol.com
I think we should boycott any & all products made from animals from Africa.
If there was not a market then maybe they would stop importing these kind of things.
I follow u too!
I think we should do more to protect animals in Africa.
I subscribed to your mailing list.
I think there are several things. Poaching laws enforced by their government. Education for the people. It's a matter of money, and supply and demand. They need to help people find alternative to making money, and punish the people who are buying as well. I think you would have more luck with stricter punishment for the buyers. Get rid of the demand and there is no need for the supplier or poachers.
I am a subscriber
The animals are all so beautiful, i think they need to do more to protect god's creation.
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