What is ivory?<\/a><\/li>

Ice ivory: how the rise of the mammoth tusk industry poses a new threat to elephants<\/a><\/li>

Is ivory banned in the UK?<\/a><\/li>

Asian elephant guide<\/a><\/li><\/ul>
<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Poacher \u2013 official trailer. Credit: Prime Video India<\/figcaption><\/figure>How did you approach telling the story?<\/strong><\/p>I approached it as a thriller as I was constructing it. I wanted to lean heavily on the genre, as it\u2019s an issue that many are ambivalent about. Since the story happened to have the skeleton of\u00a0a\u00a0manhunt, I figured \u201cWhy not use that exciting framework to make this an easier watch?\u201d It\u2019s not much of a stretch, since there is so much danger prevalent in wildlife crime fighting. \u00a0<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Poacher<\/em> is a dramatisation of the largest ever elephant poaching case in India. Credit: QC Entertainment<\/figcaption><\/figure>Why do you think it was possible for poachers to kill so many elephants?<\/strong><\/p>In this particular case, since poaching was contained since the mid 90s, it was a perfect storm of a lack of manpower and resources for scouting, and economic desperation that motivated a group of historical hunters.\u00a0<\/p>What are your feelings towards those people who stood up and helped solve the case and tackle the problem?<\/strong><\/p>This is what Poacher<\/em> is truly about – not just the people who are a threat to species survival, but those who put themselves in the line of fire to protect those same species. I have immense respect and admiration for them.\u00a0<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2024\/02\/Poacher-2.jpg\" alt=\"Poacher\" class=\"wp-image-95224\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Based on the real-life events of Operation Shikar, the series covers a sprawling investigation that took place between 2015-2017 into elephant poaching in the southern state of Kerala. Credit: QC Entertainment<\/figcaption><\/figure>Have you spent time with elephants in the wild?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>I\u2019ve had minimal encounters with elephants in the wild, by design. I discuss this in the series: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/animal-facts\/mammals\/asian-elephants-guide\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Asian elephants<\/a> particular dislike human encounters, and just want to be left alone. Each encounter is not by their choice and can very quickly end in disaster. Our best equation with them is to maintain our distance. But my most magical encounter was late at night, observing a mother and calf as they feasted on a type of clay found in a stream bed. I watched them for hours, and afterwards, they just glanced at me, then sauntered back into the darkness of the bush.\u00a0<\/p>Do you love spending time with wildlife?<\/strong><\/p>Yes, more and more as time goes on. The dense jungle teems with life, but if you stand still in that place, eventually you will literally be eaten alive. That idea is obviously unsettling, but just to be guest in that environment can be magical. I\u2019m also cognizant of the damage we do as a species when we enter those spaces. The nature of how we trample, for example, has changed over time, and it takes a great amount of energy to have minimal impact. Also, I\u2019m in the arts, so if a handful of people are able to go in without disturbing the ecosystem, I\u2019d prefer it to be people of science who contribute to the welfare of that ecosystem.\u00a0<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1875\" height=\"1250\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2024\/02\/Poacher-3.jpg\" alt=\"Poacher\" class=\"wp-image-95227\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Mehta hopes that Poacher<\/em> will help people understand more about the complexities of poaching. Credit: QC Entertainment<\/figcaption><\/figure>Have you seen the effects of poaching first-hand?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>Not personally, though we have recreated this in the series. I\u2019ve not seen the effects of poaching first-hand with the animals, but I have with the humans, and it\u2019s devastating.\u00a0<\/p>What do you hope people take away from Poacher<\/em>?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>The overarching message is not subtle. But I hope people understand more about the complexity of the issues and they\u2019re are inspired by the people who are giving up their lives to protect these species and ecosystems for the benefit of all of our children. Their underlying reasons for doing this are among the most selfless I have ever seen, and I hope that selflessness, despite the great personal consequences, rubs off on others. Wildlife crime fighting is also a very exciting way to spend one\u2019s life.\u00a0<\/p>What do you think the long-term impact of this particular poaching case has been in India?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>The alteration in patrolling behaviour and frequency, more awareness at the plight of local Indigenous peoples, heightened vigilance. My hope now is a general public awareness as to how fragile the existence of a single species is.\u00a0<\/p>Poacher is an 8-episode Amazon Original Series available on Amazon Prime Video.<\/p>Interview by Graeme Green | Main image: Richie Mehta, centre, at the Poacher blue carpet event. 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