Gripping docuseries "Poacher" examines shadowy world of elephant poaching in India

[Delhi, India – 23 February] – A new Amazon Original series is set to captivate worldwide audiences with a real-life look into the shadowy world of elephant poaching, ivory dealers and brokers, and the impact of this criminal activity on the long-term conservation of a species. Poacher launches 23 February with eight episodes and subtitles in 35 languages.

Poacher brings to light the untold stories behind "Operation Shikar," a meticulously planned investigation that unfolded between 2015 and 2017. Based on real events, the investigation and arrests targeted suspected elephant poachers, ivory traders, carvers, and high-end ivory art dealers across various regions of India.

“The series captures the essence of actual events and presents it to the world without missing the beauty of the forests of western ghats, the ruthlessness and greed of hardened criminals, and the blood, sweat, and silent hard work of the people who sought to end the hunting,” said Jose Louies, CEO of the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI).

The incidents primarily occurred in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, with connections to the Indian state of Karnataka. The investigation resulted in the recovery of 28 illegal guns suspected to be used in elephant poaching. Operation Shikar won the Prime Minister's award in 2017 for outstanding protection efforts.

Integral to the success of Operation Shikar was collaboration between WTI and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), providing technical and resource support at every stage of the case. The investigation led WTI and IFAW to initiate HAWK, a centralised intelligence management system in Kerala. Today, HAWK is fully operational, providing real-time information to officials about various wildlife crime-related incidents. As a result, no targeted poaching for ivory has been reported since 2015. Despite these preventive efforts, experts continue to fend against the persistent threat of cunning leaders re-establishing networks.

“It is vital we break down silos in the world of intelligence and security forces that may impede the swift sharing of information, ultimately deconstructing criminal networks and stopping crime before it occurs,” added IFAW President and CEO, Azzedine Downes. “The point is to protect elephants—not to protect the ivory after it’s already too late and the elephants have died.”

Poacher is a powerful narrative that underscores the tireless efforts to combat wildlife crime, showcasing both the triumphs and ongoing challenges in the fight for conservation.

Director Richie Mehta first had the idea for Poacher after noticing the amount of ivory in people’s homes while working on a Google-financed documentary nine years ago called India in a Day.

The global premiere of "Poacher" takes place on February 23rd, exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.

Visual editors: 

• Link to still images and posters: https://spaces.hightail.com/space/yW3uARsYQ3 
• Official trailer video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdEJtvzT7jc&t=2s 
• Interviews about the genesis of the series, how it was filmed, what the objectives are, etc.: Richie Mehta and WTI Founder Vivek Menon (see here) / Richie Mehta and WTI CEO Jose Louis (see here) 

For media inquiries, please contact:

Arinita Sandilya, Head of Communications at WTI
+91-9582490170
media@wti.org.in

Stacey Hedman, Director of Communications at IFAW
+1 508 737 2558
shedman@ifaw.org

About Wildlife Trust of India (WTI)

Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) is a conservation organisation established in 1998 with a mission to conserve nature, especially endangered species and threatened habitats, in partnership with communities and governments. In its 25 years of operations, WTI has saved more than 54,000 animal lives, trained and equipped 20,000 frontline forest staff, and assisted the govt. in creating 7 Protected Areas, sensitised 31 lakh children to conservation, protected almost 1,77,665 hectares of natural habitat including mangroves and coral reefs and assisted enforcement agencies in combatting wildlife crimes. Read more about our work at wti.org.in

About IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) 

IFAW is a global non-profit helping animal and people thrive together. We are experts and everyday people, working across seas, oceans and in more than 40 countries around the world. We rescue, rehabilitate and release animals, and we restore and protect their natural habitats. The problems we’re up against are urgent and complicated. To solve them, we match fresh thinking with bold action. We partner with local communities, governments, non-governmental organisations and businesses. Together, we pioneer new and innovative ways to help all species flourish. See how at ifaw.org