ROME, Italy—The documentary “Tuskers: Saving the last gentle giants”, from animal charity Humane World for Animals, formerly called Humane Society International, has received a special mention at the Pet Carpet Film Festival.
The festival, held on September 27 and 28 in Rome, is one of the leading events promoted by the Pet Carpet association, an Italian cultural organization founded by journalist Federica Rinaudo to support the protection of animals and the environment.
“Tuskers”, produced by Humane World for Animals South Africa, is dedicated to super tusker elephants—males with at least one tusk weighing over 45 kg (100lbs). The original documentary, running approximately 16 minutes, is also available in a shorter version. Directed by award-winning documentary filmmaker Nick Chevallier and edited by seasoned editor Leigh Wood, the film urges viewers to reflect on the importance of protecting these gentle giants from the threats that endanger their survival.
The goal of the Pet Carpet Film Festival, held under the patronage of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, the State Police, the Carabinieri, the Italian Red Cross, FNOVI and Anas, is to showcase short films from Italy and abroad that celebrate the bond between humans and other animals. Semifinalists in the Docu Pet category included: “Nico, il cervo ritrovato” by Rachele and Fernando Di Fabrizio, which won the category; “Una famiglia allargata” by Ermes Uaz and Francesca Bastone; and “La storia di Jessica e Tris” by Fabio Di Marcantonio.
Dr. Audrey Delsink, senior director of wildlife at Humane World for Animals South Africa, said: “We are grateful to the organizers of the Pet Carpet Film Festival for their dedication in raising awareness about the importance of environmental sustainability, particularly, to the world of animals. As such, this recognition resonates profoundly. We would also like to thank the other organizations that contributed to the making of our documentary, especially Dr. Joyce Poole of ElephantVoices for her many years of work studying and protecting these critically important elephants. We are honored to bring our united voices—and most importantly, the voice of the elephants—to the international stage, for it is in ‘knowing’ that action can be taken.”
Federica Rinaudo, artistic director of the Pet Carpet Film Festival, commented: “Love triumphed at the eighth edition of the Pet Carpet Film Festival, which I am honored to have founded and to preside over, both as head of the association and as artistic director. It was truly moving to see hands and paws coming together, touching the hearts of everyone in the audience. I congratulate all the winners—not only those who actually made it to the podium, but also those who symbolically did, because reaching a final like this means being able to convey powerful messages, to inform and raise awareness about what surrounds us and is often taken for granted. A special thank you goes to Humane World for Animals, for the work you do, for the commitment and passion you put into it—which is truly evident. You helped us understand a world that feels a bit more distant from ours: that of the gentle giants, the elephants, who are truly magnificent creatures. I believe that from today on, we will all be more aware of what is happening in the world, and of the many challenges that exist—ones we must care about, even if they’re not happening in our own backyard.”
It is estimated that fewer than 50 super tuskers remain across the entire African continent, with around 10 of them found in the Greater Amboseli ecosystem, where the documentary is set. This incredible natural habitat, which includes the Amboseli National Park, stretches across the border between Kenya and Tanzania and is bordered to the south by the northern slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. The opportunity to admire elephants in such a setting attracts tourists from around the world every year. However, some of them seek more than just a photograph: they are trophy hunters, who purchase permits to kill elephants and seize their valuable tusks, exploiting a legal loophole that bypasses the international ivory trade ban.
Elephants are extraordinarily intelligent animals that are an integral part of African and Maasai culture. The great tuskers are fundamental members of their herds. Killing them means, first and foremost, preventing the transmission of their genes to future generations. Furthermore, their disappearance risks having an enormously destabilizing effect on ecosystems, leading to increased aggression among younger males and potentially escalating conflicts between humans and wildlife, threatening the survival of entire elephant populations.
Martina Pluda, director of Humane World for Animals Italy, concluded: “Trophy hunting may seem like an issue that doesn’t directly concern us. However, the European Union is the second largest importer, after the United States, of hunting trophies from animals protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Italy, between 2019 and 2023, imported 188 hunting trophies of animals who are threatened by trade. The African elephant was the most imported species, making Italy the fourth largest importer of African elephant trophies in the EU. Through the #NotInMyWorld initiative, which can be supported by signing a petition, we urge Italian institutions to introduce a ban on the import, export, and re-export of hunting trophies of threatened species.”
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Download a selection of photos HERE.