The Ivory Game (2016) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The documentary spans multiple locations across Africa and Asia. It covers poaching hotspots in Tanzania, Kenya, and Zambia, while also exposing the demand side of the trade in China and Hong Kong. This geographic scope illustrates the full chain of the illegal ivory trade from poachers in Africa to consumers in Asia.

• locations
• africa
• china
• hong kong
• tanzania
• kenya
• zambia
• poaching
• ivory trade

The documentary depicts a contemporary period, focusing on events from the five years leading up to its 2016 release. This timeframe highlights the alarming surge in elephant poaching that caused devastating population declines across Africa, framing the crisis as an urgent, ongoing issue.

• contemporary
• 2010s
• time period
• poaching crisis
• elephant decline

Conservation is the central theme, with the documentary emphasizing the desperate fight to save elephants from extinction. The film showcases the tireless efforts of conservationists and activists while exposing the harsh realities of poaching. It serves as both an exposé of the illegal ivory trade and a call for immediate global action to protect wildlife.

• conservation
• wildlife protection
• elephant poaching
• extinction
• activism

Elisifa Ngowi is the head of intelligence for an anti-poaching Task Force. He coordinates efforts to track and apprehend notorious poachers, including figureheads like Shetani. His character represents the relentless pursuit of justice and the organizational leadership required to combat sophisticated wildlife crime networks.

• elisifa ngowi
• task force
• anti-poaching
• intelligence
• shetani

Craig Millar serves as the head of security at the Big Life Foundation in Kenya. He is responsible for protecting elephant populations from poaching, often dealing with the complex challenge of human-wildlife conflict where local farmers compete with elephants for land and crops. His work represents the frontlines of preventative conservation.

• craig millar
• big life foundation
• kenya
• security
• wildlife conflict

Andrea Crosta is the investigative head of Wildleaks, an organization that uncovers illegal wildlife trade networks. He leads dangerous undercover operations in Asia to expose the illicit ivory trade, risking his safety to gather evidence against trafficking networks. His work highlights the investigative activism driving global conservation efforts.

• andrea crosta
• wildleaks
• undercover
• investigation
• asia
• trafficking

The documentary explores justice through the lens of accountability, showing efforts to prosecute poachers and dismantle trafficking networks. It exposes the moral dilemmas of the ivory market, highlighting the conflict between profit-driven criminals and those fighting for ethical responsibility. The film advocates for stronger laws and enforcement to protect elephants.

• justice
• poachers
• accountability
• laws
• enforcement
• ethics

The documentary portrays a global wildlife crisis: the devastating decline of African elephants due to poaching for ivory. With statistics showing alarming population decreases, the film serves as a wake-up call about the urgent need for conservation action. It warns that elephants could face extinction within decades without significant intervention.

• crisis
• elephant extinction
• population decline
• poaching
• wildlife crisis

The illegal ivory trade creates a brutal cycle where demand in countries like China and Hong Kong fuels massive poaching operations across Africa. Ruthless traffickers profit from slaughtering thousands of elephants annually, driving populations toward extinction. The documentary reveals how this global demand sustains organized crime and corruption throughout Africa.

• ivory trade
• demand
• china
• poaching
• trafficking
• extinction

The documentary delivers a bittersweet message: without urgent global action, elephants could be extinct within 15 years. However, it also functions as a clarion call for conservation, leaving viewers with both urgency and a glimmer of hope that collective action can still save these animals. The film urges awareness, education, and policy change to combat the ivory trade.

• message
• extinction warning
• call to action
• conservation
• hope
• awareness