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Ofir Drori

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Ofir Drori (Hebrew: אופיר דרורי; born 26 April 1976) is an Israeli writer and activist based in Central Africa. He started as an activist against wildlife trafficking, and expanded to anti-corruption, democracy and human rights activism throughout Africa.[1]

Activism

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He is the founder of LAGA – the Last Great Ape Organisation, an enforcement non-governmental organization that fights corruption in order to bring about to the arrests and prosecutions of major wildlife criminals dealing in endangered animal species. LAGA's award-winning model for a wildlife law enforcement NGO has started in Cameroon[2] and is now replicated in the Republic of the Congo,[3] Gabon,[4] Togo,[5] Ivory Coast,[6] Senegal,[7] Uganda[8] and Guinea.

In 2005, based on the experience of fighting corruption in the judiciary and the forces of law and order,[9] he has founded another NGO, called Anti Corruption in Cameroon, or AC–Cameroon,[10] which focuses on establishing Anti-Corruption law enforcement in Cameroon, and involving citizens in the fight against corruption through direct legal action.[11]

Drori is a co-founder of The EAGLE Network.[12]

Crocodile attack

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In December 2013, Drori was attacked by a 3-meter long Nile crocodile while vacationing along the Omo River in Ethiopia, but he managed to escape death.[13] Despite his injuries Drori was able to survive in the wilderness for two days and reach tribesmen and eventually was evacuated to hospital in Addis Ababa, and then to a hospital in Israel.[14] This incident is reminiscent of Australian eco-activist Val Plumwood who also survived a crocodile attack in 1985, and she subsequently wrote of it in her landmark 1996 essay "Being Prey".

Honors and awards

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In 2012 he was awarded the prestigious World Wildlife Fund Duke of Edinburgh Conservation Medal for his work.[15] He also received the Interpol Ecomessage Award, The Clark Bavin Enforcement award[16] and the Condé Nast Traveler Environment Award for his work, as well as the Future For Nature Award[17] and the Shining World Compassion Award.[18]

Published works

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Drori co-wrote The Last Great Ape: A Journey Through Africa and a Fight for the Heart of the Continent[19] with David McDannald.

References

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  1. ^ "Why Western Governments DO NOT Need to Give More Money for Conservation - The Rise and Rise of New Age Activism". HuffPost UK. 2012-11-23. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  2. ^ "Fighting wildlife crime and corruption: an interview with Ofir Drori". Wilder Magazine. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  3. ^ "PALF" (in French). Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  4. ^ "Conservation Justice". conservationjustice.org (in French). Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  5. ^ https://www.eagle-togo.org/
  6. ^ "EAGLE Côte d'Ivoire contre le trafic d'espèces animales" (in French). 2022-11-22. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  7. ^ "EAGLE Sénégal – Lutte contre la criminalité faunique". eagle-senegal.org. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  8. ^ "EAGLE Uganda – Eco Activists for Governance and Law Enforcement". 2021-11-16. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  9. ^ https://news.mongabay.com/2015/10/hidden-cameras-prosecutions-and-passion-confronting-the-corruption-at-the-heart-of-africas-illegal-wildlife-trade/
  10. ^ "AC – Anti-corruption Cameroon". Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  11. ^ "Confronting Corruption - Conservation". Conservation. 2010-12-08. Retrieved 2017-03-22.
  12. ^ Taus, Justin (2015-07-02). "When Eagles Dare: Ofir Drori's Mission To Tackle Wildlife Trafficking in Africa". The Dodo. Retrieved 2017-03-22.
  13. ^ "BBC World Service - Outlook, My Fight for Life after Croc Attack". BBC. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  14. ^ "Award-winning Israeli wildlife conservationist survives Ethiopian crocodile attack". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  15. ^ "Champion wildlife crime opponent awarded top WWF honours". wwf.panda.org. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  16. ^ "Species Survival Network". www.ssn.org. Retrieved 2017-03-22.
  17. ^ "Ofir Drori - Award winner 2011 - Future For Nature". futurefornature.org. Retrieved 2017-03-22.
  18. ^ "Ofir Drori - Champion Saving Endangered Species". www.godsdirectcontact.org.tw. Retrieved 2017-03-22.
  19. ^ Drori, Ofir (2012). The Last Great Ape: A Journey Through Africa and a Fight for the Heart of the Continent. Pegasus Books. ISBN 978-1605983271.
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