Radio and TV presenter Nicky Campbell pens new single Sacred Eyes in fight against the "pitiless brutality" of the ivory trade

The TV and radio presenter has written and released Sacred Eyes in support David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.
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TV host and BBC 5 Live presenter Nicky Campbell OBE has thrown his support behind the fight against the world's ivory trade problem by writing and releasing a brand new song, called Sacred Eyes.

The timing of the release ties in with the 40th anniversary of the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, a charity that during its time has saved and returned over 200 animals to the wild.

Below Nicky writes about why he feels so passionately about this cause and what inspired him to put the song and its emotional video - already backed by the likes of Ricky Gervais and Louis Theroux - together, which you can watch at the bottom of the page.


"35 thousand African elephants are being slaughtered every year and having their faces hacked off for trinkets and toothpicks. Elephant families are being massacred and mutilated to make carvings of - elephant families. When I see an ivory carving, however old, however ornate, I don't see anything beautiful. I see an orphan trying to wake up her dead mother as the vultures circle round. Take that one to the Antiques Roadshow.

"The Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage is a wonderful place. It's an important symbol of the fight for their survival and a cradle of hope amidst the pitiless brutality. Watch the wondrous video and you get an idea of the beauty and otherworldly qualities of these extraordinary beings. Just look into those "Sacred Eyes'. This year marks the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust’s 40th anniversary and over that time more than 200 animals have been given another chance and returned to the wild. It's an astounding collective achievement but never has their work been more important.

"I wrote the song Sacred Eyes knowing that Sheldrick could make a powerful and moving video about their work and that is exactly what they’ve done. Logan Wilson sings, Kit Morgan is on guitar and Paul Buck has done a beautiful string arrangement – a musician tweeted me the other day, '2.48 is to die for!'"

Watch the video for Sacred Eyes below:

"Why does this matter so much? Elephants are beautiful, beguiling and extraordinarily intelligent beings. The sight of a family grieving for a loved one while taking turns to gently touch the body with their trunks is one of the most affecting sights in nature. You don't realise how wonderful and amazing this world is sometimes. You don't know what you've got till it's gone.

"To borrow the language of reality TV - it's quite a ‘journey’ - ten years from rescue back to the wild. Some don't make it and seem to die of grief screaming till they can scream no more but the happy endings are life affirming. Imagine the feeling at the nursery when years later an orphan returned to give birth at her former home and when another came back to proudly show her human family her wild born baby. They really do never forget. Stories like this are humbling and do rather challenge the notion that we are in anyway special.

"There is no nobler mission than to strive to save a fellow species from extinction - extinction all because of our ignorance and greed. These giants need room, they need respect and they need all our protection. The Sheldrick Orphanage is so special. Lets make sure our grandchildren know of elephants in the wild because a world without them is unthinkable. Please share the video."

Nicky Campbell OBE

Sacred Eyes is available do buy from all good digital retailers now. Click here to download it from iTunes. 100% of its proceeds will benefit the DSWT's work to protect elephants.

 

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