There’s been a global ban on trading “new” ivory for more than 23 years. Still, the fate of the world’s elephants hangs in the balance, due to escalating demand for black market ivory.
Poaching has been on the rise, with a recent study reporting that Central Africa’s elephant population decreased by more than 62 percent over the past decade. In the past eighteen months alone, it’s estimated that more than 33,000 animals have been killed.
The reality of poaching is gruesome. Elephants are attacked with everything from poisoned watermelons to grenades. Their tusks are hacked off, often while they’re still alive. Black market ivory is big business, particularly in Asia. But illegal sales are also common closer to home, even here in the US. And as long as there is a market, ivory poaching will continue.
Africa’s forest-dwelling elephants have been especially hard hit. Their loss will have a ripple effect on forest ecosystems. Forest elephants roam widely, often across hundreds of square miles, creating trails and clearings and eating and scattering seeds. These seeds help regenerate forests and contribute to the sequestering of carbon.
But the constant threat of poachers has already caused forest elephants to limit their range and become more isolated. For the elephants, this means fewer sources of food and water. For the forests, it means fewer new trees.
Poaching is a worldwide conservation issue. If it continues at its current rate, elephants could become extinct within our lifetime.
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Web Links
Slaughter of the African Elephants
Devastating Decline of Forest Elephants in Central Africa
http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0059469
The Ivory Trade on our Doorstep
http://www.wcs.org/news-and-features-main/ivory-trade-on-our-doorstep.aspx
Photo, taken on October 19, 2009, courtesy of Xiaojun Deng via Flickr.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio. Support for Earth Wise comes from the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, NY.