Feature Photo by Pixabay
I’ve recently been talking endlessly about preserving our natural environment and resources, from water to electricity and oil, forests and coral reefs. Another aspect we should all care about conserving is our planet’s fauna. In case you didn’t know, this term refers to all animal life in a specific region, particularly those native to a certain area or environment. So for instance, tigers in Asia; lions and lionesses in Africa; monkeys in the tropical rainforests of Asia, Africa, and Central and South America; orcas in Antarctica, Norway, and Alaska and so on.
In light of World Elephant Day on August 12th, I wanted to talk a bit about one of my favourite animals: Elephants! These big mammals are native to Africa and Asia and can be found in a variety of habitats, including forests, savannahs, deserts, and marshes. From the African Savannah Elephant, which can be found in pretty much almost all of the African southern countries, to Asian elephants, found in the southern, eastern, and southeastern parts of Asia, (and includes subspecies such as the Sri Lankan and Indian elephant), all species are endangered, especially the African Forest Elephant, which is critically endangered according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
ABOUT WORLD ELEPHANT DAY
World Elephant Day is celebrated every year with the aim to encourage everyone to help safeguard and defend elephants facing various threats. Since its launch on 12th August 2012, World Elephant Day has aimed to raise awareness about the critical challenges confronting Asian and African elephants. In fact, despite being adored and revered worldwide, these magnificent creatures are at risk of extinction.
The increasing incidents of poaching, loss of habitats, human-elephant conflicts, and mistreatment in captivity pose significant threats to both African and Asian elephants. Thankfully, there are a lot of conservation organisations that globally are dedicated to enhancing the protection of wild elephants, enforcing strict policies against illegal ivory poaching and trading, preserving elephant habitats, ensuring better treatment for captive elephants, and, when suitable, reintroducing them into natural sanctuaries.
This celebratory day advocates for observing elephants in sustainable and non-exploitative environments where they can flourish under proper care and protection; and encourages individuals to show concern, share knowledge, and back initiatives for the improved welfare of both captive and wild elephants. And with today’s article, I wish to do just that…
WHY ARE ELEPHANTS ENDANGERED?
Why celebrate and advocate for World Elephant Day? Because the world’s elephants are in trouble and in need of our help.
african elephants
Over the past decade, elephant populations have decreased by 62%, and there is a risk of them becoming largely extinct by the end of the next decade. Every day, an estimated 100 African elephants fall victim to poachers who target them for ivory, meat, and body parts, resulting in only 400,000 remaining. The high demand for ivory products in the market has made the illegal ivory trade highly profitable, leading to the killing of tens of thousands of African elephants. From 2010 to 2014, the price of ivory in China tripled, escalating illicit poaching activities.
Since 2011, the rate of elephant loss has exceeded the rate of reproduction, posing a threat to African elephants’ future. Male elephants with large tusks are the primary targets, causing their numbers to drop to less than half of the females. Female African elephants, also possessing tusks, are not spared from this fate, impacting the stability of elephant communities and resulting in a growing number of orphaned calves, which will not survive without their mother. Unfortunately, as mentioned above, the number of African elephants being killed for ivory surpasses the number of births, leading to a continued decline in elephant populations.
asian elephants
The Asian elephant, found across 13 Asian countries, is an endangered species with fewer than 40,000 remaining in the whole world – a fraction of the African elephant population. In regions heavily populated by humans, wild Asian elephants also face severe habitat loss. Development, highways, and large-scale farming like palm oil and rubber tree plantations have fragmented their traditional territories and migration paths, destroying millions of hectares of forests. This loss of natural habitat forces elephants into deadly conflicts with humans, resulting in losses.
While adult elephants are targeted mainly for the ivory trade, young elephants are captured from the wild and sold into the tourism industry. Think of tourist parks, circuses, and illegal logging operations, such as those elephant rides you often see on Instagram when people go on holiday. That’s where those elephants come from. Unfortunately, captive elephants also often endure mistreatment, abuse, and are kept in inadequate living conditions without proper veterinary care. Needless to say, all this persecution towards this species is really inhumane, especially considering this animal is a real kind giant.
the history of elephants alongside humans
Elephants and humans have a deep-rooted connection in our shared history. The vast African habitat and the imposing size and demeanour of the African elephant have allowed it to resist captivity over the years. In contrast, the Asian elephant has coexisted with humans for over 4,000 years, embodying reverence, tradition, and spirituality across various cultures. In Thailand, the elephant holds a special place as a national icon, with a designated holiday in its honour, and the ability for elephants to receive a Royal title from the King. Asia is full of cultural events and street parades that revolve around this animal, I’ve even seen one with my own eyes in Sri Lanka, and it was beautiful.
Despite the long history of elephants alongside humans, there is still much to discover about these majestic creatures. With the largest brain among land animals, elephants exhibit intelligence, emotion, social behaviour, and empathy – qualities that resonate with us. The similarities between humans and elephants suggest a significant connection. However, the future of elephants is at risk, leading to habitat destruction and biodiversity loss across Asia and Africa. Elephants play a crucial role as keystone species, shaping and preserving the ecosystems they inhabit, which in turn support a wide array of plant and animal species. The decline of elephants has far-reaching consequences, disrupting ecosystems and jeopardising the balance and diversity of nature of their natural habitats.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE IVORY TRADE
The ivory trade involves the commercial, often illegal trafficking of ivory tusks from various animals like the hippopotamus, walrus, narwhal, black and white rhinos, mammoth, and predominantly, African and Asian elephants.
For centuries, people in Africa and Asia have traded ivory, leading to regulations and prohibitions over time. Initially used for crafting piano keys and decorative items due to its white hue when processed, the piano industry moved away from ivory as a covering material in the 1980s, opting for materials like plastic. Ivory export from Asia and Afraica dates back to the 14th century BCE, where the material symbolised true opulence. Just think that in the peak of the ivory trade before the 20th century, around 800 to 1,000 tonnes of ivory were shipped to Europe annually during the colonisation of Africa.
the ivory trade in the 2oth century
World wars and subsequent economic downturns caused a decline in the demand for this luxury item. However, the increased prosperity in the 1960s and early 1970s led to a revival if this trend. Japan, freed from post-World War II exchange restrictions, began purchasing raw ivory, putting pressure on forest elephants in Africa and Asia. By the 1970s, Japan consumed 40% of global ivory trade, while Europe and North America consumed another 40%!
In 1979, the African elephant population was estimated to be around 1.3 million in 37 range states. However, by 1989, this number had decreased to only 600,000. The claim that habitat loss was the main issue was refuted, revealing that the international ivory trade posed the primary threat. Each year during that decade, approximately 75,000 African elephants were killed for the ivory trade, amounting to about 1 billion dollars annually. An estimated 80% of this came from illegally killed elephants.
Even with these scary stats, governments back in the 70’s and 80’s weren’t so much focusing on the already endangered species as much as they were focusing on getting the ivory trade market stats on their books – rather than this being done illegally. It wasn’t until 2012, when The New York Times reported on a large upsurge in ivory poaching, with about 70% flowing to China, that poaching started becoming everyone’s knowledge and worry.
The international commercial trade ban of ivory
In 1989, the international commercial trade of ivory was prohibited, yet some countries continued legal ivory sales within their borders, with exemptions for certain types like antiques, as seen in the UK. WWF campaigned vigorously for new laws to shut down domestic markets associated with illegal trade. A significant achievement came in 2016 when China, the world’s largest ivory market, declared a ban on all ivory sales within the country. On December 20th, 2018, the UK Ivory Act 2018 was granted Royal Assent after approval by the British parliament. The Act, which may expand to include hippos, walruses, and narwhals in the future, is considered one of the most stringent ivory bans worldwide. It effectively prohibits the purchase and sale of all forms of ivory in the UK, with limited exceptions.
THIS IS HOW YOU CAN SAVE THE ELEPHANTS
As individuals, there is only so much we can do though, so my advice is to avoid celebrating places like zoos, spreading the word and supporting organisations actually doing something for this beautiful mammal.
Save the Elephants
Save the Elephants (STE), founded in 1993 by Iain Douglas-Hamilton, is a research and conservation organisation headquartered in Nairobi, with a primary research station in Samburu National Reserve, Kenya. This UK-registered charity pioneers radio and GPS tracking of elephants to understand ecosystems from an elephant’s perspective, using real-time movement data to protect herds from poachers and influence landscape planning.
STE aspires to be a leading source of information on elephant status across Africa, with four staff members on the African Elephant Specialist Group. Recognising that the ivory poaching crisis requires a collaborative effort, STE launched the Elephant Crisis Fund (ECF) in 2013, in partnership with the Wildlife Conservation Network. The ECF supports a coalition of organisations working to end elephant poaching, trafficking, and ivory demand. To date, it has funded 104 partners conducting 415 projects in 44 countries across Africa and Asia, with all raised funds going directly to fieldwork.
STE’s mission is to ensure a future for elephants, maintain the ecological integrity of their habitats, foster human appreciation of their intelligence, and develop a tolerant coexistence between humans and elephants. The Samburu elephant population, extensively studied over 29 years, has provided invaluable data on behaviour and population dynamics, helping scientists understand the broader impacts of the ivory poaching crisis across Africa.
Elephant Reintroduction Foundation
Elephant Reintroduction Foundation is located in Thailand and is a non-profit organisation established in 2002 as part of a Royal initiative by Her Majesty Queen Sirikit of Thailand. Their primary goal is to release captive elephants back into their natural habitat. By acquiring elephants through donations or purchases, the foundation reintroduces them to protected forest areas to lead a life as wild elephants.
Elephant Aware
Elephant Aware was established in 2009, Elephant Aware is dedicated to safeguarding elephants in the Mara ecosystem through key project components, including anti-poaching efforts, human-elephant conflict resolution, conservation education, and community outreach. Since its inception, Elephant Aware has made a remarkable positive difference by enhancing wildlife protection and enhancing the well-being of both the community and elephants in the region.
The Elephant Valley Project
The Elephant Valley Project was established in 2007, the Elephant Valley Project is a local NGO located in Mondulkiri, Cambodia. It stands as Cambodia’s inaugural elephant sanctuary, devoted to enhancing the well-being of captive elephants in Mondulkiri Province, preserving the natural habitat of wild elephants, and supporting the local individuals who interact with these majestic animals.
EVP generates income to support various initiatives, including an elephant research and monitoring program, a mobile veterinarian program, ranger teams, assistance for an indigenous community-based organisation, and the project itself. This unique project offers an alternative approach to caring for, rehabilitating, and conserving elephants.
Ecoexist
Ecoexist was established in 2013, the Ecoexist Trust is a registered NGO in Botswana. The primary objective of Ecoexist is to facilitate the development of policies, on-the-ground programs, and incentives aimed at mitigating human-elephant conflict and fostering coexistence between elephants and humans. Transitioning from conflict to coexistence necessitates the implementation of various targeted, comprehensive management tools and strategies that offer both short-term and long-term resolutions.
Elephanatics
Elephanatics is a Vancouver-based elephant advocacy organisation in British Columbia, Canada. Their goal is to support the continued existence of African and Asian elephants by increasing awareness and sharing information about the significant hurdles and hardships these elephants encounter in Africa’s poaching crisis and Asia’s tourist industry. Our type of community!
Elephant jungle sanctuary
Elephant Jungle Sanctuary is dedicated to ensuring the health, safety, and wellbeing of elephants under their care, viewing this commitment as a lifelong responsibility. Their sanctuary locations serve as permanent homes for these elephants, where deep bonds and mutual trust are developed, enabling ethical and respectful interactions with visitors. I visited the sanctuary in Chiangmai in Thailand and had a very special day learning about the elephants, washing them and oiling them afterwards to protect their skin.
The sanctuary aims to provide elephants with the happiness, health, and freedom they deserve, striving to change public perceptions and promote a future where elephants are treated with care and respect, free from exploitation and abuse.
Elephant Jungle Sanctuary also engages in environmental conservation efforts, such as reforestation and protecting local biodiversity, in partnership with The Care Project Foundation. They promote natural forest growth and safeguard local ecosystems to ensure the elephants live in environments that closely resemble their natural habitats.
and finally......
These are only a few of the NGOs and organisations doing their part to help these animals, but there is soooo many more, but too many to mention here. Elephants are facing a critical shortage of space and time. Without intervention, they are at risk of disappearing entirely. To preserve these majestic creatures, it is crucial that we join forces to end the cruel practice of poaching and reduce the demand for ivory. It is essential to designate protected natural habitats in countries where elephants and other wildlife can flourish for generations to come.