This literally made me cry . Illegal ivory trade is still very profitable business and many merciless poachers hunt and kill elephants just to make profits by selling precious ivory. The login page will open in a new tab. The area of Tridom which spans across parts of Gabon, the Republic of Congo and Cameroon, was also an area of concern. While such activities are often deemed illegal, the laws aren’t strictly enforced and so the process continues to be one that people take part in. This article, therefore, aims to provide a deeper understanding of the need to preserve endangered species. White elephants are not a particular type of elephant, (unlike the white rhino) they are ordinary African or Asian elephants which happen to be white, perhaps albinos. “We admire elephants in part because they demonstrate what we consider the finest human traits: empathy, self-awareness, and social intelligence. Specifically, between 1996 and 2005, most forest elephant ivory came from locations from the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, but this was not the case for samples after 2005. Even though they can travel large distances to find food, without it for too long and they will be weak and not able to travel. Elephants are large mammals belonging to the family Elephantidae, within the order Proboscide. However, while the elephant is admired everywhere for its intelligence and emotional complexity, it is under assault from all sides and is tragically facing extinction. The major kinds of threats are being posed by the anti-nature activities of humans, such as deforestation, and poaching. They are sold for an unbelievable amount of money which makes engaging in that activity so enticing. Massive industrial development for palm oil and paper plantations are destroying their habitat, 6.5 million acres of the Leuser Ecoystem. They are enormous animals and one that many cultures hold in high regard. Why Are Elephants Endangered Species? The savannas exist as the grasslands they are because the elephants push down trees and devour the low shrubs. In response, farmers and concerned citizens are shooting, poisoning, electrocuting and setting traps for elephants [16]. Owing to a number of contributing factors, the Indian species of elephants are being rapidly dragged towards extinction. During the twentieth century wild populations saw a rapid decline as a result of an insatiable consumer demand for ivory from Asian markets. They are endangered because they are being poached for their tusks, meat and their habitat are being used by humans wanting wood from tree's and plants to make medicines and cures for diseases so the food that elephants eat is getting less and less by the day! For example, Asian elephants used to roam from Syria to northern China and the Indonesian islands. Many villagers of Africa would love to see them dead so that they aren’t eating fruits and other items that they would like to have for their own people to be able to eat and to survive from. It is important for them to breed so that they offspring created will be very strong and healthy. Elephants can efficiently demolish a family’s garden or even a plantation over very little time. The fact that it takes the females up to 22 months to have a single baby is difficult when you are trying to increase the elephant populations. Today, an even more significant risk pushing elephants toward extinction is the loss of their habitat. Convention on International Trade Endangered Species (CITES) in 1990. There are two types of elephants, the African and the Asian, naturally present in their respective continents. The grasslands also provide home to small burrowing animals like honey badgers and mice [6]. Beyond tracing the changes in poaching areas across Africa, the research also revealed the flaws in thwarting poaching activities even in protected areas as more than 85 percent of the forest elephant ivory seized between 2006 to 2014 was traced to the Tridom protected ecosystem. Why Are Pandas Endangered? The close proximity to humans is not only destabilizing the social organization patterns of the herds, it is provoking increased incidences of conflict, with elephants killed by humans to protect food sources and family. A future without elephants is a worrying. World Wildlife Fund has established protected zones in countries including Mozambique, trained wildlife managers in Cambodia and Lao and worked with governments to identify illegal trade routes and shut down suppliers. Declining elephant populations continue with environmentalists sounding the alarm given the ever increasing risk of potential extinction of the species. The ivory is used … Indian Elephants are currently endangered. African elephants used to roam the entire continent, and although some do live in the forests and deserts, they are mainly found in the sub-Saharan savannahs today. If more than 50 percent of deaths come from poaching, this causes a downward spiral that is difficult to halt, as populations struggle to maintain their numbers naturally. Hopefully, Indonesians will contribute to support the government’s efforts in … Increasing fragmentation of elephant populations is also being caused by other threats that we do not have a comprehensive plan to address. The Asian elephant was listed as Endangered under the U.S. Spreading awareness of the issues can also be very useful. For example, elephant numbers in Tanzania have fallen by 53 percent. © Martin HARVEY / WWF In their foraging, elephants knock off the seed pods of the acacia trees for warthogs, kudus and baboons to consume. Why are elephants considered intelligent? Although results of government measures has been positive, the support for banning ivory has not been universal. Elephants require a lot of space. Thank you so much for your comment, Isabella. Whales and Elephants in International Conservation Law and Politics: A Comparative Study. The other main problem for elephants is that their natural habitat is being wiped out. Why are elephants endangered ? The endangering of African elephants is not a small issue that can be solved overnight by creating certain rules. There are a couple of main reasons why elephants are endangered – illegal killing of them and the destruction of their habitat. Most elephants are illegally killed to take their ivory tusks. It is estimated that between 40,000 and 50,000 remain in the wild [1]. The restrictions on ivory trade have been deemed successful in many regions, though declining populations due to poaching are still being reported in Africa [13]. The removal of a keystone species has a cascading negative effect on the entire ecosystem [5]. African elephants are listed as threatened under the American Endangered Species Act because the species is at risk of extinction due to poaching for their tusks, which are sold on the black market. The good news is that many initiatives are in place to help conserve elephants. These are often lead by people in the villages that know exactly where the elephants will be. We are working hard to improve our content. There was also a clear change in ivory poaching before and after 2006. Quick Navigation for Are Elephants Still Endangered? Some governments have taken aggressive measures to catch poachers and staunch the flow of contraband as poachers use increasingly sophisticated techniques to conceal their activities as black-market prices for ivory soared. Creating an environment that satisfies these conditions is the only way elephants will be able to survive the human population explosion. Sumatra is … These elephants are killed, the tusks removed, and the bodies left to rot. The African elephant was long hunted for their ivory tusks, which was a sought after material for many uses. Not only are they lacking in knowledge, it is likely that the killing of the mothers has caused more profound destabilizing effects. There are currently 20,000-25,000 Indian elephants left on Earth. U.S. State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Samuel Wasser from the University of Washington, Bill and Hillary Clinton’s Global Initiative. After logging in you can close it and return to this page. Studying the behavior of herds should reveal how a particular herd moves and its optimal living conditions. The best think we can do is donate to reputable charities/foundations that rescue/save elephants. Scientists matched DNA from the ivory that was being seized to that of elephant dung from elephants across Africa to map out where elephants were being poached. Habitat destruction is a major reason why Asian elephants are endangered. Take urgent action now to demand protection for this critical ecosystem and the endangered Sumatran Elephant. Even though many initiatives have been implemented to reduce poaching for ivory and a couple of the south African species have not only recovered their populations but are growing, on the whole elephants remain at risk of extinction, with the Sumatran species of Asian elephants closest to the brink. And last spring, the US lifted its ban on importing sport-hunted trophies of elephants from certain African countries [10]. Ed Couzens. Certainly, the rampant poaching has caused a number of effects that continue to contribute to further decline, most notably the tendency of poachers to kill the largest animals of the herd who are generally the matriarchal leaders of the herd, responsible for guiding the herd to find food and water. These older elephants though are the ones with the strongest genetics. And it is critical to conserve both African and Asian elephants since they play such a vital role in their ecosystems as well as contributing towards tourism and community incomes in many areas. Why elephants are endangered Humans are to blame for the endangered status of elephants; the two main causes are hunting and habitat loss. Why Elephants are Endangered? Some people do not understand the importance of keeping a healthy population of animals or plants on the planet. This will necessarily involve learning and then educating people to understand elephant behavior. [1] http://wwf.panda.org/knowledge_hub/endangered_species/elephants/. Critically endangered, these majestic elephants could be wiped out if we don’t act soon. Moreover, as mentioned earlier, various factors affect the condition and survival of their remaining population. Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 1976. Historically, the natural range of People make things like piano keys out Why are they endangered? Hopefully our results will force the primary source countries to accept more responsibility for their part in this illegal trade, encourage the international community to work closely with these countries to contain the poaching, and these actions will choke the criminal networks that enable this transnational organized crime to operate. Elephants create paths through the forests which can be used by other animals and humans. As human population continues to increase and development expands, the elephant’s habitat is further closing in. Why are elephants endangered? I am so heart broken on what i read . Legalized hunting must be monitored for its impact on elephant populations. They are also play a critical role in maintaining the region's forests. It is going to take educating the public, plenty of aggressive conservation efforts, arresting poachers, and protecting the natural habitat of these animals if we are going to help them to survive. Most recent reports show that the black-market price for ivory has fallen [9]. They are losing their habitat because people cut down their habitat for wood and to make room for new buildings. Elephants have been revered for centuries in Asia, playing an important role in the continent's culture and religion. Consider too that an average elephant produces 250 pounds of manure a day. But illegal wildlife trade and trophy hunting are not the only risks. Most elephants are illegally killed to take their ivory tusks. The main reason that Asian Elephants are endangered is habitat loss. Elephants are afraid of bees [18]. Perhaps surrounding a pasture with beehives would discourage rampant foraging. Small ground animals feed off the grubs and insects. Elelphants appear on the endangered list due almost entirely to poaching, the black market ivory prices have risen and so more elephants are being shot. Ivory is very expensive. All other African and Asian elephants remain on the CITES appendices as threatened or vulnerable, with strict limitations on trade in ivory of African elephants and prohibitions on commercial trade in Asian elephants and their parts and products [11,12]. Let us know if you liked this article. While heavy machinery keeps spraying #monocrops with #pesticides and #fertilizers, millions of #family #farmers are applying agroecological approaches to redress those impacts and revive #rural areas. When you have to start using poor genetics for mating then it can result in serious health concerns for the elephants as a whole. There are two main reasons why elephants are endangered: poaching (illegal hunting) and habitat loss. This article lists four reasons why we should save endangered species. Their tusks are worth a lot of money on the black market, so large-tusked males are in constant danger of being poached. There are two major species of elephants, African and Asian. They will pay large sums of money to go on hunting safaris. There could be ways to discourage roaming elephants from certain areas. Greentumble was founded in the summer of 2015 by us, Sara and Ovi. Illegal trapping of elephants from the wild continues to supply the tourist and lumber trades (for use as work animals). In addition, the findings suggest that there must be a link between the traders of illegal wildlife products as one of the largest seizures of ivory contained samples from both of the key hotspots. http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/12392/0, http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/7140/0. Since the females don’t mate until they are about 14 years of age, those that are killed before that never get the chance to help bring those offspring into the world. Asian elephants reach nine to ten feet (3 meters) and weigh around 5,000 pounds. You can go online to find out more about such efforts in place. It is estimated that probably one quarter to one third of the total African elephant population is made up of forest elephants. Similarly, it appears that the savanna elephant poaching hotspot began shifting towards the north in 2011: from southeastern Tanzania it gradually moved towards Kenya. What is the key to their success?https://t.co/179Z5AnYTw pic.twitter.com/Qw7hXuBBQK. Speaking at the University of Washington’s news outlet, Wasser was quoted saying: When you’re losing a tenth of the population a year, you have to do something more urgent – nail down where the major killing is happening and stop it at the source. With only 40,000-50,000 left in the wild, the species is classified as endangered. With the males, they are about 40 to 50 when they are mating. To this end, relatively recent research first published in 2015 reveals that most illegally poached African elephant ivory can be traced back to just two areas. … Routledge, 2013. Technically, poaching defined as illegal killing remains the number one threat. Now that we know where and how they live, we can revisit our first question: why are pandas endangered? So it is possible that the impact of the fragmentation of the herds from poaching is greater than we understand. Bill and Hillary Clinton’s Global Initiative has pledged $80 million to improving anti-poaching efforts, creating intelligence networks and increasing awareness of the issue in order to reduce demand. Elephants were once abundant throughout Africa and Asia but the illegal ivory trade has led to their demise. There is no more iconic symbol of wildlife conservation than the noble elephant that marches the plains of Africa and the jungles of Asia. But most importantly, it requires an honest and earnest spirit to … Over 60 percent of carcasses studied across the African continent were found to have died due to poaching. Elephants are becoming endangered partially because of their tusks. Despite a ban on ivory trade in 1990 illegal poaching is still a … We all know that elephants have a long lifespan. As a result many of them are starving to death which is really a sad fate for them. Asian elephants are endangered, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which lists African elephants as vulnerable. Furthermore, Bloomberg Business reports that an innovative private sector initiative in Tanzania plans to use unmanned drones and other technology to monitor poacher movements, helping law enforcement officials to track them down. This is so sad that it ALMOST made me cry but thanks for the info, whoever did this. Those are the reason why elephant are endangered in Indonesia. It came about as a result of the combined efforts of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the World Bank, INTERPOL and the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, among others. There is much we do not know about their internal communications as they take place below our range of hearing. One of the biggest threats to elephant populations is the ivory trade , as the animals are poached for their ivory tusks. Once common throughout Africa and Asia, elephants have declined significantly during the 20th century, largely due to the illegal ivory trade. Sometimes many elephants are killed at one time. Yet these older elephants have the longer tusks that poachers are after and that is why they are also being killed. The grasslands in turn sustain an ecosystem of grazing animals like zebras, gazelles and impalas. Organisations such as the Save Elephant Foundation work with communities to restore lost habitat and educate locals about the importance of maintaining a balance between humans and wildlife. Lions, jackals and hyenas then have prey to eat. Due to their enormity, elephants can be frightening. The dominant causes include deforestation, poaching and human-elephant conflict. More steps must be taken to facilitate coexistence, more comprehensive plans developed to protect both humans and elephants. In addition, the African elephant population is at risk due to loss of habitat when mankind moves into the elephant's range. It is a very sad scene to come upon for those that are working hard to bring the elephants back from the brink of extinction. Samples originating from other areas in Africa also showed other specificities such as more complicated shipping strategies. The research team analyzed ivory from 28 seizures made between 1996 and 2014 and compared this to dung samples from 1,500 individuals, each from a separate family group and living in different locations across Africa. An adult needs to consume between 300 to 400 pounds (880 kg) of vegetation a day. So wherever an elephant wanders, it is obvious that their habits of eating and drinking alone will impact their environment. African elephants are the largest mammal on earth, up to 14 feet (4 meters) tall and weighing in around 8 tons (6,300-7,300 kg). A massive unregulated market still exists and is the primary threat to elephant populations. Lead researcher and author, Samuel Wasser from the University of Washington, hopes that the findings will help bring about a more targeted and robust approach to halting poaching activities. It appears that elephants need a lot of fresh vegetation, water, community with each other and space.They may need to take ancestral migratory routes. Our goal is to inspire people to change their attitudes and behaviors toward a more sustainable life. It is worth noting that the ivory samples included 61 percent of all large seizures made worldwide between 2012 and 2014. Recent estimates say that the black ivory market has worth of more than $12 billion dollars. For many the thrill of hunting such an amazing animal is a huge thrill. International concern over the declining numbers of elephants prompted a complete ban on the ivory trade by the Convention on International Trade Endangered Species (CITES) in 1990. You are right, it is so sad. It is really sad. African elephants are listed as vulnerable and Asian elephants as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). As more of their natural areas continue to be depleted they find they are stuck trying to fight for the little bit of food that happens to be present. Why are elephants endangered? In the hotter areas, an elephant may need to drink 50 gallons (190 liters) of water a day. Other actions that can certainly make a difference include: The research from 2015 on the elephant poaching hotspots mentioned earlier in this article was truly innovative and the first of its kind. For example, it could be that a better answer to the preserves now being created and marketed for ecotourism would address the need for migration by creating corridors to other reserves. Now, with only 15 percent of their habitual territory available, they can be found only in isolated herds in India, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia [4]. A world without elephants would represent a tragic loss but despite our best efforts, it is looking increasingly likely. Though some populations are now stable and growing, poaching, human-elephant conflict, and habitat destruction continue to threaten the species. Several … And, if findings from a recent conservation conference in Botswana are to be believed, this is something which could happen as soon as 2025, leaving us precious little time to act. They are sold for an unbelievable amount of money which makes engaging in that activity so enticing. Still, the focus is shifting now. Perhaps unsurprisingly, out of the 28 seizures, for 23 the genetic test proved that their actual country of origin was different to the one from which they were being shipped. And in digging in dry riverbeds for water, they create holes which reach the water table and trap rain. Continued monitoring and enforcement of the illegal wildlife trade is essential to prevent backslides or even new markets for elephant parts from opening up. Elephants are also captured alive for domestic use, such as tourist attractions. All Rights Reserved. Yet the number of them in the wild continues to plummet at an alarming rate. Elephant dung, containing 50 percent of the original nutrients consumed, as their digestive systems are notoriously inefficient, sustains a platoon of wildlife believed to include monkeys, baboons, hornbills and mongoose as well as many insects, like dung beetles. The largest threats to the Asian elephant are poaching and habitat loss. Besides, the loss of biodiversity is the greatest ever threat to humanity so why does it not Where do elephants live and why are they important for the environment? October 8, 2017 October 7, 2017 admintag Every 15 minutes one elephant is destroyed for the sake of its tusks – … This is leaving herds with juveniles who do not know where the water and food sources are [14]. Elephants that belong to large animals and use certain places as their homes, will be more difficult to pass natural selection. Greentumble Endangered Species October 26, 2018 “We admire elephants in part because they demonstrate what we consider the finest human traits: empathy, self-awareness, and social intelligence. With an estimated population of less than half a million in Africa, the issue of poaching needs to be urgently addressed to help stabilize elephant population decreases. It requires several strategies and planning, which must be made keeping the ecosystem into consideration. In general, elephants are one of the many endangered animal species that reflect the challenges in the resource optimization and resource integration for their conservation. Illegal killing They are poached with poachers only going for their ivory tusks. But the way we treat them puts on display the very worst of human behavior,” said Vanity Fair’s editor Graydon Carter while reporting on how elephants are hunted for their ivory in 2011. Both Asian as well as African elephants are facing different types of threats to their protection, survival and the propagation of generation. Not only do they provide vital ecosystems services that maintain biodiversity, but their presence is a humbling reminder of the majesty of nature. Their large impact makes them a keystone species, that is a species crucial for maintaining the numbers and diversity of other species. what do we do? 1. All elephants are herbivores, eating twigs, seeds, grass, leaves, bark and bananas, sugar cane and marula fruit. People are clearing forests and destroying their h… It occurs when an animal's habitat is destroyed and the animal can no longer live there. Some people do not understand the importance of keeping a healthy population of animals or plants on the planet. As we mentioned above, the answer is human activity. Since 2012, Sumatran elephants have been considered a critically endangered species by the U.S.F.W.S.. Half of their population has been lost in just one generation due to habitat loss and conflicts with humans. Although “purring” has been noted, it has been found that males, who are usually solitary (the herds being composed of female adults and children), actually continue to communicate with the females from miles away [15]. Humans are moving into the habitat of elephants, building roads, businesses, homes and sometimes creating big plantations, for products like palm oil. Why are Elephants an Endangered Species? Thousands of African elephants die every year because of poaching. —Are Elephants Endangered First we need to understand that the endangerment of elephants is not just a wildlife issue, its global concern. This article lists four reasons why we should protect endangered species. Other animals and even humans, like the like the pygmies of the Central African Republic can then have access to water. People want to make money off of Ivory. In many areas of the world, elephants are held in high regard. by Ahsen Soomro March 23, 2020 0 Shares 0 0 0 0 Elephants are the iconic symbol of wildlife that marches the jungles of Asia and the plains of Africa. Read more about us. The dung too contains seeds from trees as far as 40 miles away. WHY ELEPHANTS ARE ENDANGERED: They were overhunted by poachers who wanted to sell their tusks which are quite quite valuable as ivory. Bothe species of elephants are endangered for different reasons. Elephants are endangered animals and that is a statement that all of us need to take very seriously. Ancient migratory routes and foraging ground have been reduced due to climate change or destroyed to make way for expanding settlements. Elephant-World © 2019. This article, therefore, aims to provide a deeper understanding of the need to preserve endangered species. More peaceably, innovative piecemeal measures are being implemented to protect crops, like the “chili bombs” made of chilis and dung, repugnant to the elephant’s sensitive olfactory senses and thus effective in discouraging elephants from approaching and raiding maize crops in central Africa [17]. In Zimbabwe, South Africa and Botswana, people farm elephants on ranches for trophy hunters, arguing that ivory trade should be simply regulated, not banned.

why are elephants endangered

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why are elephants endangered 2020