Conservation efforts: the Danger of extinction
Despite elephants' impressive intelligence, elephants are routinely poached for their tusks, pictured here. In the 1980s, up to 80% of herds in some areas were lost to the ivory trade. The ivory trade has since been banned, but poaching is still a widespread problem, particularly in African countries with underfunded wildlife management authorities.
Image courtesy of Doubtful News |
Humans also threaten elephants indirectly through the lifestyle choices that they make. Compare the two maps below. Can you see how the elephants' range overlaps with areas of water stress, sensitivity to climate change, and human population growth?
Projections indicate that elephant habitat is vulnerable to climate change and will become hotter and drier in the future. Elephants are also threatened by habitat destruction, which worsens with high human population growth.
Images courtesy of Dan Klotz and Abhijit Naik
Projections indicate that elephant habitat is vulnerable to climate change and will become hotter and drier in the future. Elephants are also threatened by habitat destruction, which worsens with high human population growth.
Images courtesy of Dan Klotz and Abhijit Naik
But don't worry--you can help! Don't buy ivory, and do your part to alleviate climate change by reducing your carbon footprint. You can also buy products wood products through the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), whose logo you see here. The FSC certifies sustainable timber crops that do not destroy habitat valuable to elephants and other wildlife.
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For Further Reading
National Geographic: "Can Elephants Survive a Legal Ivory Trade? Debate Is Shifting Against It"
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/08/140829-elephants-trophy-hunting-poaching-ivory-ban-cities/
"Elephants and Global Warming"
http://www.elephant-world.com/elephants-and-global-warming/
"25+ Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint"
http://cotap.org/reduce-carbon-footprint/
Ivory, Horn, and Blood: Behind the Elephant and Rhinoceros Poaching Crisis by Ronald Orenstein
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/08/140829-elephants-trophy-hunting-poaching-ivory-ban-cities/
"Elephants and Global Warming"
http://www.elephant-world.com/elephants-and-global-warming/
"25+ Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint"
http://cotap.org/reduce-carbon-footprint/
Ivory, Horn, and Blood: Behind the Elephant and Rhinoceros Poaching Crisis by Ronald Orenstein
References
Breyer, Melissa. "6 Ways to Help Elephants." Mother Nature Network. N.p., 5 Sept. 2012. Web. 12 Dec. 2014. <http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/stories/6-ways-to-help-elephants>.
"Elephants in Trouble; Slaughter Continues by Inhuman Poachers." Doubtful News. N.p., 14 June 2014. Web. 12 Dec. 2014. <http://doubtfulnews.com/2014/06/elephants-in-trouble-slaughter-continues-by-inhuman-poachers/>.
Klotz, Dan. "Climate Change Activists Need To Talk About Population Too." Voices. National Geographic, 13 Jan. 2012. Web. 12 Dec. 2014. <http://voices.nationalgeographic.com/2012/01/13/climate-change-and-population/>.
Naik, Abhijit. "African Elephant Habitat." Buzzle. N.p., 24 Mar. 2014. Web. 12 Dec. 2014. <http://www.buzzle.com/articles/african-elephant-habitat.html>.
"Threats to African Elephants." WWF Global. World Wildlife Federation, n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2014. <http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/elephants/african_elephants/afelephants_threats/>.
"Threats to Elephants." Defenders of Wildlife. N.p., 2014. Web. 12 Dec. 2014. <http://www.defenders.org/elephant/threats>.
"Elephants in Trouble; Slaughter Continues by Inhuman Poachers." Doubtful News. N.p., 14 June 2014. Web. 12 Dec. 2014. <http://doubtfulnews.com/2014/06/elephants-in-trouble-slaughter-continues-by-inhuman-poachers/>.
Klotz, Dan. "Climate Change Activists Need To Talk About Population Too." Voices. National Geographic, 13 Jan. 2012. Web. 12 Dec. 2014. <http://voices.nationalgeographic.com/2012/01/13/climate-change-and-population/>.
Naik, Abhijit. "African Elephant Habitat." Buzzle. N.p., 24 Mar. 2014. Web. 12 Dec. 2014. <http://www.buzzle.com/articles/african-elephant-habitat.html>.
"Threats to African Elephants." WWF Global. World Wildlife Federation, n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2014. <http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/elephants/african_elephants/afelephants_threats/>.
"Threats to Elephants." Defenders of Wildlife. N.p., 2014. Web. 12 Dec. 2014. <http://www.defenders.org/elephant/threats>.