Research conducted into elephant poaching rates has provided a glimmer of hope for the iconic and vulnerable African elephant, as data provided by park rangers across protected areas of Africa indicates a decline in deaths by poaching.
In 2011, poaching reached an all-time high on the continent, with a mortality rate of more than ten percent. By 2017, this had dropped to less than four percent. This reduction in poachers murdering elephants may be due to a fall in the price of ivory.
While a six percent reduction in deaths sounds promising, translated into real terms, the number of animals being killed is still staggering. Approximately 350,000 elephants remain in Africa, which means that poachers continue to slaughter 10,000 to 15,000 of the majestic creatures every year.
“We are seeing a downturn in poaching, which is obviously positive news, but it is still above what we think is sustainable, so the elephant populations are declining,” said Dr. Colin Beale, one of the authors of the study. “The poaching rates seem to respond primarily to ivory prices in Southeast Asia, and we can’t hope to succeed without tackling demand in that region.”
The news comes only weeks after Botswana announced a lift on its ban on hunting and killing elephants. The country contains almost half of Africa’s elephant population, and researchers have noticed a rise in poaching in Botswana in contrast to the decline in the continent as a whole.
Allowing trophy hunters to start slaughtering elephants in the previously safe haven of Botswana could undo any positive gains which have come from the downturn in poaching.
Elephant populations are still far from stable, and a lot more work is needed to ensure these incredible animals are safe.
“Only about six percent of the current funding going towards tackling illegal trade in wildlife is directed to communication,” said Lisa Rolls Hagelberg, head of wildlife communication and ambassador relations for UN Environment. “For long-term success, governments need to prioritize comprehensive social and behavioral change interventions to both prevent and reduce demand. We have the know-how, now we need to invest to truly influence environmental consciousness.”
What’s New…
Hopefully the far Eastern countries tries will soon come to their senses!
Good! Ivory is Ugly on anything but elephants!!
Great. Let’s go all the way.
elephant poaching is down…that’s good news…BETTER news would be NO MORE ELEPHANT POACHING!!!!
Please, people, keep on demanding countries fight elephant poaching & kill the elephant poachers!!!
What I want to know is what happened to the brilliant idea of painting the tusks bright pink so that they would be useless for the ivory trade? Why aren’t they all doing this?
Animals should live free of cruelty and be safe.
Although it is excellent news that ivory sales are declining, trophy hunting is on the increase. Lion numbers have decreased by 43% in the last decade and the demand for animal parts is soaring. In 2017, 1.7 million animal “trophies” were imported, or passed through, the UK. Thankfully, the USA has banned trophies from captive lions and other species but canned hunting remains. Hunters in the wild prefer to shoot male lions which can decimate whole prides. Elephants are being exported to China and elsewhere and Botswana now has open season on elephant hunting. Privileged, rich and mostly white “hunters” pays exorbitant amounts of money to kill wildlife which is horribly reminiscent of the colonial era and it is surprising that African governments are encouraging this. We must all do all we can to persuade our own governments to ban importation of animal parts and raise awareness worldwide that animal bones have no medicinal properties and that the status symbol of eating animals such as sun bears and pangolins will render them extinct in the wild. We must not stop fighting until the animals’ cause is won.
Lobby for Fake Ivory Big time, doable, see Movie, TV props & mass produce, Save elephants worldwide. OK LFT, PETA etc.
Je suis exaspérée par cette perpétuelle maltraitance envers les animaux !
May God help the elephants. As long as humans are part of the equation I am not optimistic. The exploitation makes me sad.
This is indeed good news. Let’s hope it continues.
Botswana has lifted their ban on ivory trading and poaching. This is not good news for elephants.
GOOD NEWS! ELEPHANT POACHING IS DOWN AS IVORY DEMAND DECLINES ! Wonderful ! But New Problems now Botswana are now saying Elephants are coming into conflict with people and are legalizing Hunting Again to kill them off and Horribly starting a Elephant Pet Food industry.
African countries are now want Ivory Legalized so they can sell their stockpiles of illegal Ivory so the Poaching Problem have split off into New Life Threatening Problems for Elephants.
Africa is trying to make as much profit and money as possible off of Elephants without any concern for their long time Welfare and Conservation of their sustainable Populations to prevent EXTINCTION