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Standing at an average height of 11 ft. and weighing 6 tons, the African elephant is the largest mammal walking the Earth. As they migrate through the African continent, their presence profoundly shapes the ecosystem.1 The animal is vital to the survival of several species varying from trees that rely on elephants to disperse their seeds to the smaller ground animals who drink from the water that accumulates in their giant indented footprints. The African elephant is indisputably beautiful, intelligent and social; but it is in grave danger. Approximately 400,000 individual African elephants are left in the wild, and their existence is constantly and heavily threatened by human activity.2

A herd of Elephants in Tsavo West National Park, Kenya | Courtesy of Martin Roemers

In 2004, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) declared the African Elephant to be vulnerable – meaning that they are at a high risk of becoming extinct or endangered in the near future. According to the IUCN, a species is considered endangered if there is a : “50–70% population decrease over 10 years, a total geographic area less than 5,000 km2 (or local population area less than 500 km2), a population size less than 2,500 adults, a restricted population of 250 adults, or a statistical prediction that it will go extinct within the next 20 years.”3

The elephant is hunted at the rate that it is because of its ivory tusks. The most distinguishable features of an elephant are its elongated incisors which are made of ivory: a hard, white and extremely valuable and durable material. This “white gold” is currently worth a total of $1,500 per pound and is sold primarily as fashion and ornamental items carved into jewelry, art pieces or kept as a trophy and a sign of wealth.4 To collect this ivory, poachers kill elephants and mutilate the animal’s head to extract the tusks from their root in the cranial cavity.5

The remains of more than 300 elephants killed by poachers in Cameroon | Courtesy of Brent Stirton of National Geographic

This ivory trade was banned in 1989 under Appendix 1 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) which mentions that the Elephas Maximus and “all parts and derivatives of the species” are to be protected.6 Despite the convention, the ivory trade is very much alive and is decimating the species. Five African countries continue to provide ivory Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique, Malawi and Burundi because herds reside within the states’ boundaries or because they possess stocks of ivory ready to sell to the highest bidder.7

Poachers, who are for the most part locals, rely on the money made from selling tusks to sustain their family. As was the case with John Kaimio a 33-year-old Kenyan man who admitted to killing 70 elephants and was sentenced to prison. Kaimio explained that before entering this business his family would rely on livestock, but the arid climate killed the animals and any resources needed to survive. In his own words Kaimio explained that he went into the business of poaching to meet the needs of his family, “to buy food and pay for my child to go to boarding school. This amount could change things.”8

Despite the widespread structural poverty in these countries, poaching remains a cruel business and organizations around the world fight to put an end to this illicit trade. One of these organizations is The Elephant Information System (ETIS) which tracks down parties of the illegal ivory trade. It has classified countries like China, Kenya, Malawi, Malaysia, Uganda, and Vietnam as being of primary concern because of the vast amounts of ivory that have been seized or because they serve major transit points for ivory.9 China remains the world’s largest consumer of legal and illegal ivory that is used for medicine, ornaments, and all kinds of carvings. It is estimated that 50% to 70% of poached ivory ends up in China despite there being a ban in place since 1990.10

A pile of ivory collected and destroyed in China in 2014, weighing over 6 tonnes | Courtesy of CNN News

In 2017, China announced they would begin a new and heavily enforced total ban on domestic ivory with the purpose to “improve elephant conservation and combat illegal ivory trade…”11 Since December 30, 2017, China banned not only the processing  of ivory, but also the sale of it. Additionally, ivory carvers and anyone who relied on the ivory business to survive, have been encouraged to work in museums or abandon their skills altogether.

Other countries involved in the ivory trade include Belgium, Austria, the Czech Republic and the United States, which is the second largest ivory consumer in the world.12 In 2017, President Trump lifted the ban on importing elephant heads from Zimbabwe and Zambia into the United States. The justification for lifting the ban is that managing the population of elephants in these African countries will benefit the survival of other species in the wild.13 As explained by the CEO of the Humane Society, Wayne Pallace, lifting this ban delivers a message to the rest of the world that by allowing rich Americans to collect trophies, the United States is dismissing the international community’s efforts to ensure the survival of the elephant risking their becoming endangered.14

A wildlife ranger stands guard as the Kenyan government burns their ivory stockpile. | Picture by Ben Curtis.

Other countries, however, are doing all that they can to protect the species. In 2016, the Kenyan government set on fire 105 tons of ivory- the remains of 6,500 poached elephants, to convey to the world that they are fervently opposed to the ivory trade. In the words of President Kenyatta, “For us, ivory is worthless unless it is in our elephants.”15 In the past 27 years countries like the United States, China, the Philippines and many others have burned their ivory stockpiles, but none has ever been as huge or as significant. This action of solidarity with the elephant in Kenya is classified as the largest burning of ivory in world history and is important to mention because Kenya is an underdeveloped country that struggles with poverty and droughts. President Kenyatta explained that the worth of their stockpile – which is roughly $150 million dollars – could aid the development of the country significantly, but prefers to burn the tusks due to the immorality of poaching.16

Demonstrators in Johannesburg, South Africa against the ivory trade. | Courtesy of the Guardian.

Governments, however, are not the only entities capable and willing to help the African elephant. More than 50 international organizations dedicate their efforts to ensure the survival of the African Elephant. Some of which include: the Nature Conservancy, Save the Elephants, Global Sanctuary for Elephants, Friends of the Elephant and many others. Much can be done to help at the individual level as well by joining protests for the banishment of the ivory trade. An example of this occurred in 2014, where thousands marched in 136 cities ranging from Washington, D.C. to Paris, to Nairobi, Kenya to pressure government officials in these countries to ban poaching and to toughen the laws that allow for it to take place.17 The cruel and unnecessary poaching of elephants will halt when the demand for the material ceases and alternative means of survival can be pursued for former poachers to support their families. The ivory trade will bring about the extinction of the African elephant, unless altered. The situation for the African elephant will improve once all people become educated of the ruthlessness behind this business, and governments all around the world become willing to join the conservation efforts to save the elephants. As humans it is our duty to prevent such intrinsically beautiful and important species from disappearing from the face of the Earth.

  1. ”African Elephant”, World Wildlife Fund, accessed April 22, 2018, https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/african-elephant.
  2. Paul G. Allen’s Vulcan Inc., “Great Elephant Census Final Results,” Great Elephant Census, last modified 2016, http://www.greatelephantcensus.com/final-report.
  3. Jonathan Hogeback, Encyclopedia Britannica, s.v.”What Makes a Species Endangered?, accessed April 22, 2018, https://www.britannica.com/story/what-makes-a-species-endangered” Between 2007-2014, the elephant population decreased by 30% and the decline rate is rapidly accelerating primarily due to poaching for the ivory trade. The extinction of this species is then highly plausible and it becomes clear that the African elephant is rapidly approaching the threshold where they will be classified as endangered.[3. Paul G. Allen’s Vulcan Inc., “Great Elephant Census Final Results,” Great Elephant Census, las modified 2016, http://www.greatelephantcensus.com/final-report.
  4. Mark Strauss, “Who buys Ivory? You’d be Surprised,” National Geographic, August 12, 2015, https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/08/150812-elephant-ivory-demand-wildlife-trafficking-china-world/.
  5. Erin Keyes, “An Elephant’s Tears,” African Wildlife Foundation (blog), February 2, 2010,  http://www.greatelephantcensus.com/final-report.
  6. Appendices I,II, III “Convention on International Trade in Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES),” July 1973, https://www.cites.org/eng/app/appendices.php.
  7. Jane Perlez, “Ivory Trade is Banned to Save the Elephant,” The New York Times, October 1989, https://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/17/science/ivory-trade-is-banned-to-save-the-elephant.html.
  8. Stephen Messenger, “Exclusive Interview with an Elephant Poacher,” the Dodo, January 1, 2014, https://www.thedodo.com/interview-with-an-elephant-poa-390317914.html.
  9. Adam Cruise, “Ivory Trading Nations Exposed,” Conservation Action Trust, November 28, 2016, https://conservationaction.co.za/media-articles/ivory-trading-nations-exposed/.
  10. Ross Harvey, “China’s ban on domestic ivory trade is huge, but the battle isn’t won,” The Conservation, January 11, 2017,  https://theconversation.com/chinas-ban-on-domestic-ivory-trade-is-huge-but-the-battle-isnt-won-71090.
  11. “China Announcement of Domestic Ivory Ban in 2017- English Translation,” WCS Newsroom, January 3, 2017,https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/12/wildlife-watch-china-ivory-ban-goes-into-effect/.
  12. Adam Cruise, “Ivory Trading Nations Exposed,” Conservation Action Trust, November 28, 2016, https://conservationaction.co.za/media-articles/ivory-trading-nations-exposed/.
  13. Adam Edelman and Kristen Welker, “Trump Administration lifts ban on importing heads of hunted elephants,” NBC News, November 16, 2017, https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/trump-administration-lifts-ban-importing-heads-hunted-elephants-n821331
  14. Adam Edelman and Kristen Welker, “Trump Administration lifts ban on importing heads of hunted elephants,” NBC News, November 16, 2017, https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/trump-administration-lifts-ban-importing-heads-hunted-elephants-n821331
  15. Rachel Nuwer, “Kenya Sets Ablaze 105 tons of Ivory,” National Geographic, April 30, 2016, https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/04/160430-kenya-record-breaking-ivory-burn/.
  16. Rachel Nuwer, “Kenya Sets Ablaze 105 tons of Ivory,” National Geographic, April 30, 2016, https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/04/160430-kenya-record-breaking-ivory-burn/.
  17. Agence France-Presse, “Elephant poaching: thousands march worldwide for wildlife protection,” The Guardian, October 4, 2014, https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/oct/05/elephant-poaching-thousands-march-worldwide-for-wildlife-protection.

Recent Comments

104 comments

  • Luke Lopez

    This is a very interesting article about ivory trade and its effects on elephants. Elephants are hunted and killed because their ivory tusks are very valuable and are worth $1500 per pound. It is insane to think of the possibility that one day elephants could become extinct due to poaching.The ivory trade needs to be put to an end in order to preserve the elephants from becoming extinct.

  • Gabriela Ochoa

    This is a great article and makes people see what is happening to the animals around the world. I knew that elephants were becoming extinct but never knew the real reason was for the tusks. Elephants are really important to the lands of Africa. I’m glad that more and more people and organizations are trying to help put a stop to the killing of them in hopes that they will again populate the earth like the did before.

  • Tessa Bodukoglu

    I have always heard about the ivory trade but I have never really gotten into the deep information about how it impacts people and country’s. I have never been for the fact that people kill wild life and sell the skins and other body parts for money. I think that it is very cruel and inconsiderate of wild life. people don’t realize how much of an impact wild life has on country’s and its important to want to protect them especially elephants since they could soon become extinct.

  • Tessa Bodukoglu

    before reading this I knew about the ivory trade but I honestly didn’t know how serious it was. I personally don’t stand and support the fact that people kill elephants for money. its cruel and not right to help further extinct the earth minus all of the pollution that kills hundreds of animals each day but to murder them for money is wrong. the article help puts a good perspective on the endangerment of the elephants and was very captivating to read.

  • Robert Freise

    The illegal poaching of elephants for ivory has been going on in the continent of Africa centuries. The trade with China in terms of ivory production has increased the poaching due to how much the chinese are willing to pay based off how much ivory is available. It is truly disgusting that people kill elephants for just for their tusks. The animal is being wasted and is not being used to sustain but it is being used for human greed.

  • Andrea Cabrera

    Articles like this open your eyes to situations that you are not aware of and the extent of their acts. This article talks about ivory trade and organizations that try their best to track down those who soullessly abuse of elephants to sell the ivory. It’s important for humans to take care of their environment and to not disrupt the cycle of life by reducing animals’ populations. We need to be more careful about our ecosystems and maintain their diversity.

  • William Ward

    I myself have never been a fan of ivory, but when animals are killed in such large numbers is a complete atrocity. I hunt, and I am greatly opposed to the pooching of elephants, but I do not see collecting the tusks of the animal and leaving the rest to decay and waste is beyond tragic. Good article, hopefully this disgusting trade will be eradicated in the near future.

  • Lorenzo Rivera

    Ivory is an extremely beautiful resource that has been used in many items as an indication of wealth for thousands of years, however despite is beauty, it should not be forcefully ripped from mother nature at the expense of the lives of many innocent creatures. Organizations such as ETIS are crucial in the protection and preservation of numerous species of wildlife in the world.

  • Harashang Gajjar

    The huge scale of the losses of African elephants could reduce genetic diversity to the point where healthy and robust populations become dangerously weakened.Elephants are vital to the web of life in Africa. As a keystone species, they help balance all the other species in their ecosystem, opening up forest land to create firebreaks and grasslands, digging to create water access for other animals, and leaving nutrients in their wake. Sometimes called the protecters of the forest, elephants are essential to the dispersal of seeds that maintain tree diversity.

  • Sienna Guerra

    It is disheartening to see that elephants are being abused and killed for the sake of ivory. Not knowing that ivory was a such a gift that was precious being traded around the world was killing off such a precious animal. Now, knowing after reading this article that the elephants are being advocates for elephants and trying to regulate this selling of ivory to stop.

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