In parts of Africa, elephants known as “giant tuskers” roam the land, their enormous tusks tracing a path in the ground as they walk. Although they sound like something from a fairy tale, these majestic creatures are real. But for our children and theirs, African elephants like these may soon only be seen in photographs or zoos.
Every year, 30,000 elephants are killed for their ivory. According to recent estimates, Africa has fewer than half a million elephants—down from about 10 million only a century ago. The loss of elephants threatens more than just one species —– elephants play an essential role in the ecosystem. As National Geographic recently reported, elephants serve as “nature’s engineers” – when they thrive, other wildlife flourish as well.
The most poignant tragedy of the elephant crisis is that so few people are aware of their plight. These amazing animals are intelligent, highly social, and sensitive, forming deep familial bonds and passing on generations of knowledge about survival to their young.
Resolving the elephant crisis is complicated. The circulation of ivory dates back to the 14th Century, with it being used to make everything from billiard balls to jewelry and piano keys. Despite a worldwide ban on the international trade of ivory in 1989, exemptions to the ban soon followed, continuing the demand for “legal” ivory. Globally, poachers and traffickers have created highly organized criminal networks to kill the animals and smuggle their ivory tusks across borders to sell worldwide. Elephants are also rapidly losing their protective habitats as industries such as agriculture take over the land and leave them at greater risk.
In the face of this multitude of threats, inspirational work is being done by exceptionally brave people. In Kenya, former poachers are recruited to be the world’s first line of defence against the murder of elephants – the park rangers. All too frequently they lose their lives. These people, the NGO community and the efforts of many governments are sources of hope. The defeat of greed and desperation may be hard to imagine.
But try imagining a world without elephants.