An African elephant is killed every 15 minutes — largely for its ivory. Although protected, tens of thousands are still poached each year due to illegal trade, especially in Asia. Compounded by the increasing pressures of deforestation through human encroachment, their situation is looking dire.
📉 Rapid Decline
While there were once millions of them, only about 415,000 African elephants are still around today. From 2010 to 2012, 100,000 elephants were massacred. Tanzania lost 85,000 elephants to poaching between 2009–14, while Chad’s Zakouma National Park saw more than 3,200 poached between 2005–10.
💔 Why It’s Happening
Poaching: Fueled by the demand for ivory, particularly in Asia.
Habitat Loss: As humans spread, elephants lose out on land and experience conflict.
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🌱 Signs of Hope
There is rising momentum to save these giants — under improved law enforcement, international bans on ivory and community-based conservation.
Saving elephants is about safeguarding biodiversity, ecosystems and a magnificent species that should be able to live free and unfettered, not go extinct.
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