Elephants

Elephants Under Threat

African and Asian elephants face severe threats from poaching and habitat loss. Around 55 African elephants are killed daily for their tusks, driven by demand for ivory in Asia.

Key populations are rapidly declining, and in Asia, elephants have disappeared from nearly 85% of their historic range. Without urgent conservation efforts, these majestic giants remain at risk of extinction.

The Decline of Elephant Populations

Once widespread across Africa and Asia, elephant numbers have drastically declined over the last century. African elephants face severe poaching for the illegal ivory trade, while Asian elephants are most threatened by habitat loss and human-elephant conflict. Protecting these gentle giants is more crucial than ever.

Elephants: Majestic Giants of the Wild

Elephants are the largest land mammals, known for their massive bodies, large ears, and versatile trunks. They use their trunks for gathering food, communication, and even drinking or bathing. Their tusks, found in both male and female African elephants, help with defense, digging for water, and stripping bark from trees.

There are two genetically distinct African species: savanna elephants, the largest, and forest elephants, which are smaller and more elusive. Asian elephants differ from their African relatives with smaller ears, and only some males grow tusks.
Led by a matriarch, elephant herds consist of females and calves, while males live alone or in small groups. Females give birth every 4-5 years after a 22-month pregnancy the longest of any mammal.

Elephants need vast land to survive, spending up to 18 hours a day feeding. As habitat loss increases, conflicts with humans over resources threaten their future, making conservation efforts more important than ever.
The Decline of African Elephants

African elephant populations have plummeted from 12 million a century ago to around 400,000 today. Poaching for ivory remains their greatest threat, with at least 20,000 elephants killed annually. African forest elephants have suffered the most, with populations declining by 62% between 2002-2011, while savanna elephants declined by 30% between 2007-2014.

The illegal ivory trade has driven these losses despite a 1989 global ban on commercial ivory sales. Poaching surged again in 2010, prompting stronger action in key markets. In 2018, China once the largest ivory market banned domestic trade, leading to reduced consumer demand and lower black-market prices.

Meanwhile, Asian elephants face severe habitat loss, leading to human elephant conflict. Conservation efforts focus on enforcing ivory bans, reducing demand, and protecting elephant habitats to ensure their survival.

OUR PLEDGE

At our store, we celebrate these majestic animals while raising awareness about their conservation. Every purchase helps spread the message and support efforts to protect gorillas for future generations.