Asian elephants are endangered, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which lists African elephants as vulnerable. Poaching can threaten elephants almost anywhere, but most illegal ivory currently comes from African elephants, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), where thousands of elephants are killed by poachers every year. There are nonetheless handful of fans still left who are devoted to preserving the lives of… Since the females don’t mate until they are about 14 years of age, those that are killed before that never get the chance to help bring those offspring into the world. Unfortunately yes, elephants are endangered. It can also limit genetic diversity by isolating populations from each other. African and Asian elephant are called to be distinct, elephants are now recorded in the queue of endangered species that have a theft to be extinct in future. Elephants are endangered animals and that is a statement that all of us need to take very seriously. And where farmers clash with elephants on the fringes of their remaining habitat, conservationists are trying a variety of creative techniques to help both creatures coexist. Elephant evolution. Though some populations are now stable and growing, poaching, human-elephant conflict, and habitat destruction continue to threaten the species. After logging in you can close it and return to this page. The African savanna, or bush, elephant (Loxodonta africana) weighs up to 8,000 kg (9 tons) and stands 3 to 4 metres (10 to 13 feet) at the shoulder. With only 40,000-50,000 left in the wild, the species is classified as endangered. 4-6 tons. On top of occupying and altering elephant habitats, people also commonly plant food crops there. The login page will open in a new tab. The short answer is YES. There are still handful of lovers remaining who are focused to saving the life of these … Many elephant populations plummeted last century due to unsustainable hunting, largely fueled by demand for their ivory tusks. And it is critical to conserve both African and Asian elephants since they play such a vital role in their ecosystems as well as contributing towards tourism and community incomes in many areas. Based on the previous two status reports, the African Elephant's conservation status currently is listed as Vulnerable, which means it faces a high risk of endangerment in the wild. Even though they can travel large distances to find food, without it for too long and they will be weak and not able to travel. African Elephants will live in almost any habitat that provides an abundance of food and water. There are now fewer than 40,000 Asian elephants left in the wild, raising the specter of extinction unless something can be done to save them. http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/12392/0, http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/7140/0. The Asian elephant was listed as Endangered under the U.S. Elephants are the only one that are left as three distinct species in the world according to our observations about ten crazy facts about elephants. They are sold for an unbelievable amount of money which makes engaging in that activity so enticing. The other main problem for elephants is that their natural habitat is being wiped out. "Africa’S Elephant Poaching Rates in Decline, but Scientists Warn Iconic Animal is Still Under Threat." Someone may ask, how can a species that has a population of hundreds of thousands be endangered? Asian elephants are endangered, which means they are in danger of becoming extinct and not existing on Earth anymore. As a bonus, the bees also provide fresh local honey. African elephantshave larger ear… As more of their natural areas continue to be depleted they find they are stuck trying to fight for the little bit of food that happens to be present. Weight. Sumatran elephants are in fact critically endangered. Elephants are my favourite animal and it’s soo sad that there being wiped out. ANSWER: In 1989, when they were added to the international list of the most endangered species, there were about 600,000 remaining, less than one percent of their original number. Please log in again. While such activities are often deemed illegal, the laws aren’t strictly enforced and so the process continues to be one that people take part in. Are Elephants Endangered? Yet these older elephants have the longer tusks that poachers are after and that is why they are also being killed. Asian elephants were never as abundant as their African cousins, and today they are even more endangered than African Once common throughout Africa and Asia, elephants have declined significantly during the 20th century, largely due to the illegal ivory trade. Elephants love any habitat that has a lot of food and water. They will pay large sums of money to go on hunting safaris. Many villagers of Africa would love to see them dead so that they aren’t eating fruits and other items that they would like to have for their own people to be able to eat and to survive from. The need for water can already be a big challenge for elephants even under normal circumstances, but as the climate crisis fuels longer, drier droughts in many places, it can become all but impossible to find enough. Elephants, particularly the African bush elephants, are native to over 35 countries in Africa. Park rangers are on the front lines against armed poachers, and more resources are always needed to protect elephants across huge expanses of space. This threat is also compounded as their habitats shrink and splinter, since thirsty elephants now have even fewer options for undeveloped places to find water. Nearly a hundred elephants are slaughtered each day in the wild, most for their ivory tusks. Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 1976. It is for that reason that they are scattered all over sub-Saharan Africa’s savannas. When you have to start using poor genetics for mating then it can result in serious health concerns for the elephants as a whole. Based on the slight morphological differences, they are fur… Michelle Gadd [public domain]/USFWS/Flickr. Elephants belong to endangered animal categories and need to be protected. There are a couple of main reasons why elephants are endangered – illegal killing of them and the destruction of their habitat. Are elephants really endangered? Let's read on to find out more about these interesting creatures. Elephants are endangered species and at least not very vulnerable towards extinction. Aside from being intelligent, charismatic, and iconic, elephants are also important keystone species who shape and sustain the ecosystems around them. There are two main groups of elephants left on Earth: African elephants and Asian elephants. These are also known as Indian elephants and are now considered to be endangered as almost half of their population has declined in the past six or seven decades. Whales and Elephants in International Conservation Law and Politics: A Comparative Study. Facts. Approximately 50% of these live in India alone, while the remaining population is dispersed across various other nations of Asia. Conservation Status and Threats, Elephant Poaching Declines in Africa, but 15,000 Still Illegally Killed Each Year, 5 Startling Statistics About Elephants on World Elephant Day, Elephants Are Worth 76 Times More Alive Than Dead, Elephants May Have a Specific Alarm Call for 'Human! Elephantidae is the only surviving family of the order Proboscidea; extinct members include the mastodons. ELEPHANT FACTS AND INFORMATION Facts about Elephants, African Elephants and Asian Elephants. This literally made me cry . Since it is due to humans that elephants are currently endangered, then it is only fitting that we are the ones to help them get those numbers back up. African elephants can disappear if the scale of the poaching fishery remains at the same level. However, there are also plenty of others out there where they are considered a nuisance. For large, migratory animals like elephants, the key is not just protecting isolated pockets of habitat, but also linking those pockets into large-scale wildlife corridors. In India and Nepal, for example, the Terai Arc Landscape project aims to reconnect a chain of 12 protected areas where Asian elephants live. The elephant inhabitants around the world is dwindling, and in accordance to latest estimate the populace has fallen to significantly less than fifty percent million. It is going to take educating the public, plenty of aggressive conservation efforts, arresting poachers, and protecting the natural habitat of these animals if we are going to help them to survive. Thank you so much for your comment, Isabella. Elephants do raid farms, destruct fields, and cause non-retrieval losses, but killing them in retaliation is never a solution. The African elephant was long hunted for their ivory tusks, which was a sought after material for many uses. Why are elephants endangered? African elephants are listed as threatened under the American Endangered Species Act because the species is at risk of extinction due to poaching for their tusks, which are sold on the black market. There are many reasons behind their endangerment, but the main three are due to habitat loss and fragmentation, human-wildlife contact, and poaching and capture. For many the thrill of hunting such an amazing animal is a huge thrill. The best think we can do is donate to reputable charities/foundations that rescue/save elephants. All elephants need lots of water, a thirst that drives much of their migratory behavior and daily activities. Elephant Anatomy, Habitat, Feeding, Reproduction and Elephant Predators Introduction to Elephants. Over the past century, the numbers of elephants have reduced by 50% due to hunting for Ivory and Sport. They aren’t being able to roam as they once did to find the volume of food that they have to have each day. You can learn what the objectives are for the different conservation groups and to find out how you can contribute to their efforts. Illegal ivory trade is still very profitable business and many merciless poachers hunt and kill elephants just to make profits by selling precious ivory. Are Elephants Endangered? Russell McLendon is a science journalist who covers a wide range of topics about the natural environment, humans, and other wildlife. They are found in eastern, southern and western Africa. With the males, they are about 40 to 50 when they are mating. In many areas of the world, elephants are held in high regard. And while the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) banned the international trade of ivory in 1989, legal ivory markets have remained in some countries, enabled by a resurgent black market and well-armed gangs of poachers. Are elephants endangered? 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