Every day, approximately 96 African elephants are killed for their tusks. This illegal hunting is called poaching. In a single year, this adds up to more than 30,000 elephants disappearing from the wild. Because elephants reproduce slowly, their populations are shrinking faster than new babies can be born. Scientists estimate that if this rate continues, African elephants could vanish from many parts of the wild within a few decades.

What is Ivory?

Poachers hunt elephants for ivory, the hard, creamy-white material that makes up their tusks. Tusks are actually elongated teeth (incisors) that extend from the elephant’s upper jaw. They are used for digging, lifting objects, and defense.

People in some parts of the world value ivory for making jewelry, statues, and carved ornaments. Although international laws ban the trade of ivory, a “black market” (illegal selling system) still exists. Because a large part of the tusk is rooted deep inside the elephant’s skull, the animal cannot survive when the tusks are removed.

Broken Families

Elephants are highly social animals that live in family groups. These herds are led by a matriarch, the oldest and wisest female. Because tusks never stop growing, the older elephants usually have the largest ivory, making them the primary targets for poachers.

When a matriarch is killed, the herd loses her knowledge of where to find water and food during dry seasons. This leaves the rest of the family vulnerable. Many young calves become orphans and struggle to survive without their mothers’ milk and protection.

Protecting the Giants

Conservationists and governments are fighting to stop the crisis. Park rangers patrol protected areas to stop poachers before they can harm the animals. Sanctuaries rescue orphaned elephants, raising them until they are old enough to return to the wild. Many countries now crush or burn stockpiles of seized ivory to send a message that it has no value unless it is on a living elephant.