SAVE THE
ELEPHANTS
A BIGGER PROBLEM THAN YOU THINK
62% DECREASE IN ELEPHANT
POPULATION IN LAST DECADE
DIMINISHING THE TOURISM INDUSTRY IN
AFRICA
By the next decade, elephants could be extinct. Will
tourists still pay thousands of dollars to travel to Africa
if the majestic creatures are no longer in existence?
IT'S 100% AGAINST THE LAW
INTERNATIONAL TRADE OF IVORY IS ILLEGAL
In 1989, the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
banned international trade of ivory. However, ivory
products are still a significant part of the Asian market.
In other words, tens of thousands of African elephants
are being killed illegally.
BABY ELEPHANTS BECOMING
ORPHANS
EFFECTS OF A HIGHER DEATH RATE THAN BIRTH
RATE
Female African elephants tend to be bigger targets
than males because they have larger tusks. This has
caused more baby elephants to become orphans.
HIGH RISK OF NEW EPIDEMICS
A NEW EBOLA?
The outbreak of the Ebola virus in Congo came from
the lack of inspection of meat coming from monkeys
which poor people desperate for food ate
nevertheless. Such people in Africa may consume
elephant meat sold by poachers and could potentially
introduce a new food-borne illness.
KEYSTONE SPECIES
EXTINCTION OF ELEPHANTS WILL LEAD TO
EXTINCTION OF OTHER SPECIES
Baboons and birds consume undigested seeds and
nuts that they find in elephants' feces. Dung beetles
use these deposits as a place to reproduce. Without
elephants, these animals could barely survive, as well
as animals that feed on them.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Don't buy, sell, use, or wear ivory. It's used in
some jewelry and dominoes--both things we
can live without.
Donate to organizations committed to elephant
preservation (see pictures)
Adopt an elephant; several of these elephantsaving organizations offer elephant adoptions
for which the money goes to the organization,
and you receive frequent pictures of your
elephant.
Donate
Adopt an
elephant:
World Wildlife
Foundation