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The magnificent elephant deserves help... |
Elephants:
The largest largest terrestial animals on earth today, are an incredible species of mammal that has no comparisons in the animal kingdom. Their magnificent size, brute strength, and superior intelligence have fascinated countless humans from millenia past to the present.
And today they are in peril because of man's insatiable desire to obtain their ivory tusks for making trinkets and jewelry, coupled with a severe loss of habitat in most of the countries they still naturally live...
In 2010, (according to www.elephants.se, an "all about elephants" comprehensive website), there are about 600,000 African elephants, and between 30,000 and 50,000 Asian elephants living today, with approximately 20% in captivity- however "it´s difficult to estimate their numbers exactly."
The fact of the matter is that African elephant populations dropped by 50%, from 1.3 millions to 600 000, between 1979 and 1989, because of poaching. About 8 elephants an hour (or 70,000/ year) were poached during this period, until the CITES Ivory ban 1989.
The CITES Convention of International Trade In Endangered Species regard both species as so threatened they are included on "the red list" in many african countries, although not all...
Perhaps no other animals living on earth today symbolize the struggle for species protection as the great elephants. Losing them would effect humankind in ways we can only imagine in our darkest dreams, but we'd like to think that doesn't have to happen!
 FEATURED
ISSUE & WEBSITE:
SAVE THE ELEPHANTS
Save the Elephants assists wildlife departments in their fight against ivory traders and poachers. We protect and monitor elephants with aerial surveillance and radio-tracking and believe that a renewed ivory trade remains the greatest potential threat to elephants.
Protection is a vital pillar supporting the future of the elephant. Our work through education, research and grassroots conservation is gaining momentum and we hope it will eventually eclipse the need for active protection. Until that time arrives all our efforts funnel into the essential work of lobbying governments and CITES to provide legal protection.
STE works closely with government and non-governmental organisations, universities and research institutions to ensure the long-term conservation of elephants in Africa.
This requires a multifaceted approach and our activities cover research, conservation, community education and training, and public awareness at both a national and international level. |
Some KEY
Organizations:
Here is a listing of some of the most active and important organizations fighting for the world's remaining elephant populations:
AMBOSELI TRUST FOR ELEPHANTS
The Amboseli Elephant Research Project is the longest study of wild elephants in the world. We work to understand the lives and ensure the future of 1,500 elephants in the Amboseli ecosystem fed by the waters of Kilimanjaro. They aim to ensure the long-term conservation and welfare of Africa's elephants in the context of human needs and pressures through scientific research, training, community outreach, public awareness and advocacy.
ELEAID - (Asian Elephant Conservation Charity)
"We are a British Charity working for the conservation and welfare of the Asian Elephant. Our site is full of elephant facts, information and pictures. You will also find information about the problems elephants face and details of EleAid's activities. The Asian Elephant is officially classified as highly endangered. There are as few as 50,000 remaining and both wild and domesticated elephants face grave threats to their existence. Unless we take urgent action now these wonderful animals will disappear forever."
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