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Elephants on Verge of Extinction

Illegal hunting could kill off African population in 15 years

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 19, 2009 1:44 PM CDT

(Newser) – Within 15 years, African elephants could be extinct as a consequence of rampant ivory poaching, conservation experts say. Africa's elephant population numbers just 600,000, and that number appears to be dwindling by about 38,000 a year. That’s faster than the birth rate. One animal welfare group is urging countries to crack down on the ivory trade to slow the die-off.

“Most people will be shocked to hear that, 20 years on from a ban on international ivory trade, elephants in Africa are still threatened by commercial poaching,” the director of the International Fund for Animal Welfare tells the Telegraph. “The ivory trade must be banned once again, and comprehensively, if we want to prevent the extinction of elephants. Sadly, the truth is that ivory trade anywhere is a threat to elephants everywhere.”

A herd of elephants walk backdropped by Mt. Kilimanjaro in Amboseli game park in Kenya in this May 21, 2006 file photo.
A herd of elephants walk backdropped by Mt. Kilimanjaro in Amboseli game park in Kenya in this May 21, 2006 file photo.   (AP Photo/Karel Prinsloo, file)
An elephant wanders in Tembe Elephant Park in the Northern KwaZulu Natal province in Jan 2007.
An elephant wanders in Tembe Elephant Park in the Northern KwaZulu Natal province in Jan 2007.   (AP Photo/Denis Farrell)
Wild elephants look on at the Deepar Beel bird sanctuary on the outskirts of Gauhati, India, Saturday, July 21, 2007.
Wild elephants look on at the Deepar Beel bird sanctuary on the outskirts of Gauhati, India, Saturday, July 21, 2007.   (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 19 comments
shopgirl1623
Oct 20, 2009 12:26 PM CDT
Ang. Jollie should adopt an elephant. If your yard is big enough, why not. There is a couple up in Ojai that has had an elephant for years. Didn't MJ have one too? Granted they're large but I'd have one if my yard were bigger. Think of the jobs it would create, traveling vets, trainers, pooper scoopers, ear cleaners.
schmidtkoff
Oct 20, 2009 5:29 AM CDT
@derni - it all boils down to greed. whether it is the tusks of elephants, the horns of rhinos, the fins of sharks, the skins of leopards or the taste for dolphins. sheer greed and wanton abandon of any moral thought at what their actions may have on ecosystems or legacies to future generations. a moving quote that stays in my memory is from Thomas wolfe’s book “look homeward angel” comes to mind: "oh lost, and by the wind grieved, ghost, come back again." extinction is forever.
schmidtkoff
Oct 20, 2009 5:08 AM CDT
@prowlerzee - i'll double spit. this is tragic.

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