The use of ivory is not a new phenomenon in today’s society. Since prehistoric times, ivory has been used in different cultures for a variety of reasons. What is new is the rate at which ivory trade is occurring globally. Starting in the early 1970s, attention was starting to form around global ivory trade and its negative effects on both humans and the environment. In Africa especially, much attention is being brought to the soaring death rates of elephants due to a massive increase in poaching rates. While globally, there is a demand for ivory, Africa and Asia are the two key players in the trade. Most ivory is flowing from African to Asian consumers. Even locally and between neighboring countries, there are intricate networks of ivory trade
Throughout human history, many animals have been hunted mainly as a source of food, but this has not necessarily been the case with elephants. In fact, according to the conservationists, most of the information humans have on elephant’s shows that they were highly regarded as being amazing creatures. While it did and does occur today, elephants are still not as often killed for meat when compared to other animals. When elephants were hunted it was also to get them out of certain areas, such as the fields of farmers. Other elephants, especially in Asia were also captured to use for work (elephantworld.com, 2014). However, the main reason elephants have and are being hunted is for their ivory. In the early 1970s attention was starting to form around the ivory trade as the amount of ivory leaving Africa rose to levels not seen since the start of the century, as well as soaring death rates for the elephants being poached. For example, in the 1980’s an estimated 100,000 elephants were being killed per year and up to 80% of elephant herds were lost in some of the regions in Africa (World Wildlife Fund [WWF] Global, 2015). In fact, due to the massacre of African elephants over more recent years ivory has earned the nickname of “blood ivory.” This is why in 1989, CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and
First of all, there is a difference in the geography of elephants, which are the sources of ivory. There are two species of elephants in the world: Asian and African elephants. There are distinct differences between African and Asian elephants. While elephants in general are the largest animals that walk the Earth, African elephants are even larger than Asian elephants. There are two subspecies of African elephants- the Savanna (bush elephant) and the Forest elephant. As for the Asian elephant family, there are Borneo Pygmy elephants, Sri Lankan elephants, Sumatran elephants, and Indian elephants. There are other ways to tell African and Asian elephants apart. Besides being smaller, Asian elephant ears are also straight at the bottom compared to the fan shaped ears of African elephants. African elephants have three toes on the hind foot and five on the forefoot, while Asian elephants have four toes on the hind foot and five on the forefoot (World Wildlife Fund [WWF], 2015). Out of all the differences between Asian and African elephants, it is important to note that while all African elephants have tusks (even females), only some Asian male elephants (no females) have tusks . Because of this, the biggest threat to Asian elephants is habitat loss, although poaching could be on the rise in the near future. There is little research on the
One can only imagine the death and destruction that was inflicted in order to ship mass quantities of ivory. The Company’s disrespect for the Africans and their environment was the typical attitude had by many nineteenth century profiteers. Their rationale was that no matter what degree of damage was inflicted, they felt it would never affect them.
The Ivory game is a documentary about the illegal poaching that is going on in Africa. It is aimed at bringing awareness to the black market business of ivory that is running rampant in China and the danger that it poses on elephants and even people who want to help against poaching. The producers of the movie are Kief Davidson, Wolfgang Knopfler, and Walter Kohler. These people worked together to bring the movie that has information about the illegal ivory trading in China and Africa and released the movie in the year 2016. The documentary did an amazing job at conveying it’s message with the logos and pathos fields, although it needed to strengthen the ethos section of the triangle.
Wildlife conservationists are constantly working to supervise the rivers, forest, and other natural resources of Africa in order to preserve and protect them through prudent management. In Kenya, laws against trophy hunting has assisted these conservationists in maintaining wildlife populations. However, park rangers face a huge battle against the illegal poaching of these rare trophy animals, such as lions and elephants. In Asia, the demand for ivory continues to surge, despite the long-time ban on its international trade. The demand is so high that the Tanzanian government has developed plans to construct a commercial highway through the Serengeti in order to more efficiently trade goods with Asia (“The Need for Serengeti Watch”). However, the highway will also provide a faster route to the coast for ivory smugglers. The controversy surrounding the highway and its positive or negative effects on the economy, Tanzania as a whole, and the Serengeti is countless. Despite the debate over its benefits and...
Due to poaching for their ivory, African elephants are becoming an endangered species. Because of this, they can be found today primarily in game reserves or in national parks. They were originally found on the southern tip of Africa, from the Indian Ocean to the Atlantic coast of Africa. African elephants occupy different habitats, ranging from semi-desert areas to mountain regions to grasslands or forest areas. Specifically, African elephants are most often found in the Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests, the Miombo woodlands, or the Acacia savannahs (Elephants, 2014).
The evolution of the elephant specie initiates the modification in the genetic traits of an elephant through sequential generations; hence the independent species divided into separate divisions. The subspecies therefore evolved and developed independently, and ultimately expanded and branched out to form advanced species, resulting in the formation and evolution of the modern elephant specie. The current elephant is a large herbivorous mammal, native in Southern Asia and Africa. The elephant species is the largest existing land animal, belonging to the family Elephantidae, and the order of Probiscidea. The elephant is characterised by the possession of a versatile trunk, capable of grasping objects and ivory tusks.
Largely known as the biggest animal on the planet, elephant is always considered human’ friendliest wild friend. We have coexisted from the beginning of time, working, sharing this increasingly overcrowded land. In the crazy and fast pacing world of animals and the endless fight over the places in the food chain , elephant is still supposed to be the calmest because, according to some children’s book, those problems are too small compared to the size of the animal. However, it seems that this theory is only true in the childhood fantasy. In “An Elephant Crackup?”, Charles Siebert drills on the downfall of elephants. He gives a depiction of the recent raging and violent acts of the elephants, and presents an educated and almost unexpected
Approximately 25,000 elephants were killed for ivory in 2011. Orenstein (Turtles, Tortoises and Terrapins), a wildlife conservationist, tells an appalling story of how persistent greed for ivory and rhino horn has drastically reduced African elephant and rhino populations. Crime syndicates meet the unrelenting demand by using heavily armed poaching gangs to raid Africa's wildlife preserves and national parks
For a long time Asian ivory was used, because it was much easier to obtain, though the ivory was harder to shape, more likely to break, and less attractive. The Asian ivory came from tusks of elephants that were largely different from African elephants. For starters, they had a smaller build and differently shaped tusks. The African elephants had an average tusk size of about sixty pounds to the Asian elephant’s forty. The African elephants lived in the tropical jungles of Africa’s east coast, while the Asian elephant lived in a far different environment. As it happened, it was the African elephant that man desired but had a difficult time getting to Africa. Believing that the danger of a trip to Africa outweighed the potential profits of the voyage merchants and consumers settled for the lower quality ivory.
The excerpt from Elephants Know When They Need a Helping Trunk is about the exact procedures and results of the same experiment that Elephants Can Lend a Helping Trunk was about. It contains the precise physical dimensions of every part of the test, and detailed explanations of each step that was followed to preform the test. Little to no opinions, quotes, or even conclusions that could be drawn were included, due to the strict, formal, and informational nature of the passage. The author's purpose was purely to explain all parts of the elephant study, and not at all to entertain or persuade.
The second half of the 20th century has seen the continent of Africa in continuous turmoil. Civil wars, the AIDS epidemic, deforestation, and desertification are just a few of the problems facing Africa. A more recent threat to this ancient and fragile environment has emerged and is quickly gaining strength at devouring life – the bush meat trade. “Bush meat” refers to the smoked carcasses of various wild, and often endangered species that are sold illegally at rural markets of undeveloped countries and even at ethnic markets in developed nations. The meat of gorillas, chimpanzees, and elephants are considered delicacies and the demand for these endangered species is increasingly high. Countries at the center of this crisis are Botswana, Mozambique, Kenya, Zimbabwe, the Congo, Cameroon, Zambia, Malawi, and Tanzania. Bush meat plays a crucial socio-economic role to many in Africa, and as such epitomizes the need to balance protection against such factors as poverty, health, and food security. Certain key issues are necessary to understand the bush meat trade:
Anti-hunters are opposed to the explicit acts of hunters in Africa because of the environmental degradation it can lead to. What I want to be of focus, though, is that controversy over the act of hunting is not solely in line with hunting endangered African mammals. The results of all kinds of hunts and the drives hunters have to pursue these hunts differ because of the uniqueness of the goods the hunters seek in their adventures. What non-hunters and anti-hunters easily overlook is the anthropocentric values that the hunter seeks to fulfill and achieve, and how it expresses an interaction with nature.
The common name is the African Elephant, the scientific name is Loxodonta Africana, the phylum is Vertebrata, the class is Mammalia, the order is Proboscidea, and the family is Elephantidae. The Closest Relatives to the African Elephant are: the Asian Elephant, mammoths, primitive proboscidean (mastodons), sea cows, and hyraxes. Scientists believe that the African Elephant evolved from one of its closest relatives, the Sea Cow. The geographical location and range of the African elephant covers all of central and southern Africa. In Ethiopia there are isolated populations that exist around Lake Chad in Mali and Mauritania. Also in Kenya, Rhodesia, Tanzania, Zambia, Uganda, Zaire, and in National parks located in South Africa, as well as several other countries. African Elephants, originally, were found in all of the Sub-Saharan African habitats except desert steppes. Elephants still occupy diverse habitats such as: temperate grassland, tropical savanna and grass lands, temperate forest and rainforest, tropical rainforest, tropical scrub forest, and tropical deciduous forest despite their drastic decline in numbers. However, their migratory patterns and habitat use have changed, due to the fact that they are restricted to protected areas. The elephant can exist in many types of environments but it prefers places that have many trees and bushes, which the elephant needs both for food and shade. They also like warm areas that have plenty of rainfall.
In the novella, Conrad constant use of ivory represents a man’s greed. In the book, Mr. Kurtz is known for his obsession for ivory and his means of obtaining it. Marlow describe Mr. Kurtz on how how he seeks ivory: “his head was like a ball- an ivory ball” (2.29). Unfortunately, Mr. Kurtz avarice for ivory lead himself to his own madness and downfall . Also, due to the fact that he was obsessed with ivory, he became addicted that he completely loses all ties to civilization. In Shooting an Elephant, by George Orwell, individual in the book seem to care for what would only benefit them. Near the end of the short story, after the elephant is murdered Orwell states: “Burmans we...
Elephants are an endangered species and they should not be killed for their ivory or they will become extinct. In the article The Poaching Problem the author writes” elephant populations have declined to dangerously low levels.” At the rate that poachers are killing these innocent animal the entire species of elephants will be extinct in the year 2030! That is only twenty five years, I know that does not seem like a long time but it is going to go by fast and every one will regret killing all those poor innocent gentle creatures. In case study 483 they author writes “ During the 1970s and 1980s elephant poaching had included about 1.3 million elephants killed for their tusks.” It is hard to distinguish between legal and illegal ivory so it is sold easily.
The number of African and Asian elephants in North American zoos is declining as a result of many medical issues. A new disease has recently been discovered that is now hindering elephant’s ability to survive even further. This is a major problem because according to Science Magazine, as of 1997, there are only an estimated 291 Asian elephants and 193 African elephants left in North American zoos. Since this survey was conducted, this number has severely declined. It is now estimated that for every elephant that is born in a zoo another three die.