Africa's elephants
have reached a tipping point: more are being killed each year than
are being born, a study suggests.
Researchers believe that since 2010 an average of nearly 35,000
elephants have been killed annually on the continent.
They warn that if the rate of poaching continues, the animals
could be wiped out in 100 years.
The work is published in
the
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Lead author George Wittemyer, from Colorado State University,
said: "We are shredding the fabric of elephant society and
exterminating populations across the continent."
Dramatic loss
The illegal trade in elephant tusks has soared in recent years,
and a kilogram of ivory is now worth thousands of dollars. Much of
the demand has been driven by a rapidly growing market in Asia.
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“Start Quote
If this is sustained, then we will
see significant declines over time.”
Julian Blanc
Cites
While conservationists have long said the
outlook was bleak, this study provides a detailed assessment of the
impact this is having on Africa's elephants.
The researchers have found that between 2010 and 2013, Africa
lost an average of 7% of its entire elephant population each year.
Because elephant births boost the population by about 5%
annually, this means that overall more of the animals are being
killed than are being born.
Julian Blanc, who also worked on the study, from the Convention
on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
(Cites), said: "If this is sustained, then we will see significant
declines over time.
"The other thing to bear in mind is that different areas are
affected differently.
"There are still healthy growing populations in parts of Africa,
Botswana for example. But in other places the poaching levels are
devastatingly high, and that is particularly the case in Central
Africa."
In Central Africa it is estimated that elephant numbers have
fallen by about 60% in a decade.
Some ivory stockpiles have been
destroyed in an attempt to halt the trade
Prof Wittemyer added: "We are talking about the removal of the
oldest and biggest elephants.
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“Start Quote
The world needs to decide how much
further effort it wants to put into the conservation of this
magnificent species ”
John Scanlon
Cites
"That means removal of the primary
breeding males and removal of family matriarchs and mothers. This
leaves behind orphaned juveniles and broken elephant societies."
Conservationists said urgent action was needed.
John Scanlon, secretary-general of Cites, said: "The world needs
to decide how much further effort it wants to put into the
conservation of this magnificent species and, if so, be prepared to
mobilise the necessary human and financial resources to deliver -
and we are seeing some encouraging signs in this regard.
"In terms of concrete actions, we need to move to focus on the
front-line and tackle all links in the illegal ivory trade chain -
improve local livelihoods (for those living with elephants),
strengthen enforcement and governance and reduce demand for illegal
ivory. "
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