There are many elephant threats that have significantly depleted the elephant population. The largest of the threats has been the ivory trade as ivory is only found in elephants as their tusks are made of ivory. For many years elephants were strictly hunted for these treasures and because of the elephant's natural long lifespan they do not breed quickly. Therefore the population cannot be built up quickly.
Destruction of the elephant's natural habitat is another threat for these animals. Elephants need about 300 pounds of vegetation a day in order to survive and with the loss of habitats they lose food and cannot survive. Additionally many of the places that are home to elephants are in areas of human conflict and these battles kill many elephants each year.
Elephants need a huge tone of food each day as well as large tracts of land to travel. By decreasing their natural habitats this in turn decreases the number of elephants that can survive in the wild as food and other resources become scarce.
This destruction mainly homes in the form of deforestation and deforestation causes soil erosion and water runoff which is highly destructive to the elephant's primary food source of trees and bushes. With smaller forests the elephants that do reside there will eat through or rampage the remaining wildlife very quickly which does not allow for any natural reforestation to occur.
Many people have turned to natural parks to try to save the elephants but these themselves can be a threat. Elephants use large ranges of land and have specific areas for seasonal feeding and breeding grounds. By fencing them in you may be cutting off some important areas and many elephants simply will not survive. Additionally they may ignore the fences which can injury the elephants and damage the park.
National parks are also know for overcrowding which can be detrimental to an elephants survival and many national parks are reintroducing culling to deal with this issue. However currently national parks are the only real solution for saving the elephants.
Destruction of the elephant's natural habitat is another threat for these animals. Elephants need about 300 pounds of vegetation a day in order to survive and with the loss of habitats they lose food and cannot survive. Additionally many of the places that are home to elephants are in areas of human conflict and these battles kill many elephants each year.
Elephants need a huge tone of food each day as well as large tracts of land to travel. By decreasing their natural habitats this in turn decreases the number of elephants that can survive in the wild as food and other resources become scarce.
This destruction mainly homes in the form of deforestation and deforestation causes soil erosion and water runoff which is highly destructive to the elephant's primary food source of trees and bushes. With smaller forests the elephants that do reside there will eat through or rampage the remaining wildlife very quickly which does not allow for any natural reforestation to occur.
Many people have turned to natural parks to try to save the elephants but these themselves can be a threat. Elephants use large ranges of land and have specific areas for seasonal feeding and breeding grounds. By fencing them in you may be cutting off some important areas and many elephants simply will not survive. Additionally they may ignore the fences which can injury the elephants and damage the park.
National parks are also know for overcrowding which can be detrimental to an elephants survival and many national parks are reintroducing culling to deal with this issue. However currently national parks are the only real solution for saving the elephants.
About the Author:
Roger Burns stays in South Africa and sends much of his time watching and studying the Elephants and is concerned about the threats to elephants in our world today.
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