Elephant
The declining of African elephants is due to the demand for ivory which still poses a serious threat to the species. In the early 1970s, demand for ivory soared and the amount of ivory leaving Africa rose to levels not seen since the start of the century. Most of the ivory leaving Africa is taken illegally. Over 80% of all the raw ivory traded has come from poached elephants. This illegal doing was largely responsible for the reduction in African elephant population from 3-5 million to the current levels. In the 1980s, an estimated 100,000 elephants were being killed per year. Up to 80% of herds were lost in many regions.
The declining of African elephants is due to the demand for ivory which still poses a serious threat to the species. In the early 1970s, demand for ivory soared and the amount of ivory leaving Africa rose to levels not seen since the start of the century. Most of the ivory leaving Africa is taken illegally. Over 80% of all the raw ivory traded has come from poached elephants. This illegal doing was largely responsible for the reduction in African elephant population from 3-5 million to the current levels. In the 1980s, an estimated 100,000 elephants were being killed per year. Up to 80% of herds were lost in many regions.