Elephants stand out mainly for their large size and imposing tusks, with the African elephant being the largest land animal in the world. Despite this, over the years, elephant populations have dwindled considerably and now number in the thousands, rather than the millions that existed in the past.
Do you want to know why elephants are in danger of extinction? Then you cannot miss this article on our site with the data for 2021, where we will also offer you some of the measures that can be taken to save this species from disappearing.
Elephant curiosities
There are many curiosities about elephants! These large placentals are characterized by a calm and friendly behavior, but to get to know them better, you may be interested in the following information:
- They have a life expectancy of 70 years.
- Under a strong sun of intense heat, they cover their skin with plenty of mud to protect themselves.
- They sleep very little, between two and four hours a day. The rest of the time, they walk in search of food.
- The elephant is the only animal that has 4 knees.
- Only in the tube they have 100,000 different muscles.
- They can consume more than 250 kilograms of food a day.
- They are capable of lifting around 300 kilograms and holding up to 15 liters of water.
- Your brain is the largest in the animal kingdom.
- Elephants' ears have different functions: regulate body temperature, keep potential threats away, listen to sounds at great distances, among others.
- The sound they produce is called "barrito".
- When a member of the herd dies, the rest of the elephants dig a hole to put the body in and then cover it with dirt and branches.
- Males leave the herd at the age of 12.
- More than mice, they Ants and bees are scared.
- They can be stressed by the suffering of another elephant.
Now why are they among the endangered animals? Before answering this question, you need to know the types of elephants.
Types of endangered elephants
In the past there were about 350 species of elephants in the world, however, over time, almost all of them have become extinct. Until just a few years ago, only two species of elephants were distinguished, the African and the Asian, the latter having three subspecies. However, recent studies [1] have led experts to separate African savannah elephants and African forest elephants into two distinct species, thus that, at present, there are three species of this great mammal that survive, all of them being threatened:
Asian elephant
The Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) is native to this continent, where it is found in Sumatra, Sri Lanka, India, China and IndonesiaInhabits areas with thickets and open spaces where low vegetation prevails. It measures 2 to 2.5 meters and weighs an impressive 5,500 kilograms.
As for its appearance, the Asian elephant has a muscular body with skin in shades of gray and brown. The head is elongated and has a distinctive shape at the level of the forehead, as well as smaller ears than those of African elephants. This species is very calm and sociable, it lives in groups of more than a dozen individuals and the males tend to be a little more solitary than the females.
The Asian elephant has three subspecies:
- Sri Lankan elephant (Elephas maximus maximus).
- Indian elephant (Elephas maximus indicus).
- Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus).
All subspecies of the Asian elephant are listed Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
African savannah elephant
The African savannah elephant (Loxodonta africana) is known as the largest land mammal on the planet. Its body reaches 7.5 meters at the withers, more than 4 meters in height and, in general, the males weigh 6 tons. The females are a bit smaller, standing around 3 meters tall and weighing a maximum of 4.5 tons.
The savanna elephant's skin is gray or brown with hair on the tip of its tail. The males develop long ivory tusks. The species is sociable and calm, living in communities of up to 20 individuals where the females dominate the group.
Currently, the African savannah elephant has gone from being considered a vulnerable species to being classified endangered, by the IUCN.
African Forest Elephant
Recent genetic studies have determined that the African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) and the African savannah elephant constitute two separate species, being considered as one until now. This species of elephant is smaller than the previous one, so, in general, it usually measures about 2.5 meters in height. Something curious that also differentiates it from the elephant of the savannah is that its tusks have a characteristic pink coloration.
The African forest elephant is the most endangered of all, as it is classified Critically Endangered by the IUCN.
How many elephants are there?
As we have already mentioned, according to the IUCN, both the Asian elephant and the African bush elephant are in danger of extinction, while the African forest elephant is critically endangered. It should be noted that the IUCN itself indicates that, in some areas, the populations of the African savannah elephant are increasing, so it is possible that its classification will change in the future. On the other hand, the populations of the African forest elephant have decreased by up to 86% in the last 30 years, a truly alarming figure that has led the organization to classify it as critically endangered.
Regarding the number of elephants that exist, the IUCN continues to maintain the figures offered in 2016, which show that there are around 415,000 specimens of African elephants , adding both species. However, maintaining that figure does not mean that the species has been maintained, since we have already seen that the African forest elephant is declining, while some populations of the savannah elephant are increasing. As for the Asian elephant it is estimated that there are between 40 and 50 000 individuals, according to the latest estimates compiled by the IUCN in 2018.
Although the numbers may seem high compared to other endangered animal species, elephant populations continue to decline.
Why are elephants endangered? - Causes
Given how small the populations are, one wonders: what are the causes that cause elephants to be in danger of extinction? Well, here are the main threats:
- Poaching. Poaching is the biggest problem facing elephant populations as they are killed for their ivory tusks and meat.
- Habitat loss and fragmentation The development of residential and tourism areas in elephant habitat has caused herds to move to more remote places in an attempt to get the food they need to survive.
- Agriculture. The development of agriculture in the habitat of elephants also causes a loss of their places of residence. The same happens with oil exploitation and mining.
- Tourist activities Other factors that have become a threat to elephants is the use they have been given for development of tourist or recreational activities. Because of this, elephants are captured to serve as a means of transportation or entertainment in circuses or festivals, where they are harassed and forced to perform forced labor.
- Wars. The armed conflicts that plague many African countries have become a problem for the species, whose plant resources are depleted and waters are polluted due to human activity.
- Climate change. The droughts caused by climate change also cause the death of these animals due to lack of food and water.
How to save endangered elephants?
Currently, there are several actions that can be carried out to help in the conservation of elephants, most of which must be implemented by organizations in the countries where these animals live. Among these actions to help the elephants, the following stand out:
Eradicate poaching
In an effort to reduce the slaughter of elephants, governments in Asia and Africa have taken action to control and subsequently eradicate poaching. To do this, they have applied sanctions to people caught while hunting, ranging from fines to several years in prison Despite this, it is still difficult to guarantee the safety of elephants, because they inhabit vast areas of territory and travel hundreds of kilometers in search of food.
Support from environmental foundations
Currently, various foundations help protect elephants; These include Save the Elephants, based in Kenya, and Save the Elephants Foundation, in Thailand. Both are responsible for caring for elephants that have suffered abuse or have been victims of mistreatment, as they include rehabilitation and ecotourism programs for people.
Avoid buying items made with ivory
Not buying ivory items is one way to help stop poaching, as elephants are often killed just for their tusks. Likewise, not promoting tourist activities that include animals such as elephants is another way to help save them.
Contribute to environmental conservation
One of the greatest threats to the elephant is the destruction of its habitat, since it directly affects the survival of populations.
