Poaching
Illegal poaching of Elephants for their ivory (as well as meat, leather, and other body parts) is perhaps the most well-publicised threat, particularly to African Elephants, but also to their Asian cousins. Sadly, despite decades of campaigning, the demand for ivory remains strong – pushing prices to a level higher than gold, which provides an irresistible incentive for some of the world’s poorest people.

Habitat Destruction
Elephants roam long distances in the search for food and water and require a large area to sustain them. The loss of habitat due to deforestation, mining, and agriculture has become a significant problem, especially for Asian elephants. The fragmentation of habitats into isolated areas restricts their movement, which makes breeding more difficult and allows poachers to find the Elephants more easily. Asian Elephants have already lost 30-40% of their habitat, making it incredibly difficult to maintain their populations.

Human-elephant Conflict
As human populations increase in areas where Elephants live, it becomes inevitable that they should come into conflict. Elephant herds displaced by habitat destruction are forced into close proximity with human settlements, and crop damage results from the Elephants’ search for food. Human, as well as Elephant, casualties can result from these encounters, and farmers can resort to lethal measures to protect themselves and their livelihoods.

Mistreatment in Captivity
Asian Elephants are often illegally captured and used in zoos, circuses, tourism, and logging. Elephants generally do not do well in captivity, but many of these animals are also mistreated – their ‘owners’ more concerned with profit than with their well-being.