Elephants are one of the most endangered species in our world today. Up until the 1970s the poaching of elephants for ivory was not a popular practice. However, since the 1970s elephant poaching has become more popular and population levels have decreased dramatically. Part of the reason for the increase in poaching is urban sprawl. Elephants have started disturbing newly formed communities and posing a threat to farmers, during their normal migration patterns. Elephants wonder onto open farms, thus destroying the crops. Farmers then feel as though they have the right to kill the elephant and sell it’s ivory. The trade of Ivory is becoming extremely popular in impoverished states, such as Botswana. Botswana and similar states have turned away from agriculture and have made elephant poaching one of their main sources of revenue. In my eyes, this is a major issue. In 2004 alone there was over 60 tons of ivory sold and traded. Something needs to be done about this problem before elephants are completely extinct.
There are several policies that have been enacted in efforts to try and save the elephant populations. Most of these are policies were created by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Originally, CITES were put into place that banned all trade of elephants and ivory. These policies were then weakened to allow trade through systems like “Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants”. These systems were used to monitor several locations throughout Africa and collect data on elephant populations. These systems ultimately failed because data was not collected in enough locations and was inconsistent. I think that part of the solution to elephant poaching could possibly be found in this system. CITES need to work to come up with a more reliable system for collecting data and collect in more locations. I think part of the solution could also be having a separate staff, or police like force, that’s sole job is to find poachers. Another possible solution would be the creation of elephant sanctuaries. Although they would be taken away from their natural habitats, a safe place would be provided for the elephants to repopulate. There is not simply one solution to this problem. In order to save the elephant population there needs to be a combination of poacher regulation and safe habitat creation.
Aubrey Cross
I completely agree with you that the elephant population needs to be saved and more regulations need to exist. It's sad that our small, dominant species has had such a massive impact on these massive, strong, and incredible creatures. I've learned about this problem in other classes, though, and the human dimensions of the problem are also very troubling. When farmers lose all of their crops in a single night to a herd of elephants, it is easy to see why their views are quite different from ours and why they should be seriously taken into consideration because without an improvement in their livelihood, this problem probably won't go away. We face the same dilemma in America with wolves who kill livestock overnight: who should we sympathize with? While we see elephants as charismatic and intelligent creatures, farmers are seeing them as pests that need to be controlled. I definitely agree the policies need to step up in severity, but creating a sanctuary, like you said, would take them out of their natural habitats: I think this should be a last resort. I think one of the first priorities should be on the farmers and focusing on what motivation they need to stop killing elephants. Compensating farmers for crop and livestock losses, for example, is one way to approach the problem.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree that something more structured needs to be put in place to save these elephants. They are an icon of Africa and it would be a tragedy to see them become extinct. Unfortunately, there are many people in this world that care much more about profit then biodiversity or animal lives in general, but if the policies we DO have in place aren’t even strong policies then, in my opinion, it’s a waste of time. The farmers that are killing elephants for intruding on their agricultural lands need to be introduced to different kind of fencing, etc to protect their regions and to keep them protected. I loved the idea of created sanctuaries to fully protect these creatures, but I also question whether that would solve the problem. Meaning, I don’t think that the elephants should have to be taken from their natural environments just to be protected. In my eyes, a better solution would be to regulate the urban sprawl by concentrating the developments in areas that are farther away from the lands were elephants are known to roam. Regardless if stricter policy is put in place, the police need to become more aware of this issue otherwise we won’t have success in saving this population. I don’t know if they are being paid by poachers or something in that nature, but having specific jobs to just monitor poaching would be a good investment for their government.
ReplyDeleteI think the main problem with elephant poaching is the people on the ground. Many African cities are transforming into megacities, due to the large influx of people migrating to the city for jobs. The outskirts of these megacities is where these people settle to form shantytowns that can easily be collapsed. Another reason for new developments are refugee camps. Therefore, new developments are simply created for a better livelihood. There is a lack of police force and zoning laws in these areas because of the weak governments unable to provide economic, environmental, and social security. Yes, I believe it is completely unacceptable that these endangered animals must suffer but the main issue is at the top of the chain. If African farmers had incentives, repercussions, or even an alternative to not kill an elephant, that service must be provided by the government. In the United States, when someone is invading your land, you call the police. In areas where police are unreliable, you control the situation on your own. Maybe some type if community empowerment may be implemented to highlight the importance of the elephant and convert these beautiful creatures into something that can be protected and valued by the community, rather than viewed as a pest. Although, it is tragic that these elephants are being killed, in my opinion, human life holds more value than these elephants. Therefore, by ensuring economic, environmental, and social security to the people on the ground, in turn, this can cause protection for the elephants because they will no longer be viewed as pests and another alternative for economic gain is available, so the death of an elephant won't be necessary.
ReplyDeleteYou are on to something with elephant sanctuaries, but the land that these sanctuaries should be located in are the elephants original habitats. Not only would the moving of an elephant's environment be physically difficult, it would also prove about as effective as artificial wetlands, as elephants have specific migration routes they travel during different times of year. If anything, the farmers should be given land that could have been used as a sanctuary, and a special police force could be located in the original habitat to control poaching. The money to spend for such a program is what remains in question then, as money is always an issue in such impoverished areas. Other than funds from global protectionist groups, and other IOs, the money could be collected as a fine system could be put in place for anyone poaching, selling, and transferring ivory from elephant tusks.
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