Persuasive Essay : Why Are African Elephants Endangered?

The only way to stop the manslaughter of endangered species is to have everyday people and governments take interest and action to save our environment and help endangered species by protecting them and their habitats. We need to stop the killing of animals and destruction of their habitats. Without meaningful governmental support to maintain the environment and save endangered species, we will not have a way or real means of stopping the extinction of animals. We need laws and penalties to stop the slaughter of animals. I picked to research the Bengal tiger which is an endangered species. “It is the most numerous of all tiger subspecies with more than 2,500 left in the wild.(worldwildlifepg1) ”.

Miscommunication is the source of the worlds major problems. Change can only occur after both parties have an open conversation. If one party is unable to advocate for themselves, they're placed in extreme danger. You wouldn't utilize manipulation to jeopardize a baby's life. The same logic should apply to Elephants.

Elephant populations suffered a drop in numbers that carried the species into the endangered animals list. At the beginning of the twentieth century, about ten million elephants lived in Africa. Presently, the ten million is reduced to half a million because of illegal hunting and habitat loss. Studies of the population show twenty-two thousand were killed in 2012 and twenty-five thousand in 2011. When comparing the death rate to the natural population growth, there is a possibility the largest mammal on Earth could be extinct soon (Vaughan 1). Because the elephant is the largest animal to walk on land, the greatly increasing human population affects the elephant population first. They live in some regions of the world that have the densest human population which continues to grow, which therefore continuously decreases their own population (Bryner 1). As the human population swiftly increases, the elephant population in turn, decreases. This is so because they cannot cohabitate the same living space. Elephants and humans cannot cohabitate because they would kill each other due to the inability to communicate. About population recovery, the Animal wildlife foundation states, “Populations of elephants- especially in Southern and Eastern Africa- that once showed promising signs of recovery could be at risk due to the recent surge in poaching for the illegal ivory trade”(1). Poaching presents one of the main issues that make recovery so difficult for these animals.

Secondly, zoo animals are kept in enclosures that don’t allow them to live their lives in a natural way. The elephant, Happy, from the Bronx Zoo is kept in solitude which is not ideal for elephants. Tullis says, “Happy has lived alone, separated from the zoo’s two other elephants. Her solitary confinement is quite unlike the life of a wild elephant. In nature, elephants live in closely bonded matriarchal families.” Moreover,

Throughout my life, I have held a special place in my heart for large animals, especially elephants. They have inspired me by the way they care about their communities. Entire families of elephants comfort their young and have specialized burial rituals for those they loved. This kind of friendship and loving nature can only be found in a community inspired by their very own elephant. Tufts University has a beautiful history surrounding their mascot and I simply want to know more, fueled by my passion for research. Tufts offers a community of elephants that compare to no other.

It's a widely known fact that poaching has been detrimental to the welfare and very existence of elephants. Despite countless efforts to thwart poaching and ivory trade missions, the number of elephant deaths at the hands of poachers is still critically high. IB Times reported in 2015 that due to poaching, a staggering 35,000 African elephants are killed each year—that translates to nearly 100 elephants

The author of this article, Michael D. Lemonick, discusses how some animals aren't able to be kept humanely in captivity. This article mainly focuses on elephants that are kept in captivity. Normally elephants roam up to, if not more than, 30 miles a day and they socialize with up to 20 other elephants a day. While in captivity, elephants are not experiencing their lives the way they should. If an elephant is in an exhibit that is too small for them, they can develop serious health issues such as, foot problems, arthritis, and even premature deaths. Most zoos aren't equipped to take care of elephants like they should. Lemonick discusses zoos across the country that have stopped exhibiting elephants altogether, due to severe issues seen in elephants.

Likewise, CAPS affirms that zoos cause animals such as elephants physical harm by stating “…75% of elephants were overweight and only 16% could walk normally, the remainder having various degrees of lameness. Less that 20% were totally free of foot problem…” This proves without a doubt that zoo animals are often mistreated and the situations they face in these new surroundings can heavily influence their physical and mental health and their

When people think of a zoo what pops into their minds? They probably imagine a fun, educational place where kids can learn about happy little animals from watching them in enclosures. What comes to mind when I think of a zoo, however, is the opposite. I picture severely depressed and overly stressed animals trapped in cages too small to mimic their natural environment. The effects of housing animals in zoos can be detrimental to the animal’s health, increasing the probability of stress-induced diseases and stereotypic behavior, especially in Asian and Africans elephants.

If an individual is not punished for these crimes, it shows others that they can get away with it, as well. Corruption within the ivory trade has become prominent. In countries, like Somalia, officials turn a blind eye to poachers, if they are paid off enough. (Stewart, 2013, n.p.). Punishment needs to happen to these offenders to help save the elephant population from extinction. The decrease in the amount of African elephants is alarming. In 2002, there was roughly 322,000 elephants. By 2011, there was only a rough estimate of 100,000. This is over a sixty percent decrease in the amount of African elephants. (Campoy, 2013, n.p.). Without help, the African elephant population could become permanently

Elephants are largely affected by what they see and conceive, which makes Maggie Nelson’s image flow a theory to

What ivory is the bones right next to the trunk on the elephants. Elephant population have declined because more than 50 percent have been killed. What scientist believed was that killing elephants for ivory was putting them at risk. Elephant are still being poached because of the high demand for their ivory. There were 50 elephants killed in west africa for their ivory. What animal welfare does is protect elephants from poachers. What public awareness do is make ivory illegal anti-poaching information is that patrols and money where they're needed most common are being pressured.

The first reason is elephants have a better lifespan/disease. Let me explain, there is a lot of diseases outside not gonna lie.Like foot infections. If elephants get any diseases the coworkers would help them get rid of them. In the article, “Do Elephants Belong In Zoos?” explains, “If zoos don’t get involved, elephants might exist just in museums.” We want elephants to stay with their lifespan.

Over the last 100 years, African elephant populations have declined from 3-5 million to 470,000-690,000 and Asian elephant populations have declined from 100,000 to between 35,000 and 50,000. Habitat loss and conflict with people are among the biggest threats to their continued survival. Elephant habitat is being replaced by farms and villages. Not only are elephants being pushed into smaller and smaller areas, but the crops that are planted by farmers (sugar cane, cassava, rice) are very tempting for elephants. As a result, elephants frequently raid and destroy crops and villages. People are often injured and killed by elephants during conflict. Elephants are killed in retaliation for the damage that they cause.

In 1995, the total range area of the African elephant was estimated at 26 percent of the continent’s total land cover. However, in 2007, the estimated total range area was 15 percent of total land cover. Most of this reduction in range area reflects better information rather than range loss, however it also reflects the actual reduction in range due to habitat encroachment, increased human population densities, urban expansion, agricultural development, deforestation and infrastructure development. Most elephants are endangered because they are being illegally killed to take their ivory tusks. The ivory tusks are being sold for unbelievable amounts of money.