How many elephants were killed by poachers in 2019?
Kruger National Park and Marakele National Park were both victims of elephant poaching in 2019, with the country losing a total of at least 31 elephants that year….Recent Elephant Poaching Statistics in South Africa (1980-30 June, 2021)
| South Africa – Elephants | Elephants Poached |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 31 |
| 2020 | 16 |
| June 2021 | 1 |
How many elephants are killed every year by poachers?
It is estimated there are around 350,000 elephants left in Africa, but approximately 10-15,000 are killed each year by poachers. At current poaching rates, elephants are in danger of being virtually wiped from the continent, surviving only in small, heavily protected pockets.
Why do poachers kill elephants?
Elephants are poached primarily for ivory, and rhinos for their horns. Poaching threatens many species and can contribute to extinction. It can also have a tremendous impact on the environment, especially when a keystone species such as the elephant is targeted.
How often are elephants killed by poachers in Africa?
The World Wide Fund for Nature recently warned that African elephants would be extinct by 2040 if nothing were done to put a halt to poaching, which they estimate kills one elephant every 20 minutes, or 20,000 of them a year.
How does a poacher take an elephant’s tusk?
Poachers typically gun down the animal and butcher an elephant’s face to remove the full tusk, often leaving the elephant to bleed to death. Another tactic poachers use is poison, sometimes lacing watering holes with cyanide and killing entire herds of elephants. The high price of elephant’s tusk is enough for poachers to do the difficult job.
How are poachers able to get ivory from elephants?
Obtaining ivory is a brutal task. Poachers typically gun down the animal and butcher an elephant’s face to remove the full tusk, often leaving the elephant to bleed to death. Another tactic poachers use is poison, sometimes lacing watering holes with cyanide and killing entire herds of elephants.
Why are so many elephants being killed in Asia?
It is known that poachers killing elephants for medicinal products will poison waterholes and track fallen elephants before stripping the carcass. Poaching for the Entertainment and Other Industries In some parts of Asia, wild elephants are captured live, trained and put to work. This is a form of poaching that removes elephants from the wild.