Elephant Poaching for the Ivory Trade

African wildlife is constantly under pressure from illegal poaching. Local residents engage in subsistence hunting acquiring game meat for themselves, large illegal poaching rings poach for the larger and lucrative illegal game meat market, but the most insidious poaching is that which supports the illegal ivory tread. When it comes to ivory trading their is no animal more negatively impacted by this illicit trade than the African elephant. Throughout history from the Egyptians up into the 19th century their have been expeditions in Africa to hunt elephants for their ivory. In the 1970s and 80s this illegal trade had so decimated elephant populations throughout Africa that it became imperative to act, or these magnificent beasts might be lost forever to extinction. A great resource on the history and ecology of the elephant in Africa is the book, "Elephant Destiny: Biology of an Endangered Species in Africa, " by Martin Meredith. I urge any of you with a keen interested in elephants to read this book (Elephant Destiny).

In 1989, "The Elephant Conservation Act of 1989" created the legal foundation for protecting elephants throughout Africa. Using this law, African governments assisted with funding from western governments and environmental organizations, embarked upon an intense campaign establishing Wildlife Agencies in individual countries to combat illegal poaching and arrest ivory traders. This systematic effort reduced poaching for the illegal ivory trade throughout Africa and the elephant was brought back form the brink. Grasstrack Safaris expedition's travel through areas with some of the largest remaining populations of elephants in Africa (Visit our website and view our trips today). Today, however, these large populations are once again threatened by poaching pressures brought on by a resurgence in the illegal ivory trade. this in turn has stimulated new and creative responses from African conservation organizations. At the following link read about what Kenya is doing to combat this renewed threat form the illegal ivory trade (Kenya launches an effort to stem the tide of recent elephant poaching).

Don't forget to visit GrassTrack Safaris and book your trip to Africa before these magnificent creatures are lost to us forever