GEOGRAPHY
Elephants can live anywhere that provides them with food sources(2). Elephants gather in large, grassy areas, with a lot of open space (2). A popular area for elephants exists in savannas and dry woodlands (1). Surprisingly, elephants reside in rainforests, deserts, and even the mountains (1). African elephants inhabit many zones of the savannah. The Asian elephants reside in areas such as India, Sri Lanka, China and a large expanse of Southeast Asia (5).
POPULATION
The population of the elephant has rapidly decreased. "At the start of the 20th century there were a few million African elephants and about 100,000 Asian elephants. Today, there are an estimated 450,000- 700,000 African elephants and between 35,000-40,000 wild Asian elephants" (5).
ENDANGERMENT
----- Elephants can live up to 70 years and yet they remain in danger------
Elephants face threats to their existence. Humans violate the habitat of the animals. Individuals poach elephants for their ivory tusks (5).
What have we done?
Since humans generally cause much of the species endangerment, we have generated some laws of protection.
CITES- Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species- places restrictions on the sale of ivory (5)
Endangered Species Act - the act identifies animals who face endangerment and develop methods to protect these species (5)
Photo sources- http://www.awf.org/content/gallery/detail/3987
*Elephant Interesting Fact: Elephants represent some of the most intelligent animals. They communicate uniquely and interact socially. They also are very intelligent.*
Elephants can live anywhere that provides them with food sources(2). Elephants gather in large, grassy areas, with a lot of open space (2). A popular area for elephants exists in savannas and dry woodlands (1). Surprisingly, elephants reside in rainforests, deserts, and even the mountains (1). African elephants inhabit many zones of the savannah. The Asian elephants reside in areas such as India, Sri Lanka, China and a large expanse of Southeast Asia (5).
POPULATION
The population of the elephant has rapidly decreased. "At the start of the 20th century there were a few million African elephants and about 100,000 Asian elephants. Today, there are an estimated 450,000- 700,000 African elephants and between 35,000-40,000 wild Asian elephants" (5).
ENDANGERMENT
----- Elephants can live up to 70 years and yet they remain in danger------
Elephants face threats to their existence. Humans violate the habitat of the animals. Individuals poach elephants for their ivory tusks (5).
What have we done?
Since humans generally cause much of the species endangerment, we have generated some laws of protection.
CITES- Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species- places restrictions on the sale of ivory (5)
Endangered Species Act - the act identifies animals who face endangerment and develop methods to protect these species (5)
Photo sources- http://www.awf.org/content/gallery/detail/3987
*Elephant Interesting Fact: Elephants represent some of the most intelligent animals. They communicate uniquely and interact socially. They also are very intelligent.*
What are other major threats to the elephants existence other than humans?
ReplyDeleteWhat can we do to help save the elephants?
ReplyDeleteYou said that there is a ban against using tusks, but what about the ivory used to make pianos. Where does this ivory come from?
ReplyDeleteDo you think climate change is a cause of possible extinction for the elephants, besides poaching?
ReplyDeleteI never knew that they could live anywhere as long as they have a food source. They must be able to eat pretty much anything then. Do humans only poach elephants for their ivory tusks?
ReplyDeleteStephanie- Elephants have no animal predators and humans were largely discussed, but global warming can affect the elephants and their food sources.
ReplyDeleteAlyssa- Here's what we can do: Support restrictions on elephant poaching! Do not use their ivory! Keep the environment clean that is theirs and ours (recycling).
Alex- Unforunately, the ivory for pianos are from elephants. CITES places restrictions on ivory but does not completely eliminate the sale.
Kate-Yes, the elephants habitat is defintely altered by climate changes. Elephants need to stay cool in the warm weather.
Bekah- From pbs.org, I found that humans kill elephants for their space. In Africa, killing an elephant is illegal, but elephants are apparently "in the way" of human populations. Humans poach elephants mainly for their tusks.
I am happy to see laws being enforced on the behalf of elephants. Have numbers greatly increased since laws have been enforced?
ReplyDelete