Elephant Protection Initiative reposted this
This piece by Shola Lawal highlights the pros and cons of how we protect elephants. Historically elephants have declined due to trophy hunting and poaching for ivory. Today, with the near-global ban on ivory trade, human-wildlife conflicts and habitat loss from agriculture are the leading threats. The hunting of "super tuskers," who move between Kenya and Tanzania, jeopardizes the genetic diversity of elephants. It’s also bad for the tourists who want to see elephants in Kenya as well as the legal trophy hunters in Tanzania who want a population of elephants with large tusks. I’ve seen super tuskers in Tsavo National Park in Kenya and losing them would harm both trophy hunting and ecotourism. In the end, we need to protect these special tuskers who cross the border regularly and put in collective effort to reduce conflict with elephants (as the Elephant Protection Initiative is doing) as well as loss of habitat. https://lnkd.in/eAw7vzWd
Jenny Parker
1w
For more about what the Elephant Protection Initiative is doing: https://www.conservation.org/blog/to-coexist-with-giants-meet-peoples-needs-first-expert
Could not agree more! We need to double down on solutions to solve these key challenges and save this mighty species in Africa.
Thank you for sharing this insightful piece, Shola. The conservation of super tuskers is crucial, not only for preserving genetic diversity but also for sustaining ecotourism and regulated trophy hunting. Collaborative efforts, such as those by the Elephant Protection Initiative, are essential in mitigating human-wildlife conflict and protecting their habitats. Working together, we can ensure a future where these majestic creatures thrive.