Wildlife and nature is disappearing  

Wildlife crime is sweeping the planet and the illegal killing and trade is one of the biggest threats to wild animals today. It’s global industry driven by the demand for ivory in Southeast Asia which is the single biggest reason for the extensive killing of elephants in Africa. The elephant population has decreased dramatically in recent decades; from about 1.5 million individuals in the 1970s to only about 350 – 400,000 individuals today. A hundred years ago there were 10 million elephants on the African continent. That equals 96% decrease up until today.

The ivory trade has high returns and low risk often run by sophisticated, international and well-organized criminal networks seeking to exploit the high rewards and low risks of wildlife crime. According to Interpol the wildlife trade is the fourth largest global criminal activity with an estimated annual turnover worth over $ 20 billion.

Wild animals and their body parts are considered status symbols which drives up prices as supply decreases. The killing consistently sorts out the animals with the largest tusks and horns because there is the most money to be made. After decades of poaching, it has affected populations to the point that in some areas elephants are now born completely without tusks.

55 ELEPHANTS ARE KILLED EVERY DAY

More than 20,000 elephants are killed annually for the illegal trade in ivory. The tusks are smuggled and sold as status symbols, transformed into exclusive ornaments or interior details.

On January 1 2018 China, following international pressure, imposed a historic ban on the legal trade in ivory. As a result all of the country’s marketplaces were closed and the ban has had some effect on people’s attitudes towards consuming ivory. Domestic demand and trade have declined but a large part of the trade has instead become illegal and moved to neighboring countries such as Thailand and Cambodia. Despite stricter legislation, the trade in ivory is still ongoing to a large extent which means elephants continue to be slaughtered in Africa.

Working with education and campaigns to reduce demand is necessary but the extensive change in peoples’ mindset will take generations. If we do not protect the populations that remain today both elephants, rhinos and lions risk to get extinct in the wild within our lifetime. This threat is real and our generation needs to act before it’s too late.

RHINO HORN IS THE WORLD’S MOST EXPENSIVE MATERIAL

According to traditional Asian medicine rhino horn is believed to cure a number of diseases such as fever, malaria and cancer but also increase the potency of those who consume it. The great demand, especially in Vietnam, has made the horn today’s most expensive material on the black market where it have been sold for up to $100,000 dollars per kilo. In South Africa’s Kruger National Park, home to a majority of Africa’s approximately 20,000 remaining rhinos, the population has declined by 70% in just one decade. From 10,000 in 2010 to only 4,000 today. The cows (female rhinos) are more vulnerable because they are often pregnant and/or have a baby by their side. Since a rhino female is estimated to be able to have an average of 10 cubs during a lifetime, the extensive killing has had further negative consequences for the populations.