|
| About
African Elephants [more
info] |
| •
African or Asian? [more info] |
| •
Anatomy of an African Elephant [more
info] |
| Elephant
Conservation [more
info] |
| •
What is causing the dramatic decline in the African Elephant
population range? [more info] |
| •
Is captive breeding the solution? [more
info] |
| •
What can you do to save the Elephants [more
info] |
| Breeding
[more info] |
| •
African Elephant breeding basics [more
info] |
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Risk reduction [more info] |
| •
One giant step toward breeding success as The Toledo Zoo [more
info] |
[
What's causing the dramtice decline in the African
elephant population and range? ]
[ Is Captive Breeeding
the Solution? ]
[ What can you do to
save the elephant? ]
Can
the African Elephant Survive?
The
African elephant is considered a threatened species. In 1970, biologists
estimated that there were 1.5 million African elephants in the wild.
By the 1990's, that number had dropped by 67%, leaving a wild population
of only 500,000 elephants.
The
elephant's natural range has also diminished markedly. Whereas elephants
once ranged throughout much of Africa, they are now mostly confined
to parks and preserves south of the Sahara Desert. Only about 20%
of their range is under some form of protection. Even within protected
areas, elephants often fall victim to poachers and other pressures
from man.
Elephant
population and range vary naturally with fluctuation of the food
and water supply, but the influence of the modern world is accelerating
the elephant's disappearance.
What's
causing the dramatic decline in the African elephant population
and range?
| The
Ivory Trade |
| • |
In
spite of the 1989 CITES (Convention on International Trade
in Endangered Species) ban on ivory collection, illegal hunting
of elephants for their tusks has continued unabated in parts
of Africa. |
| • |
The
resumption of trade in elephant ivory by several countries,
including South Africa, Japan and China, has increased the
threat to elephants. |
| • |
Poaching
is on the increase in Kenya due to the illegal harvesting
of ivory. |
| Farming |
| • |
Destruction
of natural savanna vegetation due to bush clearing and plowing
is the most significant cause of elephant habitat loss. |
| • |
Disturbance
from slash-and-burn cultivation in tropical forests leads
to lower elephant population densities. |
| • |
Conflict
over resources and access to land increases between elephants
and humans as settlements develop around permanent water sources. |
| • |
"Patchwork"
development—where farms are distributed as "islands"—fragments
elephant habitat. |
| Domestic
Livestock |
| • |
Large
numbers of grazing cattle and other livestock compete with
elephants for water and vegetation. |
| • |
Heavy
grazing by livestock depletes bush cover. |
| Logging
and the Bushmeat market |
| • |
Logging
affects elephants directly, through habitat loss, and indirectly,
through the disturbing influence of forestry operations. |
| • |
Logging
roads and farmland penetrating into once inaccessible areas
have made the elephant more vulnerable to poaching for the
bushmeat trade. |
| • |
Though
consuming elephant meat is considered "taboo" in
many parts of its range, it is very popular in much of Central
and West Africa. |
| more
questions |
Is
Captive Breeding the Solution?
With so many elephants in zoos all over the world, captive breeding
should be the perfect solution to the declining elephant population,
right? Unfortunately, it's not that simple. Why not?
| • |
On
average, female elephants in the wild become pregnant for
the first time around age 13. The captive female population
is aging, which means there are more complications associated
with breeding. At ages 20 and 23, our own elephants, Renee
and Rafiki, are even somewhat old to be first-time moms. |
| • |
Captive
elephant births are complicated affairs at best. Without experienced
herdmates to guide them and set an example, captive females
typically are unacquainted with the birthing process and often
reject or even attack their calves. |
| • |
The
number of reproductively viable, captive male elephants available
for natural breeding attempts or artificial insemination is
limited. |
Why
Breed Elephants?
We are breeding elephants in captivity to serve as ambassadors for
their species. To save the elephant, we must also save its natural
habitat. Elephants born in captivity will remain in captivity to
help get this message across to people. They will not be released
into the wild.
more
questions
What
can you do to save the elephant?
The good news is, all hope is not lost for the African elephant.
The effort to save the African elephant and other threatened or
endangered species requires cooperation and support at the international,
national, regional and individual levels. You can help this cause
by:
| • |
Refusing
to buy products made from wild animal parts. |
| • |
Learning
more about the elephant's threatened status by visiting World
Wildlife Fund at http://www.worldwildlife.org,
The International Elephant Foundation at http://www.elephantconservation.org
or The American Zoo and Aquarium Association at http://www.aza.org. |
| • |
Joining
The Toledo Zoo and becoming active in other conservation organizations
of your choice. Donate to the ARC
Fund. The Toledo Zoo’s Animal Rescue and Conservation
(ARC) Fund was established to support our critical work to
save and preserve the many endangered species in our care. |
| • |
Call
The Toledo Zoo Education Department at (419) 385-5721 to learn
other ways you can help conserve threatened or endangered
species and the habitats they require for survival. |
| more
questions |
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