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African elephants
It is estimated that around 100 elephants are killed in Africa every day for their tusks. The ivory trade is the biggest cause of elephant poaching there and elephant numbers have been decimated as a result. At most, 650,000 are now left in the wild.
The ivory trade is the biggest cause of elephant poaching
East Asia is the largest market for ivory – it’s more valuable there than diamonds and gold. As the demand continues to grow, so does the value of elephant tusks. From a wholesale price of $450/kg in 2010, it’s rose to a staggering $2100/kg in 2014 according to researchers in Kenya. When the tusks arrive in east Asia, they are carved into items like ornaments, religious items or even iPhone covers and cigarette lighters.
