Join our fight against the Ivory Trade to save the Wild Elephant before it is too late!
Stop Demand
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Around 100 African elephants are being slaughtered daily just so people can carve ridiculous ornaments from their tusks. Time.
Demand for ivory products is driven not only by a growing human population, but by the increasing number of people who want, and can now afford, to purchase such items.
The true amount of trafficked ivory in 2013 was closer to 400 tons, or roughly 50,000 elephants
Demand reduction, anti-trafficking, anti-poaching, awareness.
The importance of coalitions and of those with expertise speaking out cannot be overstated. For while most of the killing of elephants takes place deep in the wilds of Africa the causes are global. Without a globe-spanning alliance, Africa’s wild elephants could disappear within our lifetimes.
To conserve viable populations of forest and savanna elephants in at least 10 range states.
Why They Matter - The presence of African elephants helps to maintain suitable habitats for many other species. In central African forests, up to 30 percent of tree species may require elephants to help with dispersal and germination. They play a pivotal role in shaping their habitat because of the enormous impact they have on factors ranging from fresh water to forest cover.
Launched in 2000, the WWF African Elephant Programme provides strategic field interventions to help guarantee a future for this magnificent species across Africa. Working through WWF's field programmes in Central, Eastern, Southern and West Africa and with numerous partners, the programme supports projects that:
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improve elephant protection and management
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build capacity within range states
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mitigate human-elephant conflict
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reduce illegal trade.
How to deal with the Human-Elephants Conflict?
African elephants once numbered in the millions throughout Africa, but by 1990, uncontrolled hunting for their ivory tusks had driven the number of African elephants in the wild to fewer than 500,000 African elephants. With a ban on international ivory sales and trade in 1990, the population of African elephants began to recover in some countries. However, a recent resurgence of illegal poaching of elephants in Africa for both their ivory and meat is threatening this iconic species.
African elephants’ natural habitat is also shrinking as human populations grow and forest and savannas are cleared for infrastructure development and agriculture. In addition, extensive logging of forests leaves elephants with a very limited food supply, which results in high levels of human-elephant conflict when hungry elephants enter villages and destroy local farmers’ crop.
 Trade routes for large-scale(500 Kg) seizures of ivory, 2009-2011 - Fig13.Ivory Trade Routes. |  Trade routes for large-scale (500 Kg) seizures of ivory, 2012-2013 - Figure 14.pIvory Trade Routes. |
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 Trade routes for large-scale (500 Kg) seizures of ivory, 2000-2008 - Figure 12.pIvory Trade Routes |  Number of large-scale (500 kg) ivory seizures by year, 2000 - 2013The frequency of large-scale ivory seizures, in which 500 kg or more of raw or worked ivory (in raw ivory equivalent terms2) is seized through a single law enforcement intervention, has increased greatly since 2000. Prior to 2009, an average of five and never more than seven such events occurred each year but, from 2009 onwards, an average of 15 and as many as 21 large-scale ivory seizures have taken place each year, according to the ETIS data (Figure 11). |
 Mean estimate of the weight of illegal ivory trade combining all weight classesFigure 10 presents an estimate of the mean weight for all ivory classes by year with 1998 set to 100. This figure represents relative (not absolute) values for the quantity of ivory being traded illegally so the pattern, more than the relative weights, is what is noteworthy. Overall the Weight Index and the Transaction Index are very similar. There is relative stability in the quantity of ivory in illegal trade through 2007, but thereafter a fairly sharp upward climb is seen, although a drop ... |  Number and weight of large-scale (500 Kg) ivory seizures by yearTable 2 presents summarised data on the 76 large-scale ivory seizures which occurred from 2009 through 15 November 2013. Although 2013 is still data deficient and not included in the trends analysis, already 18 large seizures have yielded a greater quantity of ivory than any other previous year going back to 1989. Whether this constitutes an increase in actual illegal trade volumes or reflects improved law enforcement in particular countries/territories is best ascertained using bias adjusted da |
 Estimated of illegal ivory trade activity for each ivory class, 1996-2012Figure 10 presents an estimate of the mean weight for all ivory classes by year with 1998 set to 100. This figure represents relative (not absolute) values for the quantity of ivory being traded illegally so the pattern, more than the relative weights, is what is noteworthy. Overall the Weight Index and the Transaction Index are very similar. There is relative stability in the quantity of ivory in illegal trade through 2007, but thereafter a fairly sharp upward climb is seen, although a drop is |  Estimated of illegal ivory trade activity, 1996-2012The Transaction Index in Figure 8 is a relative measure of global illegal ivory trade activity over the last 17 years. In this representation, 1998, the year before the first one-off sale under CITES, is the baseline and has been set to 100. The best estimate of the trade in each year is indicated by the bold dot, while the vertical lines depict 90% confidence limits. |
 Estimated weight of ivory and number of seizure case by year, 1989-2013 - FigureFigure 7 depicts the raw data in ETIS, showing the number of seizure cases and the estimated weight of ivory seized in each year since 1989. Because of inherent bias in the raw data, this figure should not be interpreted as a trend, nor is it suggestive of absolute trade quantities over time. With only 206 records, 2013 was data deficit and does not feature in this trend analysis, but will be discussed separately as these data already constitute a considerable quantity of ivory. |  Pike levels by MIKE site in 2012. - Figure 4As a result, there is a high level of uncertainty around PIKE estimates in that subregion, which makes it difficult to determine the trend. Nevertheless, increases in PIKE levels are apparent in all four African subregions in the second half of the period. PIKE levels in 2012 are mapped in Figure 4. |
 Relationsships between PIKE and poverty, governance and demand covariates. - FigThe MIKE programme has statistically evaluated relationships between PIKE levels and a wide range of ecological, biophysical and socio-economic factors at the site, national and global levels. Three such factors consistently emerge as very strong predictors of poaching levels and trends: poverty at the site level, governance at the national level and demand for illegal ivory at the global level. The quantitative relationships between PIKE and these factors are illustrated in Figure 5. |  Subregional Pike trends with 95% confidence intervals. - Figure 3.Differences in poaching levels between the different African subregions are evident in Figure 3, with Central Africa consistently showing the highest overall poaching levels, in contrast with Southern Africa, which shows the lowest overall levels. In Eastern Africa, which has contributed the largest number of carcass records, the trend is very similar to the continental one. West Africa has the smallest elephant population and has submitted the smallest number of records. |
 Estimates absolute poaching rates as predicted by the model - FigureAs Figure 6 shows, the model estimates that the threshold of sustainability was crossed in 2010, with poaching rates remaining above the population growth rate threshold ever since. It is therefore likely that populations at MIKE sites may be in net decline since 2010. However, this does not mean declines at every site, merely a decline on average. No attempt has been made to extrapolate these estimates beyond MIKE sites; data from additional sites would be needed to calibrate the model. |  Status of African elephant populations and levels of illegal illing and the illeIn 2010, the African Elephant Action Plan (AEAP) was adopted by a consensus of all the African elephant range States. An African Elephant Fund has been put in place to help fund the implementation of the AEAP and has given a number of grants through two funding rounds. At the subregional level, regional action plans are in place in Central, Southern, and West Africa. National action plans and strategies have been adopted by 15 countries in the last ten years. The list of strategies is available |
 Pike trends in Africa with 95% confidence intervals. - Figure 2.Figure 2 shows empirically derived time trends in PIKE at the continental level for African MIKE sites, with error bars (95 % confidence intervals). The data show a steady increase in levels of illegal killing of elephants starting in 2006, with 2011 displaying the highest levels of poaching since MIKE records began in 2002. In 2012 and the first six months of 2013, the trend seems to flatten out at levels close to those recorded in 2011. |  Subregional summary of elephant numbers - Figure 1The status and reliability of information on elephant populations varies dramatically across African elephant range. In the most recent update, the quality and reliability of data for Central Africa has improved, while there has been a reduction in the overall reliability of data in Southern Africa and in parts of Eastern Africa. Southern Africa continues to hold the lion’s share of Africa’s elephants, holding close to 55% of the known elephants on the continent. Eastern Africa holds 28% and Cen |
Trade routes for large-scale(500 Kg) seizures of ivory, 2009-2011 - Fig13.Ivory Trade Routes. | Trade routes for large-scale (500 Kg) seizures of ivory, 2012-2013 - Figure 14.pIvory Trade Routes. |
Trade routes for large-scale (500 Kg) seizures of ivory, 2000-2008 - Figure 12.pIvory Trade Routes | Mean estimate of the weight of illegal ivory trade combining all weight classesFigure 10 presents an estimate of the mean weight for all ivory classes by year with 1998 set to 100. This figure represents relative (not absolute) values for the quantity of ivory being traded illegally so the pattern, more than the relative weights, is what is noteworthy. Overall the Weight Index and the Transaction Index are very similar. There is relative stability in the quantity of ivory in illegal trade through 2007, but thereafter a fairly sharp upward climb is seen, although a drop ... |
Number and weight of large-scale (500 Kg) ivory seizures by yearTable 2 presents summarised data on the 76 large-scale ivory seizures which occurred from 2009 through 15 November 2013. Although 2013 is still data deficient and not included in the trends analysis, already 18 large seizures have yielded a greater quantity of ivory than any other previous year going back to 1989. Whether this constitutes an increase in actual illegal trade volumes or reflects improved law enforcement in particular countries/territories is best ascertained using bias adjusted da | Estimated of illegal ivory trade activity for each ivory class, 1996-2012Figure 10 presents an estimate of the mean weight for all ivory classes by year with 1998 set to 100. This figure represents relative (not absolute) values for the quantity of ivory being traded illegally so the pattern, more than the relative weights, is what is noteworthy. Overall the Weight Index and the Transaction Index are very similar. There is relative stability in the quantity of ivory in illegal trade through 2007, but thereafter a fairly sharp upward climb is seen, although a drop is |
Estimated of illegal ivory trade activity, 1996-2012The Transaction Index in Figure 8 is a relative measure of global illegal ivory trade activity over the last 17 years. In this representation, 1998, the year before the first one-off sale under CITES, is the baseline and has been set to 100. The best estimate of the trade in each year is indicated by the bold dot, while the vertical lines depict 90% confidence limits. | Estimated weight of ivory and number of seizure case by year, 1989-2013 - FigureFigure 7 depicts the raw data in ETIS, showing the number of seizure cases and the estimated weight of ivory seized in each year since 1989. Because of inherent bias in the raw data, this figure should not be interpreted as a trend, nor is it suggestive of absolute trade quantities over time. With only 206 records, 2013 was data deficit and does not feature in this trend analysis, but will be discussed separately as these data already constitute a considerable quantity of ivory. |
Pike levels by MIKE site in 2012. - Figure 4As a result, there is a high level of uncertainty around PIKE estimates in that subregion, which makes it difficult to determine the trend. Nevertheless, increases in PIKE levels are apparent in all four African subregions in the second half of the period. PIKE levels in 2012 are mapped in Figure 4. | Relationsships between PIKE and poverty, governance and demand covariates. - FigThe MIKE programme has statistically evaluated relationships between PIKE levels and a wide range of ecological, biophysical and socio-economic factors at the site, national and global levels. Three such factors consistently emerge as very strong predictors of poaching levels and trends: poverty at the site level, governance at the national level and demand for illegal ivory at the global level. The quantitative relationships between PIKE and these factors are illustrated in Figure 5. |
Subregional Pike trends with 95% confidence intervals. - Figure 3.Differences in poaching levels between the different African subregions are evident in Figure 3, with Central Africa consistently showing the highest overall poaching levels, in contrast with Southern Africa, which shows the lowest overall levels. In Eastern Africa, which has contributed the largest number of carcass records, the trend is very similar to the continental one. West Africa has the smallest elephant population and has submitted the smallest number of records. | Estimates absolute poaching rates as predicted by the model - FigureAs Figure 6 shows, the model estimates that the threshold of sustainability was crossed in 2010, with poaching rates remaining above the population growth rate threshold ever since. It is therefore likely that populations at MIKE sites may be in net decline since 2010. However, this does not mean declines at every site, merely a decline on average. No attempt has been made to extrapolate these estimates beyond MIKE sites; data from additional sites would be needed to calibrate the model. |
Status of African elephant populations and levels of illegal illing and the illeIn 2010, the African Elephant Action Plan (AEAP) was adopted by a consensus of all the African elephant range States. An African Elephant Fund has been put in place to help fund the implementation of the AEAP and has given a number of grants through two funding rounds. At the subregional level, regional action plans are in place in Central, Southern, and West Africa. National action plans and strategies have been adopted by 15 countries in the last ten years. The list of strategies is available | Pike trends in Africa with 95% confidence intervals. - Figure 2.Figure 2 shows empirically derived time trends in PIKE at the continental level for African MIKE sites, with error bars (95 % confidence intervals). The data show a steady increase in levels of illegal killing of elephants starting in 2006, with 2011 displaying the highest levels of poaching since MIKE records began in 2002. In 2012 and the first six months of 2013, the trend seems to flatten out at levels close to those recorded in 2011. |
Subregional summary of elephant numbers - Figure 1The status and reliability of information on elephant populations varies dramatically across African elephant range. In the most recent update, the quality and reliability of data for Central Africa has improved, while there has been a reduction in the overall reliability of data in Southern Africa and in parts of Eastern Africa. Southern Africa continues to hold the lion’s share of Africa’s elephants, holding close to 55% of the known elephants on the continent. Eastern Africa holds 28% and Cen |
The elephants of Africa are heading towards extinction.
Tragically, one elephant is killed by a poacher every 15 minutes for its ivory. The rate of killing compared to natural population growth means the largest animal on Earth could soon become extinct. China licenses 35 ivory carving factories and 130 ivory retailers to sell 'legal' ivory. Nonetheless, it is the factories and retailers that sustain the current poaching crisis. ‘Legal’ ivory is obtained from the 2008 CITES sanctioned sale of ivory stockpiles from four African countries, however, a 2011 survey by International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) found that out of all the carving factories and retailers in China, 101 were not licensed or were smuggling ivory.
The Chinese government has been cracking down on the illegal trade, but the legal ivory market is a cover for the vast illegal market. There would be no market for the poachers if China banned all ivory and closed down the carving factories and retailers. Already a member of CITES, China has been hinting it could take a harder line on elephant ivory. China participated in the London Conference on the Illegal Wildlife Trade earlier this year, which urged a tougher stance on the ivory trade. It’s time for China to take action before the world loses another iconic species.
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