Elephants on the brink: 50 years of slaughter and survival
- Paul Aage Hegvik
- Apr 11
- 15 min read
Over the past half-century, elephant populations in both Africa and Asia have experienced dramatic declines due to poaching and habitat loss.
A comprehensive study analyzing data from 1,325 surveys across 37 African countries between 1964 and 2016 revealed that savanna elephant populations decreased by approximately 70%, while forest elephant populations saw a decline of over 90%. This is reported by African Travel and tourism Association.
Over the decades
In the late 1970s, estimates suggested that Africa was home to at least 1.3 million elephants, with some figures reaching up to 3 million. However, by 1989, the population had plummeted to around 609,000. The Great Elephant Census, completed in 2016, estimated the total population of African elephants at approximately 352,271, indicating a 30% decline between 2007 and 2014. As of recent assessments, the African elephant population is estimated at around 415,000 individuals. This includes both the African savanna elephant (Loxodonta africana), which is classified as «Endangered,» and the African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis), which is «Critically Endangered.»
Poaching and habitat loss
Poaching for ivory remains one of the most significant threats, fueled primarily by demand in Asia. An estimated 100 elephants are killed daily for their tusks. While poaching levels have declined over the past eight years, it continues to devastate populations, particularly in Central and West Africa.
Habitat loss due to agricultural expansion and infrastructure development has also contributed to the decline. The conversion of elephant habitats into farmland leads to fragmentation, increasing human-elephant conflicts and restricting elephant movement.
Most affected by poaching
Several African nations have been particularly impacted by elephant poaching:
Tanzania: Between 2010 and 2015, Tanzania experienced a dramatic decline, losing nearly 60% of its elephants due to poaching.
Mozambique: Poaching wiped out nearly half of its elephant population between 2010 and 2015.
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC): The DRC has struggled to protect its elephant populations, with criminal networks contributing to persistent poaching.
Central African Republic (CAR): In 2013, poachers killed at least 26 elephants in the Dzanga Bai World Heritage Site, underscoring the threats in this region.
The decline of Asian elephants
Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) face similar threats as their African counterparts, primarily due to habitat loss, human-elephant conflict, and poaching. However, their situation is even more precarious since their population is significantly smaller.
Population and conservation status
The estimated population of Asian elephants is between 40,000 and 50,000 individuals, a fraction of Africa’s elephant population. They are classified as «Endangered" by the IUCN, with some subspecies, like the Sumatran elephant, listed as «Critically Endangered.»
Key threats to asian elephants
Habitat Loss and Fragmentation: Expanding agriculture, deforestation, and urbanization have severely reduced their natural habitats. Over 85% of Asian elephants live outside protected areas, increasing conflicts with humans.
Human-Elephant Conflict: As elephants lose habitat, they enter farmlands in search of food, leading to conflicts. Thousands of elephants are killed annually due to retaliation by farmers.
Poaching and Illegal Trade: While poaching for ivory is less severe than in Africa (since only male Asian elephants have tusks), they are hunted for their skin, meat, and use in tourism. Calves are also captured for the tourism and entertainment industry, especially in Myanmar, Thailand, and India.
Dan Lundberg, who photographed the elephants in the photo from Sri Lanka in 2018, wrote the following: «The Sri Lankan elephant (Elephas maximus maximus) is the largest of the three Asian elephant subspecies, though still smaller than its African relatives. Notably, only 7% of males develop tusks. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies the Sri Lankan elephant as endangered, with habitat loss being the primary threat to its survival.
Hurulu Eco Park, situated on the fringes of the Hurulu Forest Reserve, was established as part of a designated biosphere reserve in 1977 to protect Sri Lanka's dry-zone evergreen forests. This park serves as a crucial habitat for Sri Lankan elephants, offering them a protected space within their natural range. Surrounding protected areas further extend their migratory routes, reducing human-wildlife conflict and helping to preserve these majestic creatures.»
Most affected by habitat Loss
India (home to over 60% of the world’s Asian elephants): Rapid urbanization and deforestation are major threats.
Indonesia (Sumatra): Widespread deforestation for palm oil plantations has driven Sumatran elephants to the brink of extinction.
Myanmar: Logging and land conversion for agriculture have heavily impacted elephant populations.
Thailand and Cambodia: Infrastructure development and human settlement expansion are encroaching on elephant habitats.
Sri Lanka: One of the highest rates of human-elephant conflict, leading to significant elephant deaths annually.
Efforts and success stories
Efforts to protect Asian elephants include:
Creating and expanding wildlife corridors to reconnect fragmented habitats.
Strengthening anti-poaching laws and regulating elephant tourism.
Engaging local communities in human-elephant conflict mitigation programs.
Despite these challenges, some regions, particularly in Southern Africa, have witnessed stable or increasing elephant populations due to dedicated conservation efforts. Countries like Kenya and Tanzania have seen growth in their elephant numbers due to improved law enforcement and anti-poaching measures.
Kenya: The elephant population has been growing at an annual rate of 5%, reaching an estimated 36,280 elephants in 2021.
Tanzania: Between 2014 and 2021, the elephant population increased from approximately 43,000 to 60,000 individuals.
Strategies such as sustainable tourism, effective land-use planning, and robust law enforcement against illegal wildlife trade have contributed to these successes. Additionally, innovative methods like AI-driven tracking devices on vultures in Uganda's Murchison Falls National Park have helped identify potential poaching sites.
The silent killers
Landmines are a persistent anddevastating threat, not only to humans but also to wildlife. Among the most affected animals are elephants, whose large roaming territories often place them in danger. The International Campaign to Ban Landmines has highlighted numerous cases of elephants falling victim to these hidden explosives, particularly in regions affected by conflict.
One such tragic case is that of Pa Hae Po, an elephant who suffered a cruel fate due to an antipersonnel mine. While being used for logging in Myanmar (Burma), just across the border from Thailand, he stepped on a landmine, losing part of his front foot. Severely injured, he was brought to the Friends of the Asian Elephant (FAE) hospital in Lampang, Thailand, where veterinarians did their best to help him recover.
Soraida Salwala, the founder of the FAE hospital, located in Lampang Province, northern Thailand, who took care of Pa Hae PO, has witnessed many such cases. To understroke the problem that still excist in a big scale today; she stated to Guardian in 2011: «So far, we have treated 15 elephants which have stepped on landmines.The last one was him in September this year. But we have no idea how many elephants step on landmines in total across the border.»
The FAE Hospital, established in 1993, was the world's first elephant hospital and has treated over 3,000 elephants for various ailments, including landmine injuries.
Notably, the hospital provided prosthetic limbs for elephants like Mosha and Motala, both survivors of landmine accidents. Their stories were documented in the 2012 film «The Eyes of Thailand,» which highlights the challenges faced by landmine-injured elephants and the efforts to rehabilitate them.
The true scale of this crisis remains unknown, as many injured elephants may never make it to a sanctuary. Their injuries often lead to slow and painful deaths, or they become more vulnerable to poaching and starvation.
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Funding cuts
In March 2025, environmental groups raised concerns over the U.S. administration's decision to halt funding for international conservation grants administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. These grants are crucial for supporting anti-poaching patrols targeting elephants and rhinos in countries lacking financial resources to combat poaching effectively. The suspension of these funds threatens the survival of these species, prompting legal actions to reinstate the funding.
USA-president Donald Trump and the richest man in the world, Elon Musk, have both expressed strong support for cutting USAID funding.
Trump has taken steps to significantly reduce foreign aid, freezing many USAID programs and placing much of the agency on hold. His administration has pushed for deep cuts, arguing that taxpayer money should be spent domestically rather than on international assistance.
Elon Musk has been even more outspoken, calling USAID a «criminal organization» and saying, «Time for it to die.» He has publicly stated that shutting down the agency is necessary and claims Trump agrees with him.
These actions have led to major program cancellations, affecting global aid initiatives, disease prevention efforts, and humanitarian support.
Conflict in Thailand
In February 2025, Thailand announced plans to administer birth control to a limited number of wild female elephants to address the escalating human-elephant conflict. While conservation efforts have led to an annual population growth rate of 8%, this increase has strained the country's forests, leading elephants to encroach into populated areas. The birth control initiative aims to temporarily halt reproduction and mitigate conflicts, reflecting the complex balance between conservation success and human-wildlife coexistence.
Individual cases
The plight of a five-year-old elephant named Sun in Thailand underscores the challenges elephants face due to habitat changes. Stranded on a small island in the Prasae Reservoir since April 2023, Sun's situation highlights the impacts of environmental changes on elephant habitats and the complexities involved in rescue operations.
The future of elephants
The urgency to protect and restore elephant populations is heightened by projections that Africa's human population will more than double in the next 50 years, potentially exacerbating habitat loss and human-elephant conflicts. Conservationists emphasize the need for immediate action, including:
Strengthening public-private partnerships in protected area management.
Involving local communities in conservation efforts.
Intensifying measures to combat ivory poaching.
While both African and Asian elephants have faced dramatic population declines over the past 50 years, targeted conservation initiatives offer hope for their future. Continued and enhanced efforts are essential to ensure the survival and recovery of these iconic animals. Strengthened conservation policies, increased funding, and global cooperation are key to securing a sustainable future for elephants worldwide.
Speak out on the crisis
As elephant populations continue to dwindle due to poaching and habitat loss, leading conservationists and public figures have spoken out about the urgency of protecting these majestic creatures.
Their insights highlight the severity of the crisis and the necessity for immediate action.
Iain Douglas-Hamilton is a British zoologist and conservationist known for his pioneering work on African elephants. Born in 1942, he has spent decades studying elephant behavior, ecology, and the threats they face, particularly from poaching and habitat loss.
He founded Save the Elephants in 1993, an organization dedicated to elephant conservation, research, and advocacy. His work has been instrumental in shaping global policies on ivory trade and elephant protection. He was also a key figure in the 1989 global ban on ivory sales.
Douglas-Hamilton has received multiple awards for his conservation efforts, including the Order of the British Empire (OBE) and the Indianapolis Prize. His research on elephant movements using GPS tracking has significantly contributed to efforts to mitigate human-elephant conflicts.
He has described the current poaching crisis as «far graver» than the situation in the 1970s and 1980s. He has emphasized that between 2010 and 2012, more than 100,000 African elephants were illegally killed, primarily due to rising ivory prices fueled by demand in Asia. His research and advocacy continue to be instrumental in elephant conservation efforts worldwide.
He said to Dodo some years ago: «Demand for ivory is driving the illegal killing of elephants in Africa on a massive scale. The problem is so large it is too great for any one NGO, but we have joined in a grand strategy with many others to stop the killing, stop the trafficking and stop the demand for ivory... If we don't stop the demand, no amount of anti-poaching work, or anti-trafficking plans will stop the slaughter. We have to share awareness with the principal consumers of ivory, which means reaching out to China to show the consequences of buying ivory, and to tackle the criminal networks with as much vigor as they put into evading the law.»
If we don't stop the demand, no amount of anti-poaching work, or anti-trafficking plans will stop the slaughter. Iain Douglas-Hamilton Founder of Save the Elephants
Kenyan conservationist Jim Nyamu, known for his extensive awareness-raising walks, has passionately stated, «I will only stop when the world appreciates the fact that ivory belongs to elephants.» His dedication to changing public perception and policy underscores the critical need for a global shift in attitudes toward elephant protection.
«I will only stop when the world appreciates the fact that ivory belongs to elephants.» Jim Nyamu Conservationist, Kenya
Prince William’s advocacy
During the Tusk Conservation Awards, Prince William praised the efforts of wildlife defenders, saying, «These brave individuals are at the forefront of conservation, working tirelessly to protect some of our most endangered species.» His support highlights the importance of grassroots initiatives and international cooperation in the fight against poaching and habitat destruction.
In 2016, he cautioned that African elephants could disappear from the wild within a generation if urgentaction was not taken. Speaking at the Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference in 2018, he called for intensified global efforts to combat poaching and trafficking.
More recently, in 2024, Prince William addressed the United Nations General Assembly, emphasizing the need to halt biodiversity loss by 2030. He also announced the Wildlife Ranger Insurance Fund, which provides protection for thousands of rangers risking their lives to defend elephants and other endangered species. His ongoing initiatives, including United for Wildlife and The Earthshot Prize, continue to push for stronger conservation measures worldwide.
Rethinking strategies
Martin Wikelski, a wildlife expert from the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, has suggested that «we have to change our attitude toward conservation».
He argues that alternative strategies, such as legalizing certain trades, should be considered to combat poaching more effectively. His perspective challenges traditional conservation methods and calls for innovative solutions.
The call to action
These voices emphasize the urgency of elephant conservation efforts and the necessity for strengthened policies, increased funding, and global cooperation. Their advocacy serves as a reminder that saving requires a collective effort from governments, conservationists, and the public alike. Without immediate intervention, the world risks losing one of its most iconic and ecologically vital species.
The impact of tourism
Tourism plays a significant role in elephant conservation, particularly in Africa and Asia, where national parks and wildlife reserves rely on visitor revenue to fund anti-poaching efforts and habitat protection.
Tourism plays a complex role in elephant conservation, bringing both benefits and challenges. On the positive side, eco-tourism supports sanctuaries, funds rescue efforts, and raises awareness about elephant protection. However, unethical tourism can lead to exploitation, habitat destruction, and stress for the animals. Finding a balance between conservation and responsible tourism is crucial for their long-term survival.
Positive impacts of tourism
Funding conservation efforts Many national parks, such as Kenya's Amboseli and Tanzania's Serengeti, use tourism revenue to support anti-poaching units, maintain protected areas, and fund community conservation projects.
Raising awareness Ethical tourism allows visitors to witness elephants in their natural habitat, fostering a greater appreciation for conservation and increasing global support for protective measures.
Creating economic incentives for protection In regions where local communities benefit from elephant-based tourism, there is a reduced incentive for poaching, as elephants are seen as valuable assets rather than threats to agriculture.
Negative impacts of tourism
Exploitation in captive settings In countries like Thailand and India, elephants are often used in trekking camps, circuses, and street performances. Many of these elephants undergo inhumane training methods, including physical abuse and restrictive living conditions.
Stress from human interaction Even in the wild, uncontrolled tourism—such as vehicles crowding elephants in national parks—can disrupt natural behaviors, cause stress, and lead to aggressive encounters.
Habitat disturbance Increased tourism infrastructure, such as roads, lodges, and resorts, can encroach on elephant habitats, fragmenting their natural ranges and affecting migration patterns.
Can we ethically visit national parks and ride elephants?
Visiting national parks and wildlife reserves can be done ethically if tourists choose responsible operators that prioritize conservation and animal welfare.
Ethical safari experiences—such as guided game drives in protected areas—support conservation efforts without harming elephants.
However, elephant rides should be avoided. The training methods used to domesticate elephants for riding are often cruel, involving severe physical punishment and confinement. Instead, ethical sanctuaries that allow visitors to observe elephants in natural, unstressed environments offer a more responsible alternative.
Elephant riding, once a popular tourist attraction, is now facing increasing restrictions worldwide due to growing concerns about animal welfare. While no country has implemented a complete nationwide ban, several regions and organizations have taken significant steps to end the practice.
Completely stop in Vietnam in 2026
In Cambodia, authorities banned elephant rides at Angkor Wat in 2019, ensuring that the temple’s resident elephants were relocated to a conservation center.
Vietnam has announced plans to phase out elephant riding completely by 2026 as part of a government agreement with wildlife organizations. Meanwhile, the
Banning riding tours
United Kingdom has approved a proposal to ban the promotion of tourism activities involving elephant rides, discouraging unethical wildlife tourism.
Beyond government action, major travel companies like Intrepid Travel have stopped offering elephant riding tours, reflecting a broader industry shift toward responsible tourism. These changes highlight a growing global movement to protect elephants and promote ethical wildlife experiences.
From chains to freedom
Elephants, with their profound intelligence and deep emotional capacity, have stories that touch the heart, blending moments of profound sadness with uplifting hope.
Elephants are among the most intelligent and emotionally complex creatures on Earth. They form deep bonds, mourn their dead, and even display joy when reunited with loved ones. Yet, their lives are often marked by suffering—torn from their families by poachers, exploited for entertainment, or left wandering in shrinking habitats.
There are many stories about elephants worldwide that have touched the hearts of countless people.
Sun: The isolated young elephant
In Thailand's Rayong province, a five-year-old elephant named Sun found himself stranded on a small island in the Prasae Reservoir after monsoon floods in April 2023. For two years, Sun roamed the island alone, trumpeting in search of companionship and pacing the shoreline. Local residents ensured his survival by providing food, while forest officials grappled with the challenges of rescuing him without depleting essential water supplies. Sun's solitary vigil became a poignant symbol of the unintended consequences of environmental changes.
Kaavan: From loneliness to liberation
Dubbed the «world's loneliest elephant,» Kaavan spent 35 years in captivity at Islamabad Zoo in Pakistan, much of it in chains. After his partner, Saheli, died in 2012, Kaavan's mental and physical health deteriorated. A global campaign, bolstered by celebrities like American singer Cher, led to a court ruling in 2020 for his relocation. In November 2020, Kaavan was moved to the Cambodia Wildlife Sanctuary, where he now enjoys the company of other elephants and the freedom to roam, symbolizing a triumph of international solidarity and compassion.
Charlie: From despair to freedom
Captured as a calf in Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park in 1984, Charlie endured decades of confinement, first in a circus and later in a South African zoo. There, he witnessed the deaths of his only offspring and several companions, earning him the moniker the world's saddest elephant.»Advocacy by organizations like the EMS Foundation led to his release in 2023. Charlie now resides in the expansive Shambala Private Reserve, where he is gradually rediscovering his natural behaviors and the joys of elephant companionship.
Chaimu: Rescue and new beginnings
In 2009, a weakened calf named Chaimu was rescued near Kenya's Chyulu Hills by the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT), with support from actress Kristin Davis. Nursed back to health and reintegrated into the wild, Chaimu maintained bonds with her human caretakers. In a heartwarming turn, she returned to the Ithumba Reintegration Centre to give birth to her first calf, Chapa, choosing to share this milestone with those who had saved her. Chaimu's story exemplifies resilience and the enduring connections between elephants and their human allies.
