The Illegal Ivory Trade: Part I~Elephants

Hello everyone! Sorry it took me so long to pull this post up. However, I promised 2 posts this week, and I'm keeping my word! I've come up with a pretty neat topic for the next two posts, and since the topic is so broad and widely-discussed, I've decided to split it into two parts.

I'll be talking about the ivory trade and and the elephants that have to pay the price for them. The first part, as you've probably seen in the title, will be all about elephants, so you guys become familiar with these majestic animals.

To get us started...
There are actually two types of elephants: Asian and African. I'll be telling you guys a little bit about both, and the next post will be all about specifically the illegal ivory trade.

Asian Elephant

Courtesy: National Geographic

Classification: Mammal
Size: 6.6-9.8 ft / 2-3 m
Weight: 2.25-5.5 tons / 2041-4990 kg
Diet: Herbivore
Lifespan: (up to) 60 years in the wild
Appearance: long trunk (nose), tusks, relatively small ears (compared to the African elephant), bigger head (compared to the African elephant)
Status: 
Endangered because too many of them are killed for their ivory tusks, also their habitat is destroyed for "agricultural use" (as stated by National Geographic)


I know the theme is the "African Migration" which Asian elephants do not take part in, but since I will be talking about the ivory trade in the next post (which is a real issue in Africa), I feel like you should know about both types of elephants that are killed in this trade.

The Asian elephant, as you probably have guessed, lives in Asia. They are now only found in a few parts of Southern Asia, as shown by the map below:

Courtesy: National Geographic

Their size is relatively small compared to their cousins, the African Elephants. Normally you would think elephants have large ears. Scientifically, that is correct, because the elephants use their large ears to stay cool. However, the Asian elephants' ears are smaller in proportion to their body; but their large head makes up for that, I guess. Their trunks are also a bit longer and thinner, and only some male Asian elephants have tusks. Their forehead is also very smooth, while the African elephant has a wrinkly face.

Asian elephant size compared to human
(Courtesy: National Geographic)

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African Elephant

Courtesy: National Geographic

Classification: Mammal
Size: 8.2-13 ft / 2.5-4 m
Weight: 5,000-14,000 lb / 2,268-6,350 kg
Diet: Herbivore
Lifespan: (up to) 70 years in the wild
Appearance: shorter trunk (nose), long tusks, large "Africa-shaped" ears , smaller/wrinkly head (compared to the Asian elephant)
Status: 
Threatened because they are killed for their ivory. The trade is banned now, but completely gone, leaving them kind of endangered.


African elephants, although threatened, can be found in many parts of Africa. They roam in the jungles and savannas, searching for water and traveling with their young.

Courtesy: National Geographic

African elephants are a lot larger than Asian elephants. Their ears are larger, too. In fact, one extremely easy way to distinguish between the two elephants is to look at their ears. African elephants' ears are in the shape of the African continent--like an upside down triangle. Their ears are also extremely large; sometimes a bit bigger than their face. Asian elephants have smaller, rounded ears that are small compared to their face. African elephants also have long, big tusks, which both females and males have. Their trunks are shorter and a bit thicker than Asian elephants as well.

African elephant size compared to human
(Courtesy: National Geographic)

Here is a diagram depicting how to differentiate from African and Asian elephants

Courtesy: Thomson Safaris

The most magical part of an elephant is their trunk, in my opinion. According to National Geographic, their trunks contain 100,000 muscles and is used for smelling, breathing, drinking, "trumpeting," and picking up food. (Trumpeting is the blasting sound elephants make) 

Ivory is wanted from both elephants, which plays a part in the reason for both types of elephants' unstable population. The main reason for Asian elephants is due to habitat loss, while ivory trade is responsible for the plummeting population of African elephants. But no matter what the reason is, these elephants will slowly die out if it doesn't stop, and they need our help. Ivory trade is now officially made illegal, but still not completely eliminated (meaning there are probably a few black markets out there that still illegally trade). In the next post I will be talking about the ivory trade itself. But while you are waiting, here is a short video for you to watch:

You can find the original video here: History of the Ivory Trade

This video was taken from Youtube, uploaded by Garrus Franklin

See you soon!

~Cheri

Sources:

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/african-elephant/

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/asian-elephant/

http://education.nationalgeographic.com/media/history-ivory-trade/

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2012/10/ivory/christy-text

http://www.thomsonsafaris.com/blog/difference-african-asian-elephant/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEHOdHUxNWE