Today, on World Elephant Day, we pause to celebrate one of the Earth's most iconic creatures. Elephants, with their immense intelligence and emotional depth, hold a special place in the hearts of many. Yet, they face unprecedented challenges. Our Director of International Operations, Vanessa Stephen, shares her extensive experience with these magnificent beings, offering insights into their complex world, the ongoing threats they endure, and the global efforts to preserve them. From joy to heartache, Vanessa's connection to elephants reveals a tale that resonates with all who value nature and the intricate web of life it sustains.
A tragic consequence of ivory trade: a poached elephant in Malawi. A stark reminder of the human demand that has reduced African elephant populations from 26 million in 1800 to less than half a million today. © Vanessa Stephen
I’ve worked with and around elephants for many years and have had so many experiences – some which terrified me, some which brought me almost to tears at the wonder of it all and some which made me laugh. The more time I spent with elephants, the more I came to the conclusion that if elephants had thumbs, they would probably be the ones in charge of the world, ahead of us. However, people are undeniably top of the food chain and as a species, we certainly haven’t been kind to the wildlife around us. Elephants are not easy animals to live with, but we have taken an incredible amount from them in a very short space of time.
The trade in ivory has threatened elephant populations for hundreds of years. Ivory has long been an object of human desire and it has been used to make piano keys, jewelry and religious artifacts. Ivory does not just fall out. Elephants are killed in order to remove their tusks. There were 26 million African elephants in 1800 and less than half a million remain today. A global ban on ivory sales came into place in 1989 following unbelievable devastation of elephant numbers. That ban remains in place today, but poaching for ivory is rife and it is estimated that from the beginning of 2012 to the end of 2014, at least 100,000 elephants were poached for their tusks. One reason for this was a massive increase in demand following a one-off sanctioned sale of ivory allowed by Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) resulting from pressure from countries in Asia and southern Africa.
Recent years have thankfully seen a decrease in this poaching spike with increased ivory bans in the US and China and countries like Kenya cracking down and implementing harsh sentences for poachers. In 2016 the Kenya government opted to burn their entire confiscated ivory stock to make the statement that they refuse to benefit financially from illegal poaching. It is a controversial move. Many people say that money from the legal sale of confiscated ivory could be used to fund more anti-poaching and elephant conservation initiatives. However, as mentioned, the previous sale of confiscated ivory only served to fuel demand, and elephant poaching increased significantly.
The big tuskers of Kenya, a rare and magnificent sight, symbolising the strength and grandeur of Africa's wildlife heritage. © Vanessa Stephen
National and international laws are in place and have had a big impact. But, for whatever reasons, the demand is still there, driving an illicit underground trade, and poaching is an inordinately difficult thing to overcome. There are many people without options who may be tempted to kill an elephant and take its tusks in order for their family to survive. It’s understandable at a small scale. But elephant poaching is ultimately driven by organised, dangerous syndicates, greed and an insatiable demand for ivory.
Conservation across the world is a critical necessity that ultimately benefits the human race through the ecological services provided. Our food, water, soil, air and health is all better where biodiversity remains. Countries, NGOs and communities do remarkable work in conserving the wilderness that remains – including animals like elephants who are not necessarily easy to live with. But conservation is expensive and funds are unfortunately few and far between. The sad fact of the matter is that of those funds, the vast majority goes to security and tackling organised crime. Imagine if that money was available to instead go into the surrounding communities to benefit the people who live with these animals.
A serene moment captured in Etosha: an elephant stands as a testament to the grace and dignity of nature's giants. © Vanessa Stephen
The majority of the people who work in conservation have found themselves less involved in biodiversity and ecosystem management and more and more focused on anti-poaching.
I’ve watched friends in the conservation industry check their homes, in full combat mode before allowing anyone else in. I’ve seen rangers with tears in their eyes as they relate stories of poaching they have come across. I’ve been on training sessions with men with hardened faces and seen those faces in obituaries later, shot at the hands of poachers. I’ve seen elephant herds moving only at night without making a sound that could give away their position. I’ve seen elephants quietly examining the bones of a poached animal. I’ve seen cruelty and greed.
I’ve seen men and women prepared to give everything, including their lives for the wildlife that cannot protect itself against bullets. I’ve seen elephants in areas where 90% of their population has been poached, allowing researchers to hose them down on a hot day. I’ve watched elephants play practical jokes. I’ve seen them mourn. I can see that they are just as smart as we are. I can see that they remember what some of us have done to them but they also seem to know what many of us have done for them as well.
Elephants seem to bring out the best and the worst in people. This #WorldElephantDay, give thanks for the rangers and the conservation organisations that are pushing the best of humanity forward.
To donate to our project in Laikipia, Kenya, please click here.
To read more about the illegal wildlife trade through the stories of African rangers, visit antipoachingafrica.com to download Vanessa’s photographic book on the subject.
Vannesa Stephen the Director of International Operations for WildLandscapes International, based in South Africa.