Endangered Elephants Killed in Indonesia
In 1985, there were more than 5,000 Sumatran Elephants in Indonesia. Today, there are less than 3,000. The huge decline is due in part to habitat transformation, with forests being cleared for timber, paper, and palm oil.
The other responsible party for the species decline is poachers, who are poisoning or shooting the animals for their ivory. Some of the elephants have also been killed by local villagers because the animals come into the village in search of food and destroy crops.
The Sumatran Elephants have been listed as “critically endangered” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, but the animals could become distinct within the next few decades if something is not done to better protect them.
After reading this article, I couldn’t help but wonder how these elephants could be better protected. Could they start a conservation area for the animals, or would that even help? People could still get into that area and kill the elephants, and probably without being caught because of the large area that would be needed for the elephants.
What do you think should be done to help these elephants? Or do you think the effort would be futile? Any suggestions on how endangered animals could be better protected, not only in Indonesia but on a global level, as well?
Source: Huffington Post
Posted by Lindsay Page on Jun 05, 2013