Within the past 5 years, Tanzania has lost 60% of its animal population to poachers, who slaughter these creatures for ivory. Mozambique has also announced the loss of 50% of the native elephant population within the same time period. Tanzania has turned to the use of drones and encourages a shoot-on-sight policy for poachers in an attempt to scare those profitting off this exploitation. Asia is the main customer for ivory sales, and has driven up the demand for the products significantly through a growing upper/middle class, according to the Huffington Post.
The exploitation of elephants in Tanzania/Mozambique is similar to that of the bison in the late 19th century. Hunting the bison for sport became popular through Buffalo Billl's Wild West Show. Bison were also killed in large numbers in efforts to deplete the resources of Native Americans, which would ultimately allow the U.S. Government to take over the land.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/02/tanzania-elephants-60-percent_n_7494376.html?utm_hp_ref=poaching
This makes me so sad why people would do this, elephants are one of the worlds most intellegent creatures -kenley Turner
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