In the end of the 20th century, the population of elephants sharply decreased. That happened because of persistent and uncontrolled encroachment by men upon the elephants' natural habitat. In the beginning of the 20th century, the demand for meat and ivory soared. There are even tuskless elephants now, which is also attributable to human lust for expensive ivory.
In 1994 it was estimated that, in Periyar Tiger Reserve, Kerala, only 5 mature elephants were intact among one thousand. Three of them were tuskless (makhnas). The percentage of tuskless elephants has reached 50% by now indicating that elephants are continuously being poached for ivory.
In 1990 the famous ivory ban was introduced. But illegal trade of ivory cannot be estimated. In those countries whereby elephants are duly protected by laws and real actions, the percentage of illegal trade is small and the situation is under control. In those states whereby animal protection organizations are not properly funded, the share of illegal ivory market reaches 80% of the local budget.
Currently there are many organizations in the world, which create reserves in order to protect endangered species. Wildlife Protection Society of India provides updates and information to authorities, which are involved in the struggle against illegal trade. It is known that there are no more than
35,000 Asian elephants intact on earth.
Central Elephant Conservation (CEC) was established in Florida in 1995. In Cameroon, two reserves-Boumba-Beck and Nki-were successfully unified making it possible to monitor and study the behavior of elephants without disturbing their natural habitat.
Elephants - Photos - Picture Links
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Picture source:
Animal Diversity Web © 1995-2004
The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors
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Absolut Elephant - Information about captive and wild elephants. Includes photos, illustrations, and range maps.
African elephant pictures - world's biggest elephants - Image portfolio from Tembe National Elephant Park.
African Elephant Pictures - Image portfolio from Tembe National Elephant Park.
African Wildlife Photos - Elephants of Kenya.
Nature Portfolio - This page features photos of elephants, including hyraxes
African Wildlife Photos - Kenya - Elephants - Related Sites. Kenya Wildlife Photos of Elephants.
Asian Elephant - Photographs and description from the Chaffee Zoological Gardens.
Baby Elephants - View pictures of newborn baby elephants at the national zoo in Washington, D.C.
Bali Adventure Tours - Elephant Art Photo Gallery - Click here for elephant Safari Park, Elephant Museum, Elephant Art, Elephant Art Gallery.
Elephant - Images of Elephants.
Elephant Photos: African Elephants - Photos of Some of the Elephants. African elephants posing perfectly for the crowd.
Everything Elephants - Offering a pictorial encyclopedia project, offering information regarding specific collectibles.
Lets Buy Art - Wildlife paintings, drawings, pictures and prints including lions, Bengal tigers, and elephants.
Pictures from Kerala - Photographs of many scenes in the state, including the Guruvayur Krishna temple, beaches, elephants.
Pictures of Elephants - Pictures of Elephants. Stock photos, stock photography, wallpaper, elephant Animals.
Pictures of Elephants - Pictures of Elephants, Bird Pictures, Pictures of endangered animals, African Wildlife.
Pictures of elephants and elephant families - Pictures of Charging Elephants National Geographic photographer Nick Nichols.
Pictures of Elephants, elephant pictures - Tembe National Park - here roam the biggest of all African elephants - good pictures.
PlanetWare Photos of elephants in art - A picture subject index & directory of the PlanetWare.
Save The Elephants - Includes news, research, photos, maps and contact information.
The Elephant Sanctuary - Dedicated to everything about elephants with pictures, videos, and elephant biographies.
Elephants - Photos - Conservation Links
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Picture source:
Animal Diversity Web © 1995-2004
The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors
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Cameroon's conservation solution - Merge the reserves.
Center for Elephant Conservation - Dedicated to the Asian elephant: the vision, the elephants, the facility, FAQ and photographs.
The facility was opened in 1995.
Conserving Africa's Elephants - World Wildlife Fund report on conservation and management of African elephants, 1997.
Expeditions in Conservation: The Heart of Borneo - Information about the geography and wildlife of Borneo, and an opportunity for an eco-tourist expedition into the dark rainforest to observe research on Asian elephants.
The Barbara Delano Foundation - Supports wildlife conservation for bears, elephants, exotic birds, great apes, large cats, marine mammals, marine turtles, rhinos, and sharks. Provides grant guidelines, past awards given, contact information, financial information, and geographic criteria.
The David Shepherd Conservation Foundation - Raises funds and works for the survival of tigers, elephants, rhinos and other critically endangered mammals in the wild.
The Elephant Men - PBS site for the documentary. Excellent resources for: teachers, students and adults. Articles on: Asian and African elephants, conservation status, role in Indian mythology and their present. Includes credits and TV schedule.
Wildlife Protection Society of India - Focused on the conservation of tigers, elephants, leopards and other wild species in India, through wildlife law enforcement to the end: poaching and illegal wildlife trade of endangered species.
