Elephant poaching rates in Africa are declining, according to a study published in

the journal Nature Communications.

The annual poaching mortality rate fell from a high of more than 10% in 2011 to
less than 4% in 2017, but the researchers warned that current levels were still
unsustainable and could spell trouble for the future of the animals on the
continent.

Humans causing shrinking of nature as larger

animals die off
 
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An estimated 350,000 elephants remain in Africa, but 10,000 to 15,000 are killed
by poachers every year.

The team, from the University of York, University of Freiburg and the Convention
on International Trade in Endangered Species, analysed data from 53 protected
sites across 29 countries between 2002 and 2017.

They observed a decline in the annual poaching mortality rate – the percentage of
elephants killed through poaching each year – and found it was linked with
reduced demand for ivory across China that may be linked to a drop in the
Chinese economy. The number began to fall before the introduction of a ban on
ivory trade in the country in 2017, they said.

Differences in poaching between sites was found to be linked with levels of

corruption and poverty.

“We are seeing a downturn in poaching, which is obviously positive news, but it is
still above what we think is sustainable so the elephant populations are
declining,” said Dr Colin Beale, co-author of the study from the University of
York.

“The poaching rates seem to respond primarily to ivory prices in south-east Asia
and we can’t hope to succeed without tackling demand in that region.”

The researchers called for continued investment in law enforcement to reduce

poaching, alongside action to cut ivory demand and tackle corruption and
poverty.
Severin Hauenstein, from the University of Freiburg, said: “This is a positive
trend, but we should not see this as an end to the poaching crisis. After some
changes in the political environment, the total number of illegally killed
elephants in Africa seems to be falling but, to assess possible protection
measures, we need to understand the local and global processes driving illegal
elephant hunting.”

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