The three existing elephant species are on the path to extinction, with just under 500,000 remaining, due to habitat loss, illegal ivory trafficking, and conflicts with local communities, with the global population of these animals decreasing. Just one species, African elephants have reduced from approximately 12 million to 400,000 in over a century. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the greatest threat to African elephants is wildlife crimes, mainly poaching for the illegal ivory trade, whereas the biggest danger to Asian elephants is habitat loss. This also leads to conflicts between local communities and these animals. Currently, there are … Continue reading All Elephant Species on the Brink: Just Under 500,000 Elephants Remain—What’s Driving This Crisis?