Majestic and highly intelligent, the world’s largest land mammal has been endangered for decades. In September 2016, the elephant’s precarious future was brought into stark relief by new data indicating that the African population had declined a staggering 30 percent from 2007 to 2014. Yet only months later, China—the world’s largest importer and consumer of elephant ivory—made an important commitment to shut down all ivory commerce by year’s end. The decision has already helped to drive the price of ivory down and dampen the market. Is the ivory boom truly over and can elephants be saved? Save The Elephants’ newly appointed CEO, Frank Pope, gives an update on the status of elephants and the newest silent threat to their future.
