Endangered Species

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The endangered African Elephant
The African elephant is one among several endangered species in the world. It is found in over 37 countries in Africa. The animal has large ears for radiating heat and also prominent trunk and two tasks. It uses the trunk to handle objects including food and also for communication purpose. It is the heaviest and largest beast of the jungle.

The African elephant have been endangered for several decades. It started being hunted by poachers for its ivory and meat from the 1970s. Some natives of Africa especially those who lived in the forest and depended mainly on gathering and hunting for food could kill the African elephant. The hunting of this beast though it was the last resort after missing other alternatives to food posed a high risk of these animals diminishing in the ecosystem (Groves et al. 317). Some African natives killed them for its strong skin which could be used for making some cords while others used its various parts of the body for ceremonial activities and rituals. Additionally, the animal species started being endangered in Africa when some native’s especially young men killed them for fun or game and also when it destroyed their farming products and places of residents like huts and shelter. In short, African elephant has been endangered for centuries now.
The African elephant has been threatened and killed due to its tusks (Groves et al. 317). The tusks are of great importance both socially and economically.

It is used for trophies. It is also used for making merchandise of ivory carving art as well as jewelry due to its great value in the market. The ivory from the African elephant species is of greater value and desire in the market than that of teeth and tusks of such animals as hippopotamus, warthog, whales, and walrus among others. It was due to this high demand for the African elephant ivory that led to its massive and devastating killing and the resultant decline in the number of this species, especially between the 1970s and 1980s. Crazy poaching for other reasons like food and skin have also contributed notably to their decline in number but not as in the case of ever-high demand for ivory trade in the market.
The African elephant is preserved mainly because of its ecological value. The animal species play a significant role in the health of the ecosystem and balance of flora and fauna. Its preservation is a way of conserving the ecosystem from falling apart since all living species are interdependent as predicted in the food web and the food chain. The African elephant has a cultural importance which has attracted tourists both local and foreign hence boosting the countries concerned economy through foreign exchange (Wittemyer et al, 13119). The species also help boost and maintain the biodiversity of the natural environment and make it beautiful and attractive. The African elephant helps other animals during the dry season in digging dry grounds for water and also in pruning trees as they feed hence boosting vegetation growth and enhancing other games through the clearing of the thick bushes.
The African elephants have large ears used to radiate heat away from the body hence help to regulate the body temperature.
There are only two main species of elephants remaining in the world namely Asian and African elephants due to extinction.
They have the longest gestation period in the world of 22 months.
The tusks or ivory are modified incisors which are in high demand on the market hence their poaching and resultant extinction.
The species have structured social order as well as intelligent animal behavior and emotional feelings.
Work cited
Groves, Colin P., et al. “Two African elephant species, not just one.” Nature 538.7625 (2016): 317-317.
Wittemyer, George, et al. “Illegal killing for ivory drives global decline in African elephants.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 111.36 (2014): 13117-13121.