Great Update on our Livingstone Herd

The decline in elephant populations has been a huge problem for decades and there are several factors, many of which are directly or indirectly influenced by human activities:

1. Habitat Loss: One of the primary reasons for the decline in elephant populations is the loss of their natural habitats due to human invasion. As humans continue to expand into previously wild areas, elephants lose crucial feeding grounds and migration routes.
2. Poaching: The illegal poaching of elephants for their ivory tusks remains a significant threat to their survival. Despite international bans on ivory trade, demand for ivory persists in some regions, driving poaching activities. Poachers kill elephants for their tusks, which are smuggled and sold on the black market.
3. Human-Wildlife Conflict: As human populations grow and expand into elephant habitats, conflicts between humans and elephants escalate. Elephants may raid crops, destroy property, and even injure or kill people, leading to retaliatory killings by farmers or authorities. This conflict often results in negative attitudes toward elephants and further endangers their populations.
4. Illegal Wildlife Trade: In addition to ivory, other elephant products, such as skin, meat, and body parts used in traditional medicine, are illegally traded. This further contributes to the decline of elephant populations.