Conclusion

In our project, we focused on poaching African elephants. We researched on how poaching affects the African elephants’ population decline, and how well the anti-poaching laws are working. First we figured out that the ivory from elephants’ tusks was the major cause of poaching. Because of that, more than 50% of elephants were killed from 1930 to 1989. Poaching also affects not only the population of elephants but also the biodiversity in Africa. In order to prevent the extinction and the destruction of biodiversity, the African Elephant Conservation Act was passed in 1989. Even though it was not able to stop all poaching, it decreased the influence of the ivory trade and number of elephants’ deaths. However the weakness of the Act was that it could not stop the ivory trade on the internet, especially on eBay. So we made some laws that would ideally be in effect. We would create an international license for animal product traders, and monetary rewards for arrests of poachers and equipment. What is the result? Elephant populations would rise, causing beneficial and harmful effects. Humans and elephants would inevitably clash more often, but we hope our laws could minimize the damage. Ultimately, poaching of elephants would decline dramatically, and biodiversity would be saved.