Mutant Monster RAEG-HAPYP Posted May 19, 2016 Report Share Posted May 19, 2016 These are all older articles, but it's still a relevant problem. http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/mar/24/african-elephants-could-be-extinct-in-wild-within-decades-say-expertshttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/africa/articles/African-elephants-could-be-extinct-within-a-decade/http://www.ibtimes.com/african-elephants-becoming-extinct-more-mammals-killed-poachers-born-annually-study-shows-1662542 This is mainly due to poaching for the tusks. Ivory is apparently a big commodity in some parts of the world. The Indian elephant is also endangered, from what I have read, but it seems that the African elephant is more critically endangered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simping For Hina Posted May 19, 2016 Report Share Posted May 19, 2016 Well, survival of the fittest, amirite? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutant Monster RAEG-HAPYP Posted May 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2016 Well, survival of the fittest, amirite? More like survival of the greediest, considering the elephants aren't being killed for food sources, they are being killed so people can make money from their tusks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flash Flyer - Sakura Posted May 19, 2016 Report Share Posted May 19, 2016 I'm not totally sure if this is completely relevant to this discussion, but some rangers in South Africa decided to saw the horns off of black rhinos to deter poachers from hitting them. Whether/not that works remains to be seen and I don't believe they can do the same with elephants (cut off their tusks so poachers have less incentive to kill them). But yeah, ivory is still heavily prized, even for Asian crafts and of course, money on the black market. Unless people stop being greedy for ivory and the like (which is likely not going to end at all), certain animals will go extinct very quickly and younger generations will be left to wonder what those animals were like (outside of whatever the internet and books will say). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simping For Hina Posted May 19, 2016 Report Share Posted May 19, 2016 More like survival of the greediest, considering the elephants aren't being killed for food sources, they are being killed so people can make money from their tusks.Well, I mean, that comparison is kind of wishy-washy since the elephants aren't in contention for the use of ivory, and have no standing even being greedy in this conflict. It would be survival of the greediest if all of the parties were attacking each other for the same end goal, and one went far enough to win the grand prize. But, don't forget that Elephants are being hunted for the meat as well. Just to be eaten and not used for monetary value as much. But elephant most likely fetches a wonderful cost for their meat as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutant Monster RAEG-HAPYP Posted May 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2016 I'm not totally sure if this is completely relevant to this discussion, but some rangers in South Africa decided to saw the horns off of black rhinos to deter poachers from hitting them. Whether/not that works remains to be seen and I don't believe they can do the same with elephants (cut off their tusks so poachers have less incentive to kill them). But yeah, ivory is still heavily prized, even for Asian crafts and of course, money on the black market. Unless people stop being greedy for ivory and the like (which is likely not going to end at all), certain animals will go extinct very quickly and younger generations will be left to wonder what those animals were like (outside of whatever the internet and books will say). Rhinos are in the same danger of going extinct as well, from what I've heard. Well, I mean, that comparison is kind of wishy-washy since the elephants aren't in contention for the use of ivory, and have no standing even being greedy in this conflict. It would be survival of the greediest if all of the parties were attacking each other for the same end goal, and one went far enough to win the grand prize. But, don't forget that Elephants are being hunted for the meat as well. Just to be eaten and not used for monetary value as much. But elephant most likely fetches a wonderful cost for their meat as well. I see your point, but I still don't see how that justifies people driving the elephant into potential extinction, as according to what I've read, it's mainly poachers that are driving this animal into potential extinction. You are right in that people do hunt elephants for their meat, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simping For Hina Posted May 19, 2016 Report Share Posted May 19, 2016 I am not trying to justify anything. I am also not condoning what they're doing, I am pretty indifferent to it. As long as the whole animal, or most of it is used, then there really isn't much issue except for the fact that their disrupting an ecosystem. Which, is more of a problem if you take an animal out of it and put it into a new one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutant Monster RAEG-HAPYP Posted May 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2016 I am not trying to justify anything. I am also not condoning what they're doing, I am pretty indifferent to it. As long as the whole animal, or most of it is used, then there really isn't much issue except for the fact that their disrupting an ecosystem. Which, is more of a problem if you take an animal out of it and put it into a new one.Fair enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
(GigaDrillBreaker) Posted May 20, 2016 Report Share Posted May 20, 2016 Poaching elephants is hilariously lucrative, considering that the more that you kill, the rarer ivory becomes. No wonder poachers are getting on that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
♪ ♪Aria ♪ ♪ Posted May 21, 2016 Report Share Posted May 21, 2016 Ivory is the main point of predicament here......Is there any way to replace Ivory with a similar synthetic material? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trebuchet MS Posted May 21, 2016 Report Share Posted May 21, 2016 Ivory is the main point of predicament here......Is there any way to replace Ivory with a similar synthetic material? Synthetic ivory? That's something to think about. But won't that have little effect on the perceived value of actual ivory? Maybe it will lower the demand a little, but it's not a complete ivory substitute. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
♪ ♪Aria ♪ ♪ Posted May 21, 2016 Report Share Posted May 21, 2016 But won't that have little effect on the perceived value of actual ivory? Maybe it will lower the demand a little, but it's not a complete ivory substitute.I agree that synthetic materials lacks the unique characteristics of it's original, but it might be our chance to lower the risk of extinction and save the elephants......even thought the value might be drastically different. Let this resonate to all poachers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susie Posted May 21, 2016 Report Share Posted May 21, 2016 No, synthetic ivory wont do anything except make Ivory more accessible to the mainstream public who cant afford true Ivory. People with the right money will still want real Ivory tusks no matter what. Even if the value isnt drastically different people with money will want the real one because it feels better to people to have the real deal infront of them and not the replacement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
♪ ♪Aria ♪ ♪ Posted May 22, 2016 Report Share Posted May 22, 2016 Even if the value isnt drastically different people with money will want the real one because it feels better to people to have the real deal infront of them and not the replacement.I agree with this statement, rich people will be able to tell the real one from it's "phony" counterpart easily, and they will choose the best of course.....This is just an idea to help, but I expect it won't achieve success Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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