“Elephants are among the world’s most charismatic mega fauna and our largest living land mammals. However, the survival of Africa’s elephants is threatened by continuing demand for ivory desired for trinkets, religious statues, ornaments and accessories from Far Eastern Countries. As a result, elephant poaching is rife across Africa, with elephants being killed even in supposed safe and protected areas. The result is the unsustainable slaughter of one elephant every 15 minutes, decimating populations and damaging ecosystems. This report looks at the financial value of elephants; alive. Every year, thousands of tourists travel to African nations to see elephants, yet without protective regulations, these nations can become devoid of the very animals which the hordes of eager tourists have come to see. This report finds that alive, elephants present a huge revenue stream to local economies through tourism and, in the long term, elephants are worth significantly more roaming the world’s
savannahs and forests than with their tusks sitting on a mantlepiece or adorning someone’s wrist. Protecting elephants makes monetary sense. Data of this type can be used to show key decision makers that elephant conservation is a far more viable economic proposition than the ivory trade. It’s a powerful incentive to decision makers in charge of our natural resources to protect the species against rampant poaching. Referring to wild animals as ‘economic commodities’ has created controversy in the past
but where policy is determined by the value of an object, it’s time to give the elephant a fair footing. We must recognise the need to realise the value of our wildlife and environmental heritage in order to pass policies that safeguard against their destruction. Policy makers will not pass effective measures without tangible benefits to society, yet so far the discussion has seemly only focused on the consumptive value of an elephant, it’s tusks. We need to look at the animal alive. Arguments to protect Africa’s elephants have typically been based on emotive and environmental reasons – their cognitive abilities, their benefit to the wider environment and their ancient beginnings. To many decision makers, this might be enough. But we must reach those that balance the purse strings to make effective policies happen. Protecting elephants makes economic sense, whether you’re responsible for a reserve in Tanzania or a National Park in Kenya — if elephants live, tourists will come and economies
can be boosted. It’s another argument as to why we must save elephants and a financially compelling one.”