Did you know that, according to the World Elephant Day website, elephant numbers have dropped by 62 per cent over the last decade, and they could be extinct by the end of the next decade?
Why World Elephant Day? Because the world’s elephants are in trouble and they need our help …
Poachers seeking ivory, meat and body parts kill an estimated 100 African elephants each day. Approximately only 400 000 have survived. An insatiable lust for ivory products in the Asian market makes the illegal ivory trade extremely profitable, and has led to the slaughter of tens of thousands of African elephants.
Between 2010 and 2014, the price of ivory in China has tripled, driving illicit poaching through the roof. If the elephants are to survive, the demand for ivory must be reduced drastically. Since 2011, the world has been losing more elephants than the population could reproduce, threatening the future of African elephants across the continent. Bull elephants with big tusks are the main targets and their numbers have diminished to less than half of the females. Female African elephants also are killed for their tusks, with terrible consequences for the stability of elephant societies, leaving an increasing number of orphaned baby elephants.
In light of Elephant Appreciation Day, which is today (22 September), the News had the opportunity to spend a morning with Demara and Nzeve, two majestic African elephants that live at Askari Game Lodge in Hekpoort. Both elephants were earmarked to be killed, but were rescued and now live a fulfilling and a very natural life at the lodge. Nzeve is the eldest of the two and will be turning 21 soon, with Demara being 19 years old.
Askari offers visitors the opportunity to take part in their Elephant Experience where one can interact with Demara and Nzeve.
Here are some interesting facts about elephants:
• At the turn of the 20th century, there were a few million African elephants and about 100 000 Asian elephants. Today, there are an estimated 450 000 to 700 000 African elephants and between 35 000 and 40 000 wild Asian elephants.
• Their diet consists of grasses, leaves, bamboo, bark and roots. Elephants are also known to eat crops like banana and sugarcane. Adult elephants can eat around 180kg of food per day.
• Elephants form deep family bonds and live in tight matriarchal family groups of related females called a herd.
• Elephants are extremely intelligent animals and have memories that span many years.
• Recent discoveries have shown that elephants can communicate over long distances by producing a sub-sonic rumble that can travel over the ground faster than sound through air.
• Their gestation period its 22 months.
Contact Askari Game Lodge on 08611 48866 or 082 416 1340 or visit their website www.askarilodge.co.za to enquire about their Elephant Experience.
