In the past three generations, the Asian elephant population has declined by 50%, leaving only around 20,000 to 40,000 left in the wild (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Staff). Despite Asian elephants unique characteristics, some people see them just as money. They’re willing to take away Asian elephants’ habitats and even their lives just for a profit. Many countries are working on changing this and hopefully conserving the Asian elephants we have left. Asian elephants have many different qualities making them very special animals, however, these qualities make them targets for hunters and victims of habitat loss; but, luckily there are different projects countries are doing to help these innocent elephants.
According to Smithsonian's National
Fish & Wildlife Staff, Asian elephants are endangered because of many different factors such as loss of habitat, poaching, and human/elephant conflict. The population of Asian elephants has gone down to roughly 20,000 - 40,000 left in the wild. In the past three generations, the Asian elephant population has decreased by close to 50%. Countries where Asian elephants live, have growing human population. With a growing population, comes the need for more room to build homes, businesses, and farms. This new construction is taking away from Asian elephants habitats. Losing their habitats, mean the Asian elephants have to find somewhere new to find food. Some Asian elephants find food in people’s farms. This causes farmers to try and defend their food and families by killing the elephant. People also try to go for the ivory in Asian elephants tusks. The ivory in their tusks is very expensive. The ivory in their tusks is used for making different things. Some people paint it and use it to for carving. Their ivory in their tusks is also used for making piano/organ keys, billiard balls, and other decorative materials (Encyclopedia.com). Asian elephants are killed for their tusks along with their meat and skin. They are also taken and sold for live trade (World Wide Fund