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Hundreds of African elephant tusks that were seized in Congo.
The African Elephant is well on its way to becoming extinct due to extreme rises in poaching, even though it is illegal. Their big beautiful tusks lure poachers from all over the world wanting to make a lot of money buy killing elephants for their ivory tusks. Some people believe that the ivory from an elephant tusk have special powers to heal. That along with the fact that the ivory trade produces millions of dollars each year to these poaching businesses. 

Through the African Elephant Conservation Act created in 1988, elephant ivory imports are banned in the United States. However it is legal to buy, sell and transport African elephant ivory purchased before the ban. Punishments for the poaching of African elephants are not stiff enough to ensure that the Chinese immigrants will not be back in Africa killing these beautiful creatures. Illegal ivory sales can go for as much as $1,300 a pound which makes it that much harder to stomach the fact that the poacher's were only fined a combined $1,200. 

Your help is need to save the African elephant from extinction. Everyone can help save the African elephant by:

1- Learn about the African Elephant and spread the word to your family and friends about the need to save these beautiful creatures. You can be an advocate for the African elephant by speaking up for their conservation at community events. 


2- Adopt a African elephant! Who wouldn’t want to take home a cute elephant, protect it from the bad guys, and raise it as their own? OK, so that’s not quite realistic, but there are any number of organizations that offer elephant adoptions so that you get cute pictures of “your” elephant, and they get currency to fund their elephant conservation efforts.

Here are a few organizations that have adoption programs and are good places to start looking for that special pachyderm:



There are 5 other ways you can help save the African elephant:

1. Obviously, do not buy ivory. Don't sell it or wear it. New ivory is strictly banned, but antique ivory can be legally available for purchase. (The regulations are complicated; this is a good overview.) Ivory has traditionally been used for jewelry, billiard balls, pool cues, dominos, fans, piano keys and carved trinkets. Shunning antique ivory is a clear message to dealers that the material is not welcomed, and it's an easy way to show your solidarity with the elephants. 

2. Buy elephant-friendly coffee and wood. Coffee and timber crops are often grown in plantations that destroy elephant habitats. Make sure to buy Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified timber and certified fair coffee trade. 


3. Be aware of the plight of captive elephants. Historically, zoos and circuses have offered elephants a life of, basically, indentured servitude. Fortunately, the zoo industry is starting to wake up and is beginning to develop more elephant-friendly environments, yet they have a long way to go. Circuses, even further. Make a difference by boycotting circuses that use animals, and by boycotting zoos that offer insufficient space to allow elephants to live in social groups, and where the management style doesn’t allow them to be in control of their own lives. See ElephantVoices for more information.


4. Support conservation efforts. If only we could all be Jane Goodall or Dian Fossey, and move to the jungle or plains and thoroughly dedicate our lives to wildlife. Alas, for most of us that’s the stuff of daydreams. In the meantime, we can support the organizations that are actively committed to elephant preservation. There are many, but here are a few:
 


5. Get involved with Roots & Shoots. Founded in 1991 by Dr. Jane Goodall and a group of Tanzanian students, Roots & Shoots is a youth program created to incite positive change. There are hundreds of thousands of kids in more than 120 countries in the Roots & Shoots network, all working to create a better world. It’s a great way to get youth involved in conservation and pursue careers to help elephants and other wildlife.

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A family of African elephants that are in danger of being killed by poachers for their ivory tusks



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    Joey B


    I am Joey B and this is my blog. It was created while attending the University of Utah for my bachelor's degree in Sports Management. It is used for information reguarding my PRT courses- Electronic Marketing and International Tourism.  It may also contain information related to my favorite sports teams: Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Angels of Anahiem and the New York Giants.
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