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As a massive poaching crisis rages across Africa, we are forced to at least consider the almost inconceivable, yet unfortunately very real, prospect of a world without wild elephants. The African elephant is currently listed as vulnerable, but surging demand for illegal ivory in Asian markets has resulted in the slaughter of 100,000 elephants in the last three years. During 2011 alone, it is estimated that one in 12 elephants was killed for its ivory and Central Africa lost 64% of its elephants in the last decade.
We admire elephants in part because they demonstrate what we consider the finest human traits: empathy, self-awareness, and social intelligence. But the way we treat them puts on display the very worst of human behavior.”
― Graydon Carter

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