Estimates of illegally killed elephants in 2011
In 2011, approximately 7.4 per cent of the total elephant populations in African MIKE sites were killed illegally. This is a significant increase from 2010, when the average number of elephants killed was estimated to be 11,500. Healthy elephant populations have a natural annual growth rate of between 5 and 6 per cent (Dunham 2012), or a theoretical maximum of 7 per cent (Hanks 1973). Thus the 7.4 per cent estimated illegal off-take in 2011 indicates an unsustainable trend of elephants being killed faster than they can breed. If this trend continues over a number of years, current poaching levels will lead to significant population declines across much of the continent.
Year: 2013
From collection: Elephants in the Dust - The African Elephant Crisis
Cartographer: Riccardo Pravettoni