Elephant Poaching, Economics, and Inequality
The inherent paradox of elephant poaching and the economies of local communities.
By Henry Chen
Elephants face a severe threat: poaching. Not only does this issue affect the existence of these creatures, but it also has direct economic and social implications for their surrounding communities — for both the local ecosystem and the local human populations. In particular, elephant poaching is intimately connected to issues of economic inequality in surrounding regions like Western and Central Africa, where elephants are poached at the highest rates (Hauenstein et al., 2019).
Elephant poaching is primarily driven by the demand for ivory, which is used in the production of jewelry, decorative objects, and religious artifacts. According to a recent report by The Economist, the price of ivory has increased by almost six hundred percent over the last decade, which has led to an increase in poaching activities. Additionally, the demand for ivory is highest in Asia, where it is viewed as a status symbol and a valuable investment (Fobar, 2023). However, this demand has had a devastating impact on elephant populations in Africa, where they are hunted for their tusks. In addition, organized crime groups have entered the poaching business, making it more lucrative and harder to detect. These crime syndicates frequently use sophisticated techniques and equipment to track and ultimately kill these elephants (Fobar, 2023).
This is not to say all poaching is strictly for monetary greed. In fact, most elephant poaching is driven by poverty and economic hardship. In many countries where elephants are found, local communities rely on the illegal wildlife trade as a source of income. For some, poaching elephants is the only way to make ends meet. This is particularly true in areas where access to education and other economic opportunities is limited. It is not enough to just look at the issue of poaching from a criminalizing point of view; examining poverty and economic inequality as root causes of elephant poaching is both a viable — and necessary — approach.
This relationship is almost paradoxical. Simultaneously serving as a source of income for many impoverished people, elephant poaching can also perpetuate economic inequality. A recent Nature publication highlights this relationship, showing how poaching rates positively correlate with national corruption and poverty rates (Hauenstein et al., 2019). Illegal wildlife trade generates billions of dollars annually, but this revenue is not distributed evenly. Instead, it tends to benefit those at the top of the supply chain, such as organized criminal networks and corrupt government officials. Local communities who rely on poaching to make ends meet are often left with very little. As a result, the economic benefits of elephant poaching are concentrated within a small group of people, exacerbating existing economic inequalities.
This dynamic is particularly concerning because it creates a situation in which local communities are incentivized to continue poaching elephants, despite the long-term economic and ecological costs. These communities are often marginalized and lack access to other economic opportunities. The profits from elephant poaching may be their only way to survive. Consequently, addressing the economic inequality that drives elephant poaching is crucial for achieving long-term conservation goals.
Beyond an economic perspective, this paradox is also concerning from a cultural and social perspective. Elephants are a symbol of power, wisdom, and intelligence in many cultures around Africa. For the Kamba people of Kenya, elephants tell the story of how they sought wise advice and game to become a dominant force on the continent (Taylor, 2022). Similarly, elephant images are often used in religious and cultural ceremonies like for the god Ganesh in Hinduism, who is said to be the “remover of all obstacles” (Sundaram, 2018). The poaching of these animals is not just an environmental issue but also an assault on the heritage and traditions of the communities that revere them. The loss of these cultural icons can be devastating to local cultures and may lead to a decline in tourism, which is also a significant source of income for many countries. Declines in the tourism industry could further encourage people to shift towards illegal sources of income like poaching, perpetuating the issue at hand.
To combat elephant poaching effectively, we need to address its underlying causes. This includes obvious actions like organizing a concerted effort by governments, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector to raise awareness of the consequences of the illegal wildlife trade and to promote sustainable alternatives.
But these are just temporary solutions.
The only real, sustainable solution is to take a comprehensive approach that addresses both poverty and the unequal distribution of profits generated by the illegal wildlife trade. We need a two-pronged approach, one in which poachers lose all incentive to poach and surrounding communities can have access to other more sustainable industries to support their living. Reducing the demand for ivory in the market seems like a clear plan, as it would both disincentivize poaching and encourage local communities to pursue other industries for their living. But this is a tall task, as the demand for ivory is almost out of influence from conservationists and depends more on the demand for luxury goods. Efforts to combat elephant poaching must also take into account the economic impacts of declining elephant populations, particularly in areas where tourism is a significant source of income. Furthermore, we need to support the communities that live alongside elephants. Many of these communities rely on elephants for their livelihoods, and they can play an essential role in conserving elephant populations. By providing economic incentives for conservation, such as ecotourism, we can create a sustainable future for both elephants and local communities.
The question of whether these more prosperous local communities are achieved through reducing the demand for ivory or restructuring the economic distributions in these areas to focus on other industries is not clear — only time will tell. But what is certain is that if we don’t take action soon, there may not be any more elephants to try and save. And, surely, the impoverished people that currently rely on poaching for a living will continue to be exploited.
Citations
Asmelash, L., & Ahmed, S. (2019, June 6). African elephant poaching has declined, but study warns they are still vulnerable. CNN. Retrieved March 3, 2023, from https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/06/world/elephants-poaching-decrease-trnd/index.html
The Economist Newspaper. (n.d.). What causes elephant poaching? The Economist. Retrieved March 3, 2023, from https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2023/01/11/what-causes-elephant-poaching?utm_medium=cpc.adword.pd&utm_source=google&ppccampaignID=17210591673&ppcadID=&utm_campaign=a.22brand_pmax&utm_content=conversion.direct-response.anonymous&gclid=CjwKCAiA_vKeBhAdEiwAFb_nren91OWn9ilE64Kh_d1kA09QNyBvCEzaDXnyOwtwWQY_fW2hC51ogRoCdiwQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
Fobar, R. (2023, January 31). What drives elephant poaching? it’s not greed. Animals. Retrieved March 3, 2023, from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/what-drives-elephant-poaching-not-greed
Hauenstein, S., Kshatriya, M., Blanc, J., Dormann, C. F., & Beale, C. M. (2019). African elephant poaching rates correlate with local poverty, national corruption and Global Ivory price. Nature Communications, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-09993-2
Sundaram, D. (2018, September 18). Ganesha Chathurthi: The birth of the elephant-headed god. Ganesha Chathurthi: The Birth of the Elephant-Headed God. Retrieved March 3, 2023, from https://www.denverartmuseum.org/en/blog/ganesha-chathurthi-birth-elephant-headed-god
Taylor, R. (2022, August 9). Elephant Folklore in Religious Beliefs. Owlcation. Retrieved March 3, 2023, from https://owlcation.com/humanities/Elephant-Folklore
