The elephant is something worth marveling at, there is no animal like it. Between their size (the largest land mammal alive today), the familiar emotions they share with humans, such as mourning their dead, or their unique features like their large trunks, tusks and ears, it n There is nothing comparable. These are just a few reasons why this large and beautiful animal should not be taken for granted in today's society. Unfortunately, they range from illegal poaching for ivory to human-elephant conflicts over land use and environmental factors; they have become endangered. In the early 1800s, there were an estimated 26 million elephants roaming our planet. At this time, many animals were at their peak, thriving; To understand the extent to which humans have had a significant impact on the elephant population, one must take into account its steep decline. As early as the early 1900s, elephant hunting while on safari in Africa was viewed with great esteem. Over time, ivory from elephant tusks began to be sold largely for piano keys, billiard balls, brush handles, and combs. As the popularity of these products increased, mass production increased and soon, by 1913, the United States alone was importing 200 tons of ivory each year. To put into perspective the sharp drop in population since the early 1900s, the population was initially around 10 million and by 1979 it was estimated at 1.3 million. The ivory trade is devastating for elephants and is only growing over time despite the efforts of the authorities. According to Elephant Daily, an elephant is killed every fifteen minutes, and over the past four years, poachers have killed up to a third of the population. By 1989 the population had fallen again to 600,000 individuals and this is where...... middle of paper ......d species, such as elephants, which were seen as having a political advantage , economic or land use on the local population. (9) Crop damage in particular has caused enormous pressure on humans and elephants, farmers need to protect their lively hoods and elephants need a place to move freely without being a burden. Efforts are being made by many organizations to save elephants, but many factors are at play and the future looks bleak for these unique mammals. With awareness of the ivory trade increasing, especially among citizens of China and some other Asian countries, a decline may occur in the future. The human-elephant conflict is a little more difficult to resolve, but that doesn't mean it's impossible. However, we must act now and at a rapid pace, otherwise we could find ourselves in twenty years in a world where elephants will only be seen in captivity..