Elephant Conservation

Interview with Dr. Elizabeth Freeman

at George Mason University

 

Q: Are there any biological componets to elephants that are necessary to save their species? 

 

A:  Ensuring strong reproductive success. In the wild there isn’t much of an issue. Challenge with poaching is that they are poaching the oldest animals because of they have the biggest tusks. This is a problem because the oldest male has sired the most young so you’re removing a critical section of the gene pool. Social hierarchy, elders have the status. When the older males are removed, there’s more fighting against the younger males and thus disrupts the social behavior of the herd and ultimately negatively impact the reproduction from the male standpoint. Poaching the oldest females, females are the ones with all the knowledge that guides the family and directs the family to resources, food and water. They know where to go seasonally. Younger females do not reproduce as well when they lose their knowledgeable elders. Protecting the eldest of elephants will help ensure the species long term.

 

Q: How does the herd decide who’s next in line after the passing of the matriarch?

 

A: Passed down the family line, typically eldest daughter, it could be one of the matriarchs sisters. Depends on the age structure. If the matriarch dies, the family could splinter and each oldest will step up or the sibling takes over. We’re not sure we fully understand that yet.

 

Q: How does the poaching affect their evolution?

 

A: An example would be in South Africa, Addo Elephant National Park, was heavily poached in the early 1900s and they removed most the big tusked animals from the population. Females typically don’t have tusks now, which is unusual for African elephants. There has been a direct link between poaching, big tuskers and loss of tusks in that population. 80 years later, the population started with 13, with either no or small tusks and now over 500 indiuvals, males are still smaller tusks than usual and only 8 females have tusks. Only one family line that has small tusks. So they introduced males from other areas with big tusks to try and bring the gene back in.

 

Q: Is it better for the elephants to have no tusks, to become less of a target for poachers and the ability for a chance to survive?

 

A: From that individual standpoint, yes, because they won’t be targeted for poaching. There’s mixed ideas as to whether how crucial their tusks are for survival. Asian elephant females don’t have tusks but their population numbers are a lot lower. Clearly they are still surviving.