I'm starting to get a bit confused...yesterday I was reading about how the elephant population in Africa was beginning to be a threat to civilians, now were fighting to save them? I'm a vegetarian, and am wholeheartedly against poaching, but you seem to be unsure about where you stand in regards to whether or not these creatures are overpopulated or underpopulated.

Laura, Hamilton, Canada

Really thats a bit rich and I draw the line !

If they cant do the right thing without having a white man
on the otherside of the planet pay for it then they deserve to
have no elephants.

.................

Lachlan, Sydney, NSW Australia

Its not about deserving or not deserving to have elephants. Rather, it should be about preservation of our planet. All things are connected - people, plants, animals - earth water and air. As we let elephants (and many other species) fade away we are simply adding to our own demise. We can't afford to be complacent just because the elephants are "over there" and are therefore "not our responsibility".

Elizabeth, Toronto, Canada

If it moves, shoot it,
If it tastes good eat it ... all of it... until it is all gone.
If you can sell it for a profit then by all means do so.
After all the creatures of the animal kingdon are less important than we superior human beings who know all, see all and can conquer all.
I feel sick reading these things. If the animals dare to fight back then they would be seen as pests and rogues. People just disgust me sometimes.

Karen, Adelaide, Australia

Its not only the government one has to look at who allows the legal trade of ivory. You can still purchase ivory on ebay. I contacted them once regarding this and they said they only allow trade on older pieces of ivory or those accuired by tribal groups. But truthfully its quite scary if you search ebay for ivory, fur, big cat, teeth oh as well as any of the items used for trapping you can find bear traps on ebay. So whos to blame we all are I say confront the govt but also boycott places like ebay that are not supporting your causes.

Eva, Boston, MA

If 23,000 is 5% of elephants, there are approximately 460,000 elephants. That is a healthy population, especially when the subject is such a large herbivore.

In some areas of Africa elephants are being culled because of overpopulation. A herd of elephant can destroy a huge amount of vegetation and farmland in a very short time.

While no one can condone poaching for ivory, this story is, as can be expected from the media, one-sided and agenda driven.

Christopher Engel, Dayton, OH, USA

And yet, the WWF two days ago advocated the reintroduction of cullling in the South African game parks to control the burgeoning elephant population, wtih resultant destruction of habitat.

Botswana has had similar success in preserving the animals.

I don't think the species is at present in danger of extinction; rather, that it is likely to be eliminated from certain areas.

Deon Irish, Cape Town,

I am so tired, when will the governments of the world wake up and try and stop the wholesale slaughter of these magnificent animals? Our governments sit back and allow whales to be harvested for so called scientific purposes by the Japanese, the absolutely cruel harvesting of bile from the bears of China and south East Asia. And of course the needless slaughter of these most beautiful elephants. Where does it end? It just goes on and on and on it’s so very, very sad. Oh well mother nature has her on way with dealing with recalcitrants such as Homo Sapiens …………we are destroying the world we live in and everything in it………she will have her day. It just reconfirms our decision not to have children………why bring a child into this world……a defeatist attitude I am sure, but I give up.

Phil, Melbourne, Australia

I am so tired, when will the governments of the world wake up and try and stop the wholesale slaughter of these magnificent animals? Our governments sit back and allow whales to be harvested for so called scientific purposes by the Japanese, the absolutely cruel harvesting of bile from the bears of China and south East Asia. And of course the needless slaughter of these most beautiful elephants. Where does it end? It just goes on and on and on it’s so very, very sad. Oh well mother nature has her on way with dealing with recalcitrants such as Homo Sapiens …………we are destroying the world we live in and everything in it………she will have her day. It just reconfirms our decision not to have children………why bring a child into this world……a defeatist attitude I am sure, but I give up.

Phil, Melbourne, Australia

Really thats a bit rich and I draw the line !

If they cant do the right thing without having a white man
on the otherside of the planet pay for it then they deserve to
have no elephants.

.................

Lachlan, Sydney, NSW Australia

I am in absolute shock at hearing this terrrible news. Elephants are one of the most amaziing animals in the world. Why can't these poachers see this? It saddens me as to what extent people go to,to make money. There should be harsher penalties to people caught doing this to these wonderful, amaziing, Majestic creatures, Maybe if someone caught poaching was sentenced to having one of his limbs removed. But as you said, the facts are covered up and the murderers get away with it. Elephants take such a long time to reproduce, and they are so large that they are easy targets. I would do anything to save the Elephant I wish all the wealthy people who live on this planet would think about the obsurdities that are happeniing with are beautiful animals, and put it into something positive. Money gived you a bit more power to do stuff. I am poor so I can only wish that things will get better for the Elephants. Maybe one day when my children are grown up I will go to Africa and help these beauiful creatures.

Melenie, Mullmbimby, NSW, Australia