murdered elephant produces 22 pounds of ivory. The calculation is that in one year over 31,500 elephants are illegally killed and the number is increasing. 2011 saw the highest volume of illegal ivory seized since global records began in 1989 so this problem has not been fixed by the Japan Experiment and legalizing ivory trade. Even though tusks are supposed to be an elephant ' s weapon for protection, in the ivory trade it is why they are murdered.
A rhino being safely dehorned to protect it from poachers.