Mali’s Elephants in Danger of Extinction

Humans are not the only ones affected by the ongoing instability in Mali: 19 rare elephants were killed this past month in the unstable Gourma region in the north of the country. The elephants, which have been hunted for their ivory, are estimated to be numbered at less than 350. Since the coup d’etat in 2012, Mali has been contested between French-backed government forces and a mix of Tuareg rebels and Islamist fighters. For years, this breed of elephants had largely been left alone; but the recent crisis may have led to an increase in poaching to support cash-strapped rebels. This puts the existence of these animals at risk, whose resilience to their harsh living conditions has continuously sparked the intrigue of the scientific community.

This particular group of elephants have been touted as the world’s toughest, as they inhabit a Sahel area near Timbuktu that is largely desolate and can reach temperatures as high as 122 Fahrenheit. In a recent study, biologists from the University of Oxford and the University of British Columbia tracked their movements via GPS over a period of two years. They estimated that these elephants travel across an area of over 12,000 square miles in search of food and water, which is believed to be the most distance travelled for any elephant species. Herds make this journey annually, starting in Mali and moving south into neighboring Burkina Faso during the rainy season in April.

Part of the Gourma elephants’ survival in spite of the odds can be attributed to their relatively benign relations with their human neighbors, as they have peacefully coexisted with the local Tuareg, Fulani and Dogon peoples for years. Furthermore, compared to most African elephants, they are more averse to human interaction. With their sharp sense of smell and sound, they can anticipate movement over a mile away and thus are aware of anything that is approaching. Because they also live in such a sparsely populated area, risk of running into trouble with people has been low.

Despite these advantages, political instability has put this population at risk. Even though the Gourma elephants’ ivory is considered inferior in quality, rising prices of the product has increased demand for their tusks. Although the Malian government has actively sought to protect these species, its resources are still very limited. With militant groups having a presence in the area, the ten park rangers that patrol an area of 1.25 million hectares are risking their lives when on duty. In addition, man-made climate change has created more erratic weather and increased competition between the elephants and local population for food and water.

Ongoing UN-backed negotiations between rebels and the government, which are being held in Algiers, show some promise. A peace deal is likely to include greater autonomy to the northern region of Mali that borders Gourma. Successful deliberations here could quell the insurgents’ desires for a new independent country. Despite hope that an agreement can be reached, fighting between both sides has escalated in recent weeks.

Preservation of these elephants is vital for the scientific community. They constitute 12% of the entire African elephant population and offer insight into the complexity of their migratory patterns. Being the only elephants in Mali, they have the potential to foster an ecotourism industry that would be more profitable than killing them for their ivory. Mali’s tourism industry was once an important sector of the economy, bringing in 200,000 people per year and generating approximately $20 million. However, the recent instability has severely dampened the attractiveness of the country as a vacation destination.

The future of this fascinating group of animals remains uncertain. Until the current political crisis is resolved, it will be difficult for the government to fight this spike in poaching. The support of the local people and NGOs like the Wild Foundation does offer hope, however. One must also keep in mind the resilience of these elephants: they have successfully proven in the past that they are capable of adapting to the worst possible environments.