Colorado State University Professor George Wittemyer has dedicated his scientific career to research that is helping to combat poachers and conserve one of Earth's most noble species - elephants. In 2014, Wittemyer's research found that an estimated 100,000 elephants in Africa were killed for their ivory between 2010 and 2012, and the poaching epidemic is driving population declines of the world's wild African elephants on the order of 2 percent to 3 percent a year.
"Our research highlights the increasing decimation of one of the planet's most charismatic and intelligent species - and illegal killing is being driven by conspicuous consumption, for trinkets," said Wittemyer. "The world must realize this crisis and do something to save this important species before it is lost forever."
Wittemyer's research is helping inform policymakers and potential ivory consumers around the world about the detrimental impacts of the illegal ivory trade on the elephant species, and he hopes the information from his findings will help stem ivory demand and prevent the continued decline of elephant populations. You can help save the elephants by supporting continued conservation research at Colorado State University.