African Elephants (Loxodonta africana) once roamed most of the sub-saharan continent. For the last 1000 years, and probably for much longer, they have been consistently hunted for their ivory which is softer than that of Indian elephants, and was exported eastward to Asia where it was carved into marriage bangles, figurines and objects d'art, and to Europe where it was made into billiard balls, piano keys, and furniture inlays to name but a few uses. During the 20th century, human expansion caused  elephant ranges to shrink, and added demand for ivory saw a dramatic rise in ivory prices thus threatening the existence of elephants. In many countries, systematic poaching to poaching to supply an illegal ivory trade almost decimated elephants so that, by 1980 most of Africa's once vast populations had disappeared creating world concern. Elephants are one of Africa's major renewable natural resources and a vital tourist attraction wherever they still exist.

 The large number of elephants that congregate  along Botswana's Chobe River during the dry season attract many thousands of tourists from across the world. Controlled Elephants hunting in Botswana by residents and by foreign visitors is a further source of revenue to Government and local communities.  And Sale by Government of naturally deceased elephant's ivory should, if sale is permitted, provide funds for their proper management. The Southern African region, and particularly Botswana , retain large and increasing elephants populations as opposed to many countries to the north where few elephants survive.In Botswana as described below, elephants now exceed now exceed the carrying capacity of land available to them.

Collectors Note: