A male savannah elephant in Tarangire National Park in Tanzania. (Image by Robin Naidoo / WWF)
In just seven years, from 2007 to 2014, the elephant population in Africa has been reduced by 30 percent – in large part as a result of poaching for ivory. This decline, aside from its disastrous consequences for the species, can also bring about major economic losses. A new modelling study has estimated a loss of $25 million per year in the African tourism industry. Study authors calculated tourism revenue from visitors to elephant conservation areas, and found that benefits of elephant-related tourism exceed the anti-poaching costs in several African regions. They suggest eco-tourism as a viable alternative to the ivory industry to bring revenue, benefit local communities and preserve African elephant populations.
Authors:
Robin Naidoo, Brendan Fisher, Andrea Manica & Andrew Balmford
Canadian contributor:
Robin Naidoo, Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4
Original paper published in Nature Communications on November 1, 2016.
