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Battle for the Elephants Education

Learn About the Illegal Ivory Trade and Africa's Elephants

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Photograph by J.J. Kelley
Battle for the Elephants, a National Geographic film, explores the brutal slaughter of African elephants for their tusks, fueled largely by China’s demand for ivory. The film tells the story of how this charismatic and majestic land animal today faces market forces driving the value of its tusks to levels once reserved for gold.

This collection of short videos and educational resources provides information about elephants and the illicit trade that is undermining their future. Investigative journalists Bryan Christy and Aidan Hartley take you on a journey that examines the supply and demand sides of the ivory trade. With Christy you travel to China to see the thriving ivory market and the ancient tradition of ivory carving. Hartley takes you to Africa, where he gains rare access to ivory stockpiles and goes undercover to expose the criminal ivory trade network. You also witness the devastating effects of poaching on the behavior of surviving elephants.

Generous support for this education program provided by David H. Koch, Scott Asen, and the Charles Englehard Foundation.

Elephant Poaching and the Illegal Ivory Trade

These videos examine the illegal ivory trade, China's growing demand for ivory, and the devastating effects of poaching on Africa's elephant population.

  • Battle for the Elephants12-crop.jpg

    A Natural History of the African Elephant

    Explore the physical characteristics and social behaviors of the African elephant.

  • Craft or Species-3-crop.jpg

    The Economics of the Illicit Ivory Trade

    Explore the issues of supply and demand that fuel the illegal trade in ivory, and go undercover to learn about the rising prices of black-market ivory.

  • The History of the Ivory Trade-1.jpg

    The History of the Ivory Trade

    Trace the history of the ivory industry around the world and recognize the deadly connection between the illegal trade in tusks and the decline of the elephant population.

  • Trafficking poached Ivory-4.jpg

    Trafficking Poached Ivory

    Investigative journalists tell the story of who's selling and who's buying in the global ivory trade—and look at the ease with which ivory is smuggled out of Africa.

  • Craft or Species.jpg

    Craft or Species

    Explore the longstanding Chinese tradition of ivory carving and consider which is more valuable: the craft or the species.

  • Tanzania's Stockpiled Ivory.jpg

    Tanzania's Ivory Stockpile

    Investigative journalist Aidan Hartley gains rare access to Tanzania's tons of stockpiled ivory, making him and his camera crew the first ever to document Tanzania's "ivory room."

  • Altered Elephant Behavior-1.jpg

    Altered Elephant Behavior

    Researchers in the Selous Game Reserve document the impact poaching is having on the elephant population—an impact that is seen in the changes in elephant behavior.

  • Elephant Conservation with Richard Bonham.jpg

    Partners in Elephant Conservation

    Discover an elephant conservation success story that employs game rangers from within the local community to stop poachers.

Partner

Watch the Program

Learn More About the Issues

  • Blood Ivory: Ivory Worship

    Gain insight into the factors behind the demand for ivory that fuels the slaughter of African elephants.

  • Photo: Herd of elephants in tall grass

    A Voice for Elephants

    This National Geographic blog serves as a resource for information and a forum for discussion about the plight of African elephants.

Map Africa

Explore Africa

Get to Know Elephants

  • Elephants

    Learn all about elephants and gain insight into the risks they face.

  • Photo: African elephant

    African Elephant

    African elephants are the largest of Earth's land mammals. Explore African elephants' natural history, physical features, and traits.


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