The illegal ivory trade drives the poaching of tens of thousands of elephants annually. For each elephant killed, the suffering extends to surviving herd members who display grief and trauma responses.
Elephant poaching causes direct suffering through lethal and non-lethal methods including snares, poisoning, and shooting. Surviving elephants whose family members have been killed show long-term behavioural changes including hypervigilance, abnormal aggression, and disrupted social structures. The social and cognitive complexity of elephants means that the welfare cost of poaching extends far beyond individual animals. Demand reduction in consumer markets is the most effective prevention strategy.