The illegal ivory trade drives elephant poaching, causing traumatic deaths and orphaned calves with lasting psychological harm.
Ivory poaching causes compound welfare harm: violent deaths of adults, often by whole family groups, and the traumatic separation of calves who frequently witness the slaughter. Orphaned elephant calves require years of intensive rehabilitation. Demand reduction in consuming countries is as essential as supply-side enforcement. Ivory is luxury aesthetics purchased at massive animal welfare cost.