The illegal ivory trade has killed hundreds of thousands of elephants, causing mass suffering and traumatizing surviving herd members. Anti-poaching success protects both welfare and conservation.
The welfare cost of elephant poaching extends far beyond the individuals killed. Elephants have been documented showing grief behaviors over dead companions, returning to examine bones of deceased family members, and showing behavioral trauma following attacks. Orphan calves rescued from poaching scenes show signs of post-traumatic stress that can persist for years. The destruction of matriarchal social structures by selectively targeting large-tusked females - who are typically the oldest, most experienced herd leaders - cascades through surviving groups. Anti-poaching enforcement that protects elephant populations therefore prevents both direct killing and the downstream social and welfare consequences for survivors.