Thread Rating:
  • 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Poaching has led to tuskless elephants
#1
In the elephant population in Mozambique there is a mutation that leads to tuskless elephants. It was not a common mutation. However poaching killed many elephants with tusks. This left the tuskless females to breed and the frequency of tusklessness increased. Now there are many tuskless elephants.
The only down side is the cause of tusklessness. It is a genetic mutation that prevents tusks forming in female offspring and causes make offspring to die before birth.  So the herd is safer from poachers, but it has a shortage of males.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/...ants-study

This is a good thing if it protects the elephants from poachers. I am sure they could bring in male elephants from somewhere else. It could potentially wipe out the species if it spread and no males survived. The whole situation needs to be watched carefully.
[Image: IMG_9091.JPG]
Catherine

Reply
#2
The issue of elephants being killed for their tusks has never been properly tackled. There are some protection teams, but not enough. Poaching even happens in reserves.

The tuskless phenomenon may get worse, unless more is done to protect elephants from being slaughtered for their tusks. Healthy male stock is essential.
Reply
#3
Elephants evolved with tusks for a reason. Tuskless elephants may find life harder. Any mutation that kills off the males is definitely a problem. The herd may seem safe from poaching for now, but in the long term there may be some serious health concerns. Certainly the lack of healthy males is going to be a problem.

It would be better to deal with poaching and find a way to end it. That way elephant herds can return to a normal balance.
For the good of all of us, the illegal wildlife trade has to stop.
[Image: IMG_9091.JPG]
Catherine

Reply


Forum Jump:


Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)
Created by Zyggy's Web Design