At one time many elephants were hunted for their huge ivory tusks. The ivory tusks were a great treasure to people making many ivory sculptures and valuable pieces. During the years of 1980 to 1990 the elephant population in Africa dropped for 1.2 million to 625,000 elephants. Sometime during this time period, as many as 300 elephants were killed a day. In 1989 a convention was held to help the elephants. At the convention they put the elephants on the endangered species list. Over 75 countries supported the elephants and because of their actions elephants are now making a strong come back in the wild. They are also killed for their elephant hides which are sold as trinkets.
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