Elephant poaching may be reducing, but the picture remains bleak

It is undoubtedly good news that the rate of elephant poaching in Africa has declined, as new figures indicate, but the animals are still being mercilessly hunted in unsustainable numbers

Carcasses are left to rot after poachers have taken the tusks (JWK Safaris/Facebook)

Elephants should not be hunted. But despite a ban on the international trade in ivory, a colossal black market exists.

The impact is devastating. To satisfy demand, which mostly comes from China, around 10,000 to 15,000 elephants are slaughtered every year – or roughly 40 a day.

No other part of these huge animals is used by poachers, and the carcasses are left to rot.