Human-elephant conflicts are increasing where elephants trample crops in search of food. The huge demand for ivory was behind the decline of the African elephant, which fell from two million animals in 1970 to just 286,000 - 543,000 today. This bans all international trade in the species and its products. Not all countries, however, supported the ban. Elephants still face serious problems in many parts of Africa due to a continued demand for ivory and declining anti-poaching budgets.
Illegal killing is still widespread and even increasing in some countries.
Forests have been converted to agriculture, cutting off traditional migration routes and creating conflicts between elephants and humans. Only 38,000 - 49,000 wild Asian elephants survive today, mostly in India. There are also 16,000 domesticated elephants, widely used in the logging industry.