Even with strict protection, recovery would be slow, since the species has a 22-month gestation period and a long spacing between pregnancies. The book The End of the Game documents the gruesome tragedy in Kenya's Tsavo National Park, where elephants were allowed to become too abundant. This process of desertification affects elephants, which are largely confined to national parks or reserves in this region. Unfortunately, there's still more bad news. Most of Africa's older elephants have been killed for their younger tusks, leaving younger, inexperienced animals to fend for themselves.
Orphaned calves are especially vulnerable.
Remember, elephant herds are led by older, wiser cows which pass their knowledge on to new generations. About the only good news in the African elephant's corner is the fact that the species is in little demand as a beast of burden. While African elephants have been trained and used as draft animals, they have never been popularly used as Asian elephants have. Desperate times breed desperate measures. Guards now patrol Africa's national parks, sometimes shooting poachers on sight.