Question

Elephants eat 300 pounds of food per day. They flourished in Africa when they could roam over huge areas of land, eating the vegetation in one area and then moving on so that the vegetation could renew itself. Now the area over which elephants can roam is declining. Without some action, elephants will become extinct. What actions might save elephants? What are the costs and benefits of such actions?

Short answer

Answer: Some possible actions to save elephants include expanding their habitat, implementing conservation programs, providing supplementary food sources, and raising awareness to reduce demand for elephant products. Each action has its costs and benefits, such as land acquisition costs and increased biodiversity for habitat expansion, funding and improved ecosystems for conservation programs, procuring expenses and reduced human-elephant conflicts for supplementary food sources, and awareness campaign costs and reduced poaching for raising awareness. It is important to analyze the potential impacts of each solution and find a balance between preserving elephant populations and minimizing economic and social impacts on human communities.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the Problem

Since elephants are eating 300 pounds of food per day, they need a large area to find enough food. But the land over which elephants can roam is decreasing, leading to a potential threat to their survival. The task is to suggest actions to save elephants and analyze their costs and benefits.

Identify Possible Actions

Some possible actions to save elephants might include: 1. Expanding their habitat 2. Implementing conservation programs 3. Providing supplementary food sources 4. Raising awareness to reduce demand for elephant products

Analyzing the Cost and Benefits of Expanding their Habitat

One option to save elephants is to expand their habitat, which can be done by creating protected areas and corridors for elephants to migrate and find food. The costs of this action include land acquisition and management costs, potential conflicts with human populations, and loss of land for other uses like agriculture. The benefits include preserving elephant populations, increasing biodiversity, and promoting ecotourism.

Analyzing the Cost and Benefits of Implementing Conservation Programs

Another option is to implement conservation programs such as anti-poaching initiatives, monitoring of elephant populations, and reforestation efforts. The costs include funding for these programs, manpower, and potential conflicts with local communities. The benefits, however, would lead to a decline in poaching, increase in elephant populations, improved ecosystems, and potential economic benefits through tourism.

Analyzing the Cost and Benefits of Providing Supplementary Food Sources

Providing supplementary food sources for elephants can help in areas where food is scarce. The costs of this action involve the expenses related to procuring and distributing food and the possibility of decreasing elephants' natural foraging abilities. But by providing extra food, the elephants can maintain a healthy population and reduce the human-elephant conflicts caused by hungry elephants searching for food.

Analyzing the Cost and Benefits of Raising Awareness to Reduce Demand for Elephant Products

Reducing the demand for elephant products such as ivory and elephant skin can significantly decrease poaching. To raise awareness about the consequences of the elephant trade, educational campaigns and strict regulations can be implemented. The costs include funding for awareness campaigns, law enforcement, and potential loss of income for those involved in the trade. Benefits include a reduction in poaching, increased survival chances for elephants, and ethical considerations. In conclusion, various actions can be taken to save elephants, and each option has costs and benefits that must be analyzed before implementation. It is crucial to find a balance between preserving elephant populations while causing minimal economic and social impacts on human communities.