What will happen to the carcass of a poached African elephant?

It would have led to agonizing pain, dehydration and eventually starvation. As tragic as this young elephant's demise is, it will not be for naught. His death will sustain life for thousands of animals and insects. More than 5 million calories will not go to waste; but will be recycled back into the African environment. read more

The fact they're traveling together suggests this is a mother and her adolescent son. A leopard would normally drag its prey high up into a tree, but this carcass is too heavy even for these powerful animals. They remain near the carcass until dawn, then vanish back into the bush. read more

In 2008, conservationists warned that African elephants would become extinct by 2020 if widespread poaching continued. Young says that given the current rate of slaughter, he's "absolutely convinced" that African elephants could indeed be annihilated in the next six years. read more

Vulcan’s* Great Elephant Census gathered detailed statistics over two years by flying over and counting herds of elephants as they roam the plains beneath. Dead elephants are counted too. A “carcass rate” (the ratio of living to dead) of more than 8% indicates poaching at a high enough level to cause the population to decline. read more