Photo by beverlyjoubert | When an elephant is killed by poachers, the result isn’t just one fewer elephant in a population. The effects of its disappearance ripple through the herd, impacting members in complex and detrimental ways. Young calves that are orphaned, for example, will have lower chances of survival than their peers with living mothers —which means they too are at risk of becoming casualties. This compounds the original loss, and can accelerate the decline of entire populations. There is no doubt that the impacts of poaching are severe and far-reaching. The more we learn about them, the clearer the need for urgent action. #elephants #wildlife #elephantconservation