Those who have traveled to Southeast Asia are familiar with elephant tourism. Elephants are easily seen at tourist attractions and zoos. But elephants are facing extinction.

The IUCN Red List classifies the Asian elephant as an endangered species (EN). This means that they could face extinction in the near future. It is estimated that there are currently around 50,000 Asian elephants, and their population is declining.

The above photo shows the changes in the habitat of Asian elephants. Asian elephants, which used to live widely in the light areas in the past, now only live in the dark areas. The decline in Asian elephant habitat has been rapid since the 1700s. It is said that as much as 3.3 million square kilometers have decreased. This area began to be developed as it came under colonial rule, and at the same time, its habitat decreased.

Habitat loss is a problem, but what threatens Asian elephants more is the act of ivory trading. Elephant ivory is often processed and sold as jewelry. Ivory is sold for over 2 million won per kilogram. Because of this, there are many poachers who target elephant ivory. Illegal ivory trade has been a problem since the past, and in 1989, international trade in ivory was banned, but poachers have not stopped trading ivory. Nowadays, elephant ivory is also traded online.

Elephant tusks vary in length, but poachers have hunted elephants with strong, long tusks. As a result, many elephants with strong tusks have died, and as a result, the number of elephants born without tusks has increased. In the past, 4% of elephants were born without tusks, but that number has risen to 30% today. Even elephants born with tusks are often born with short tusks instead of strong, long ones. This is a research result that shows how much ivory poaching has been done on a large scale. Not only elephant ivory, but also leather and tail hair are traded, making humans the natural enemy of elephants.

Elephant tours, where tourists ride on the back of elephants and go to tourist attractions, are now considered a must-do in Thailand. Elephant tourism can be a means to prevent the extinction of elephants if it is well-managed, but it can easily put elephants at risk. Last year, a shocking photo of an elephant that had been carrying tourists for 25 years was released in Thailand. The sight of the elephant's spine collapsing was shocking, but the fact that the elephant's owner abandoned the elephant after it could no longer carry tourists was even more shocking. The elephant is being protected by the Thai Wildlife Friends Foundation.

Elephants are a typical large animal. Since they are much bigger than humans, it may seem like there is no problem for them to carry people on their backs, but even big elephants can't help but feel stress when weight is constantly applied from above.

Elephants are considered very sacred animals in Hinduism. Among the Hindu gods, ‘Ganesha’ has the form of a human with an elephant head. They also dress elephants in colorful clothes and have processions.

Elephants may be very familiar animals to humans. Elephants are a symbol of good luck, but aren't humans just receiving good luck from them without giving anything back? It's time to return good luck to elephants who have been sacrificed for human pleasure and economic gain.