MYSTERY OVER 7,30,000 MISSING JUMBOS

7,30,000 elephants are estimated to be missing from protected areas across Africa, a shocking conservation study reveals on Thursday.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

A third of the elephants’ precious refuges have fewer than five per cent of the animals they should be protecting – with “pervasive poaching” to blame.

NO DOOM AND GLOOM STATS

Yet researchers who have produced the astonishing figures say they should not be treated as “doom and gloom” statistics and believe their findings can go on to help conserve the planet’s largest land mammal.

FIGURE THIS 3,50,000

African elephants only are left roaming across 93 per cent of their range.

WAKE-UP CALL

Researchers say that with elephants not doing well even in protected areas, it means there is an imperative need to take action.