Wild African elephants could be extinct in a few decades

Elephants in Botswana
(Image credit: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

A new report presented at the Africa Elephant Summit in Bostwana warns that African elephants in the wild could be extinct in just a few decades. Wild elephant populations are rapidly declining because of poaching, which fuels the illegal market for ivory.

Experts from about 20 countries in Europe, Africa, and Asia attended the conservation summit, AFP reports. One expert estimated that wild African elephants could be extinct in 10 to 20 years.

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Meghan DeMaria

Meghan DeMaria is a staff writer at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked for USA Today and Marie Claire.