This study explores how African savanna elephants can suffer from tusklessness or frequent tusk fractures. It’s important for conservation because tusks are not only valuable to elephants for defense and foraging, but they’re also a natural resource that, when managed sustainably through legal hunting, can benefit communities and conservation funding. Researchers found that tusklessness is more common in some elephant populations, possibly due to selective pressures like poaching or environmental stress. Fractured tusks are also common and can lead to pain, infections and reduced survival chances. Understanding how tusk damage or loss affects elephant health and behavior helps guide conservation practices, particularly when making decisions about selective trophy hunting or population management. Well-informed hunting quotas can support healthy herd genetics and structure, ensuring elephants remain strong, functional contributors to their ecosystems.
