By Mona Delgado, age 10 and IndyKids staff
Researchers at Princeton University have discovered that many African elephants are evolving to not have their signature look: tusks. During the Mozambique Civil War, from 1977 to 1992, humans killed so many elephants that the species has evolved to become tuskless.
Researchers working in southern Africa have proven that African elephants can understand basic human gestures like pointing.
In 2011 alone approximately 17,000 elephants were killed in Africa for their ivory tusks. Poachers ship ivory to Asia and other markets where they are sold illegally.
In September 2012, in Garamba National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 22 elephants were slaughtered for their tusks.
Animal rights groups and Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus went to court in February to decide if the circus is violating the Endangered Species Act by mistreating elephants.
Jenny has suffered from depression and panic attacks.
