The trigger man, or the man who actually shoots the elephant, gets $10 per pound of tusk. If he shoots a typical female with two 25-pound tusks, he makes $500. Since the average annual income in Tanzania is under $2,000, a man makes more by shooting four elephants in a few days than by working all year. Little does the trigger man know -- that same pair of tusks is being cut up, carved into trinkets and sold for $18,000 per pound in China.
The sad part is that the starving Tanzanian villager needs to make money somehow, for himself, his immediate family, and often his extended family, To him, $500 for an elephant is a lot of money. Although Tanzania has been an independent, peaceful democracy since the 1960's, its people are suffering:
Already, the Tanzanian government has created several Wildlife Management Areas in the rural areas around the national parks, and respected non-profit organizations such as the PAMS Foundation are helping the villagers get started. If you would like to help Tanzanian villagers rise out of poverty (and thereby save some elephants) go to the How You Can Help page.
The sad part is that the starving Tanzanian villager needs to make money somehow, for himself, his immediate family, and often his extended family, To him, $500 for an elephant is a lot of money. Although Tanzania has been an independent, peaceful democracy since the 1960's, its people are suffering:
- The minimum wage is $1.38 per hour.
- The minimum wage for people in agricultural services is $138 per month.
- The minimum wage for people in health services is $64 per month.
- 82% of households do not have electricity.
- 29% of families walk more than 1/2 mile to get drinking water.
- Primary school attendance is 77%.
- Secondary school attendance is 29%.
- 5% of the population is HIV positive.
- 8% of the children are orphans.
- 25% of households are led by single women.
Already, the Tanzanian government has created several Wildlife Management Areas in the rural areas around the national parks, and respected non-profit organizations such as the PAMS Foundation are helping the villagers get started. If you would like to help Tanzanian villagers rise out of poverty (and thereby save some elephants) go to the How You Can Help page.