TUSKLESSNESS IN AFRICAN ELEPHANTS - A FUTURE TREND

In the South Luangwa National Park and the adjacent Lupande Game Management Area, located in Zambia's Eastern Province, the fraction of adult tuskless female elephants increased from 10.5% in 1969 to 38.2% in 1989, apparently as a direct result of selective illegal ivory hunting. From 1989 to 1993, the fraction of adult tuskless females declined from 38.2% to 28.7%, as a result of immigration of a relatively larger fraction of tusked females from adjacent Game Management Areas. Tusklessness appears to run in families and is sex-linked.