Can we save the last Asian "mammoths"?

• Prize
  Silver in Press/Nature/Environmental
• Photographer
  George Dian Balan, Belgium

One of the greatest challenges faced by Asian elephants today is the loss of genetic diversity by the elimination of big tuskers. Did you know that studies in Southern India by Dr Sukumar show that the longer the tusks, the healthier the elephant?
Time is running out for the last Asian great tuskers. There is only one viable population preserving big ivory genetics left in the wild. Most of the captive big tuskers are kept isolated and did not father any babies. If we do not act quickly, very soon the only places we will see them will be museums or photography books.