In a world where the problems of greatest concern center around the homeless, the ill and the underprivileged, few would take the time to think about the world’s wildlife. After all, we as humans have more important things to worry about, right?

However, problems with ecosystems around the world do affect us directly. A case in point is the depletion of rain forests and_though maybe a bit less severe_the extinction of wild species.

One such species that faces existence only as stuffed displays in museums is the African elephant. The number of elephants on the continent has diminished rapidly over the years, and the reason is the illegal poaching of the creatures for ivory, a trade that used to net Japan millions of dollars every year.

Now, that trend might be reversed. Thanks to an international group of environmentalists, the African is now a protected species. This measure should protect the species from further exploitation or extinction, and the ivory trade has been a dealt a long-overdue blow.

This is but another victory for those who have the foresight to realize that we as a species are not immortal, that with each falling species we come that much closer to the final day ourselves. Part of the reason for protecting such species is to indicate to man that something has to be done to protect a world where man and beast must co-exist. Man, in all his infinite wisdom, is not alone on this planet.