The rate of elephant poaching in Eastern Africa has increased, in recent years, rising to levels that could threaten the local population. In the last seven years, an estimated 144,000 African elephants were illegally killed for their ivory. On average, one elephant was killed every 45 minutes in Tanzania alone causing their population to decline by 60%, to 43,000 animals. The ivory trade in Africa has been associated with the arms trade. Across Africa, the struggle against poachers costs the lives of around 100 wildlife rang¬ers per year.