Erica Strand answers “Elephants' tusks are mostly why they are...”

Melville Capps asked this question about Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel:

Elephants' tusks are mostly why they are killed by man. If we can remove their tusks, either by genetic modification (Safina said that about 1 in 100 elephants do not develop tusks) or by removing the tusks at a young age then there will be no tusks, no ivory, and little reason for man to kill elephants. There is precedent in hog farming. The tusks of young boars are removed. What do you think ?

Erica Strand Though it's possible that elephants could be fine without tusks, their jaw would be dangerously weakened. supporting teeth that big (tusks are teeth, …moreThough it's possible that elephants could be fine without tusks, their jaw would be dangerously weakened. supporting teeth that big (tusks are teeth, by the way), requires that their roots are very deeply embedded in the mandible. (less)

flag

About Goodreads Q&A

Ask and answer questions about books!

You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.

See Featured Authors Answering Questions

Learn more