Elephants, the largest land mammal. Hunters have been poaching these beautiful creatures down for their tusks. African elephants may become extinct in some parts of Africa within 50 years, their numbers currently around 300,000 elephants. Less than 20% of elephant range is under formal protection. Asian ele's on the other hand the population has decreased by 20% in the last hundred years. 25,600 to 32,750 individuals are estimated to be living right now.