Summary: <p>Efforts to halt the slaughter of African elephants have been far less successful than many had hoped. An international ban on the elephant ivory trade was put in place in 1989. Elephant populations began to rebound. But ivory traders exploited loopholes and poachers became more efficient - and more brazen - in their methods. Today, poachers kill as many as 35,000 elephants a year. Conservationists warn that unless more is done, those great land mammals could become extinct. For this month's Environmental Outlook, guest host Tom Gjelten and a panel of experts discuss how to stop the elephant ivory trade.</p>
