Some places, like the ancient city of Babylon, had carving centers dating back 5,000 years where tusks were brought. Ivory was perceived as a symbolization of wealth, shown in forms of jewelry, statues, and more. Due to the abundance of mass killings, countries created national parks as a way of conserving this precious species in the 1950s (Blewett 37). The construction of national parks didn’t stop the consumer culture though. Without elephants dying of a natural death quick enough, poachers began to hunt illegally (37). New actions needed to be taken. The changes in the ivory trade and overall lack of awareness has increased over generations leaving elephants inching closer to extinction.