A Rhetorical Analysis Of Protecting Elephants

First, let's consider its purpose, this ad is trying to save the elephants, an endangered species threatened by poaching and by human encroachment on their environment. This ad uses pathos to play on its audiences emotions, convincing them to help save the elephants. The ad does this several ways. First, the background of the ad, a sunset, uses pathos to evoke emotion. The sunset works to create the image of a natural, beautiful environment. The sunset isn't man-made; it is a natural, awe-inspiring, potentially divine occurrence. However, it is passing. It is not permanent. Thus, the ad suggests to its audience that this beautiful, natural phenomenon is fading, that it is somehow being destroyed. The sunset functions as a call for help. It reminds the audience, before we even notice the image of the elephant, that we must preserve nature. …show more content…
However, this step to protect the elephant population soon threatened another endangered species. The elephant population has been drastically reduced by loss of habitat to cultivation and urbanization, and many have been orphaned by poachers cashing in on the illegal ivory trade. Some biologists believe that if elephant numbers continue to drop, it will soon be impossible to save the species. Elephants are amazing creatures. As well as holding the title of "largest land animal," they are also among the most intelligent. An elephant has 150,000 muscle units in its trunk, can swim long distances without tiring, walks almost silently despite weighing about 7 tons, can travel up to 6,000 miles in a year while searching for food, and can live 60 years. Full-grown elephants have no natural enemies, other than humans. Several tree species rely almost solely on elephants to distribute their seeds. If the elephant were to disappear, these life-forms would bear the