Elephant tusks are elongated incisors that continually grow over the course of the animals lifetime. Both male and female African elephants have tusks, while only some Asian males have tusks, and about 50% of Asian females have short tusks known as tushes. Tusks are made of ivory, a cream-colored dense bone tissue that surrounds enamel. Elephant tusks have a variety of uses, including digging for roots and water, stripping bark off of trees, fighting other elephants to determine dominance, and protecting themselves against predators. They also serve as formidable weapons against potential predators like tigers. However, elephant tusks are also what make them a target for poachers on the hunt for ivory. Ivory is prized for its beauty, durability, and suitability for carving. The ivory trade has been severely restricted by the United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) because poaching has led to the senseless slaughter of hundreds of thousands of elephants.