In Africa, in several different countries, elephant hunting is legal and when the situation warrants it, a culling of the elephant herds happens pretty often. Some of the herds had grown so huge that the damage they were doing to crops, equipment, denuding of branches off of trees was the result of over population and sanctioned hunts are held when they are warranted.
The poachers usually go after the ivory and ivory only because of the demand for it in countries where it is not illegal to import it (it maybe should be but it isn't). What is particularly galling about the poachers in the ivory business is that once the tusks are out they leave the rest of the elephant to rot.
Where elephant hunting is "legal" most of the elephant is used as far as the hide, ears and meat goes. The availability or the limits placed on the cullings determine whether there is cheap meat (for instance) or expensive meat in restaurants (I have had elephant "steaks" in Matadi, Zaire and Mombasa, Kenya).
An elephant hide may not be what I would particularly choose for a seat cover but if it is a legal hide I don't see where the problem is. I doubt you will see widespread use of it as a seat material because it is probably very expensive.
Not sure why this got some people's dandruff up as if it is an animal hide you are so against being used you better look at a lot of your clothes, shoe/boot wear, gloves, jackets, seats, upholstery and so on, I apologize somewhat to Canberra for this "heartless" attitude on my part but if it is legal and not illegal...I have no problem with it.
Dennis
