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Following population declines over several decades due to poaching for ivory and loss of habitat, the African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) is listed as Critically Endangered and the African savanna elephant (Loxodonta africana) as Endangered. Both species suffered sharp declines since 2008 due to a significant increase in poaching and habitat loss, which peaked in 2011 but continues to threaten populations.
These prodigious mammals have descended through evolution along many paths, with predecessors including the woolly mammoth and stegadon. Elephants and their ancestors have been a traditional source of materials and food for ancient humans and many local African communities and still are today.
The sharp decline of African elephants has severe ecological repercussions, as they are keystone species within the continent's landscapes. They perform a vital role maintaining ecosystem balances within African savannas and forests. The disappearance of African elephants would impact successional environments. We clearly know that human activities, primarily poaching and infrastructure development, restrict elephant movements, with negative consequences for forest function that have globally relevant ramifications. Forest elephants forage on more than 800 plant species and with nutritional data for 145 species.
African elephants are the giant of the forest, beautiful, intelligent, and very sensitive. Their fate is very dire. If things get much worse, there is a very real chance they will not be a living part of the planet for much longer.
We must take real, decisive action now, or we could risk losing this majestic mammal forever. The current rate of extirpation of elephant is unsustainable and if continued will lead to its extinction.
It must end now.
Range map of the African Elephant (Loxodonta): that includes the Savanna Elephant (Loxodonta africana)
and Forest Elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis). Bamse. CC-BY-SA-3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species International (ESI) has been working on elephant conservation across the globe for decades, helping directly elephants in the wild by protecting their habitats and stopping their horrendous slaughtering for ivory.
We are working alongside extraordinary local people and indigenous tribes, dedicated to protecting species like elephants through countless hours of vital patrols, habitat protection and creating effective protected areas and wildlife corridors.
Law enforcement to bring the illegal ivory trade under control, and effective management and protection of large and remote national parks will be critical if forest elephants are to be successfully conserved.
Forest elephant movements in Central Africa, where ESI is working, need megaspaces, so the need to create new additional protected areas are crucial to the survival of the forest elephants. ESI continues each day to work in creating effective protected areas within the natural range of forest elephants.
Your generous donation could help to create protected areas, imprison illegal poachers, or get vital equipment into the field (boots to replace those worn out by months of trekking across harsh terrain, or a new raincoat enabling a local ranger to battle the elements during monsoon season). Join us and be part of the solution. We need you more than ever before.
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