African elephants are the largest land animals on Earth. However, they are now facing a severe crisis, as highlighted in a recent comprehensive study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. There are two species of African elephants – the Savanna Elephant and the Forest Elephant.
Researchers analysed data from 475 sites across 37 countries, covering a period from 1964 to 2016, and found that:
Savanna Elephants: Populations have dropped by an average of 70% across surveyed sites.
Forest Elephants: Populations have decreased by around 90%, marking a sharper decline than their savanna counterparts.
In total, the two species combined have seen a 77% population reduction across surveyed locations.
These losses are especially pronounced in northern and eastern Africa due to intense poaching and habitat loss. But, there is some good news as well. The study also found that even though some elephant groups have disappeared, some groups have increased in countries like Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
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