AFRICA : SPECIES SPOTLIGHT
CAN YOU IMAGINE A WORLD WITHOUT ELEPHANTS ?
AFRICA
TOP : AFRICAN FOREST ELEPHANTS BY SERGEY URYADNIKOV / SHUTTERSTOCK ; RIGHT : AFRICAN SAVANNA ELEPHANTS BY WILLIERS STEYN / SHUTTERSTOCK
In March 2021 , African Forest Elephants and African Savanna Elephants were officially recognized as two distinct species — but rather than a celebration of scientific discovery , this news has shed light on their fight for survival .
Across the continent , much of the species ’ habitat has been converted into agricultural land . This , compounded by rampant poaching for the ivory trade , has left populations highly vulnerable .
• Critically Endangered African Forest Elephant populations have declined 86 %
• Endangered African Savanna Elephant populations have declined 50 %
50 %
African Savanna Elephant
Population declines over the past 75 years
86 %
African Forest Elephant
If African elephants go extinct , many other species will suffer . Elephants are “ ecosystem engineers ” whose activities create and maintain habitat beneficial to many other species . Feeding elephants push over trees , creating open mosaics and woodlands . Wallowing elephants help to remove sediment from waterholes and their annual treks create miles of trails that have been used by wildlife for centuries .
Our world would not be the same without elephants . Rainforest Trust has several projects that safeguard these two species across Democratic Republic of Congo , Tanzania , Liberia , Central African Republic , Kenya , Cameroon , South Sudan , Mozambique and Gabon .
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