African forest elephant

Elusive and shy, each encounter with the African Forest Elephant is a gift bestowed upon you by the forest. The experience will leave you changed. But, like all elephants in Africa, they are under threat. This species is difficult to protect due to their dense habitat, elusive nature and the lowest reproductive rate out of all 3 elephant species. Visiting areas that protect these animals contributes towards their conservation. #originsafaris #africa #travel #DemocraticRepublicoftheCongo…

Learn about African forest elephants, as well as the threats this species faces, what WWF is doing to protect its future, and how you can help.

With more than 60% of these beautiful creatures poached in the last decade alone, the forest elephant is slowly losing in a fight against extinction. Where they once thrived throughout various parts of Africa, they are now found only in the forests of Central and Southern equatorial Africa.

Male African Elephant Walking by Mike Hill

Download this photo by Taryn Elliott for free on Pexels

Elephant bath, Sabi Sands, SA by Ben Archer (SimianSpy) on Flickr.

Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe

African Forest Elephant ~ Due to poaching to meet high demand for ivory, the African forest elephant population approached critical levels in the 1990s and early 2000s. Over several decades, numbers are estimated to have fallen from approximately 700,000 to less than 100,000, with about half of the remaining population in Gabon, West-Central Africa.

A WWF report out today shows that wildlife populations worldwide have declined by 52% since 1970, mostly thanks to humans. Well done everyone.