New data released today offers a complex picture of African forest elephant populations, with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) revising its estimates upward too 135,960 individuals-a 16% increase since 2016. While the updated numbers, largely attributed to more accurate DNA-based survey methods, don’t signal a population rebound, they arrive as the species remains critically endangered due to persistent threats from poaching and habitat loss. The findings coincide with ongoing discussions at the CITES conference in Uzbekistan,where contentious proposals regarding ivory trade are being debated.
Keystone-SDA
The estimated number of African forest elephants has been revised upward following improved census methods, according to a report released Thursday by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Despite the positive revision, the species remains critically endangered due to ongoing poaching.
The IUCN now estimates the forest elephant population at 135,960 individuals, a 16% increase from the last published figure in 2016. This revised estimate doesn’t necessarily indicate population growth, but rather reflects more comprehensive surveys made possible by DNA-based methods, according to IUCN zoologist Rob Slotow.
“The updated figures for African forest elephants should not be interpreted as a population increase, but rather as a result of improved survey coverage, enabled by DNA-based methods,” Slotow explained.
The majority of this revision stems from data collected in Gabon, which is home to approximately two-thirds of the entire forest elephant ( *Loxodonta cyclotis* ) population. The IUCN currently lists this species as “critically endangered.”
The African savanna elephant (*Loxodonta africana*) is a distinct species, more widespread across the continent, with an estimated population of around 350,000. It is currently classified as “endangered.”
Poaching Declines
Forest elephant populations had plummeted by more than 86% over 31 years, up to 2015, primarily due to poaching and habitat loss, the IUCN recalled.
However, the situation appears to be improving. “Poaching for ivory seems to have decreased, particularly after 2018-2019,” the international organization noted.
The IUCN also highlighted the rapid changes in land use impacting forest elephants, as forests are increasingly converted to agricultural land. This encroachment can lead to crop raiding by elephants, which in turn reduces human tolerance and can unfortunately result in retaliatory killings.
CITES Conference in Uzbekistan
The report was released in conjunction with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) conference currently underway in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
At the conference, Namibia is seeking approval to sell a stockpile of 46.3 tonnes of ivory “accumulated from elephants that died of natural causes,” with the intention of using the funds “exclusively for elephant protection.” The proposal reflects ongoing debates about how best to manage elephant populations and combat illegal ivory trade.
