At a glance
- IUCN category
- CR · Critically Endangered
- Animal group
- Mammals
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The African forest elephant is a smaller, straighter-tusked elephant of Africa's rainforests, now recognised as a separate species. It is assessed as Critically Endangered.
It plays a vital role spreading the seeds of forest trees.
Range & habitat
Rainforests of central and West Africa.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Poaching for ivory
- Habitat loss and fragmentation
- Slow reproduction
Why it matters
As a 'forest gardener' that disperses the seeds of many rainforest trees, the African forest elephant is crucial to the health and carbon storage of central African forests.
Recognised as a separate species from the African bush elephant in the 2021 IUCN assessment.
Sources
Sources for African Forest Elephant
- IUCN Red List — look up African Forest Elephant (authoritative status)
- Animal Diversity Web
- Animal Diversity Web
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the forest elephant different from the savanna elephant?
It is smaller, with straighter, downward-pointing tusks and rounder ears, and lives in dense rainforest. It is now treated as a separate species from the African savanna elephant.
Why is the African forest elephant Critically Endangered?
Published assessments cite heavy poaching for ivory, habitat loss, and very slow reproduction. See the IUCN Red List for the current assessment.
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