Devastating decline of forest elephants in Central Africa

Maisels, Fiona, author; Strindberg, Samantha, author; Blake, Stephen, author; Wittemyer, George, author; Hart, John, author; Williamson, Elizabeth A., author; Aba'a, Rostand, author; Abitsi, Gaspard, author; Ambahe, Ruffin D., author; Amsini, Fidèl, author; Bakabana, Parfait C., author; Hicks, Thurston Cleveland, author; Bayogo, Rosine E., author; Bechem, Martha, author; Beyers, Rene L., author; Bezangoye, Anicet N., author; Boundja, Patrick, author; Bout, Nicolas, author; Akou, Marc Ella, author; Bene, Lambert Bene, author; Fosso, Bernard, author; Greengrass, Elizabeth, author; Grossmann, Falk, author; Ikamba-Nkulu, Clement, author; Ilambu, Omari, author; Inogwabini, Bila-Isia, author; Iyenguet, Fortune, author; Kiminou, Franck, author; Kokangoye, Max, author; Kujirakwinja, Deo, author; Latour, Stephanie, author; Liengola, Innocent, author; Mackaya, Quevain, author; Madidi, Jacob, author; Madzoke, Bola, author; Makoumbou, Calixte, author; Malanda, Guy-Aimé, author; Malonga, Richard, author; Mbani, Olivier, author; Mbendzo, Valentin A., author; Ambassa, Edgar, author; Ekinde, Albert, author; Mihindou, Yves, author; Morgan, Bethan J., author; Motsaba, Prosper, author; Moukala, Gabin, author; Mounguengui, Anselme, author; Mowawa, Brice S., author; Ndzai, Christian, author; Nixon, Stuart, author; Nkumu, Pele, author; Nzolani, Fabian, author; Pintea, Lilian, author; Plumptre, Andrew, author; Rainey, Hugo, author; De Semboli, Bruno Bokoto, author; Serckx, Adeline, author; Stokes, Emma, author; Turkalo, Andrea, author; Vanleeuwe, Hilde, author; Vosper, Ashley, author; Warren, Ymke, author; Public Library of Science, publisher

Devastating decline of forest elephants in Central Africa

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Date

2013

Authors

Maisels, Fiona, author

Strindberg, Samantha, author

Blake, Stephen, author

Wittemyer, George, author

Hart, John, author

Williamson, Elizabeth A., author

Aba'a, Rostand, author

Abitsi, Gaspard, author

Ambahe, Ruffin D., author

Amsini, Fidèl, author

Abstract

African forest elephants - taxonomically and functionally unique - are being poached at accelerating rates, but we lack range-wide information on the repercussions. Analysis of the largest survey dataset ever assembled for forest elephants (80 foot-surveys; covering 13,000 km; 91,600 person-days of fieldwork) revealed that population size declined by ca. 62% between 2002-2011, and the taxon lost 30% of its geographical range. The population is now less than 10% of its potential size, occupying less than 25% of its potential range. High human population density, hunting intensity, absence of law enforcement, poor governance, and proximity to expanding infrastructure are the strongest predictors of decline. To save the remaining African forest elephants, illegal poaching for ivory and encroachment into core elephant habitat must be stopped. In addition, the international demand for ivory, which fuels illegal trade, must be dramatically reduced.

Subject

elephant population

Loxodonta africana

L. cyclotis

Central Africa

IUCN Red List

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10217/79305

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Open Access Research and Scholarship Fund (OARS)
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Devastating decline of forest elephants in Central Africa

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