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- Written by: Glenn and Rick
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WWF.......Protecting wildlife for a healthy planet not only because they inspire us, but also focus our efforts on them—like tigers, rhinos, whales and marine turtles—whose protection influences and supports the survival of other species or offers the opportunity to protect whole landscapes or marine areas. On this page https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/ scroll and click/choose a species, and proceed in this case on........African forest elephants.......Critically endangered- African forest elephants are the elusive cousin of the African savanna elephant. They inhabit the dense rainforests of west and central Africa. Their preference for dense forest habitat prohibits traditional counting methods such as visual identification. Their population is usually estimated through "dung counts"—an analysis on the ground of the density and distribution of the feces.
African forest elephants are smaller than African savanna elephants, the other African elephant species. Their ears are more oval-shaped and their tusks are straighter and point downward (the tusks of savanna elephants curve outwards). There are also differences in the size and shape of the skull and skeleton. Forest elephants also have a much slower reproductive rate than savanna elephants, so they cannot bounce back from population declines as quickly at the same rate. Their last strongholds are located in Gabon and the Republic of Congo, with smaller populations remaining in other African countries (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea) and Côte d'Ivoire, Liberia, and Ghana in west Africa. African forest elephants live in family groups of up to 20 individuals and forage on leaves, grasses, seeds, fruit, and tree bark. Since the diet of forest elephants is dominated by fruit, they play a crucial role in dispersing many tree species, particularly the seeds of large trees which tend to have high carbon content. They are therefore referred to as the 'mega-gardener of the forest'. To supplement their diet with minerals, they gather at mineral-rich waterholes and mineral licks found throughout the forest.
Threats.....Numbering three to five million in the last century, African elephant populations were severely reduced to its current levels because of hunting. In the 1980s, an estimated 100,000 elephants were killed each year and up to 80% of herds were lost in some regions. In recent years, growing demand for ivory, particularly from Asia, has led to a surge in poaching.Illegal Wildlife Trade ......illegal demand for ivory is the biggest driver of elephant poaching......read on https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/elephant/african-elephant/
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- Written by: Glenn and Rick
- Category: Species at Risk
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As our modern society gets more resource-intensive, natural spaces are shrinking and wildlife numbers are declining. Our 2024 Living Planet Report shows the average size of wildlife populations has fallen by a staggering 73% since 1970.[1] While there have been amazing and inspirational wildlife successes and stories in the past, many animals are still endangered mostly due to unsustainable human-led activities. Currently, on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, more than 47,000 species have been assessed to be under threat of extinction.[2] And below we’ve listed just one of the world’s most endangered animals in the wild.
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- Written by: Glenn and Rick
- Category: Species at Risk
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