The African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) is a distinct species from its savanna cousin, smaller in stature with straighter, downward-pointing tusks adapted for navigating dense vegetation. It lives deep in the lowland and montane rainforests of Central and West Africa, where it has shaped those landscapes over millennia. Often called the 'megagardener of the forest,' it disperses the seeds of hundreds of tree species across vast distances, including large-fruited hardwoods that few other animals can carry, making it functionally irreplaceable in maintaining the structure of tropical forest ecosystems.
The African forest elephant is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, having lost more than 86% of its population over 31 years, according to the IUCN's 2021 assessment. The primary drivers of this collapse are poaching for ivory and the rapid fragmentation of forest habitat driven by logging, agricultural expansion, and road construction. Forest elephants reproduce slowly, with females giving birth roughly once every five to six years, which means populations recover far more slowly than they decline. Armed conflict across parts of Central Africa has further complicated conservation, limiting access for rangers and researchers in key strongholds such as the Congo Basin.
No projects have listed this species yet. If you run a project that protects the African Forest Elephant, you can add it to Wildlife Connect.
