The Decline of African Forest Elephants

October 3, 2014 admin Africa's endangered animals, african elephant conservation, Tunde Folawiyo, tunde folawiyo africa, tunde folawiyo executive, tunde folawiyo oil, Uncategorized

With some conservation efforts to protect populations of African elephants proving successful, there have been many who have debated the need for a lifting of hunting bans. Recently, however, a new study suggests that the recovery of elephant populations may not be as strong as had been hoped. More specifically, the populations of African Forest elephants seem to be dwindling and have done so consistently over the past decade at the very least. The question is will new projects be developed to stem this decline before it is too late?

The study, revealed at the United for Wildlife International Wildlife Trafficking Symposium, published figures which have shocked the conservation community. Between the years 2002 and 2013 the study claims that a massive 65% of all Forest elephants living in central Africa have been killed. The primary reason being put forward for this is poaching, which has continued unabated in many regions in spite of steadfast conservation efforts. This decline has been fuelled by a huge cull incorporating a staggering 9% of the forest elephant population each year. If this trend continues, it is estimated that in just a few years the African forest elephant will be on the verge of extinction.

Dr John Robinson, an influential organiser within the conservation community, argues that the study shows that urgent action to protect the African forest elephant population is of paramount importance. With over 50,000 elephants being poached each year, in order to quench the illegal ivory black market throughout the world and especially used in Chinese medicine, attempts to combat poachers with force and more effectively police existing animal reserves has been put forward as a solution to this crisis. In some cases, this has involved drafting army soldiers to scare off poachers, as has been seen in Kenya, while cracking down on a black markets and arresting both collectors of ivory and illegal exporters of this animal product.

Initiatives launched by the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge, not to mention Prince Harry, have been founded in order to combat these monumental threats to animal species, including the African forest elephant, which could see them wiped off the face of the Earth. Other projects have brought together many of Africa’s leaders and notable figures such as Tunde Folawiyo (for more information please visit this Tunde Folawiyo profile), who care passionately about the future of Africa’s animals and environment, to do all they can to support conservation schemes.

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