Although you may already know of this, in March of 2021, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listed the African forest elephant as critically endangered and the African savanna elephant as endangered.
The IUCN’s Red List is a comprehensive information source on the global extinction risk status of animals, plants, and fungus species.
This is the first time the African species of elephants were assessed separately. The African forest elephant population has fallen more than 86% over a 31-year period and the African savanna elephant population has fallen approximately 60% over the last 50 years.
According to Dr. Bruno Oberle, IUCN Director General;
“Africa’s elephants play key roles in ecosystems, economies and in our collective imagination all over the world. Today’s new IUCN Red List assessments of both African elephant species underline the persistent pressures faced by these iconic animals…”
Providing separate assessments of both species can help focus on appropriate and more robust conservation efforts for each of these species moving forward.
The elephant species is integral to the ecosystems in which they live and integral to the health of our planet. Providing necessary measures to ensure their survival is not only humane but is also a step towards maintaining the health of our planet that we all depend on.
As Dr. Barney Long, Global Wildlife Conservation’s Senior Director of Species Conservation states;
“Regular re-assessment of a species’ status on the Red List helps to highlight worrying trends like what the elephants of Africa are experiencing. The health of our planet depends on the health of elephants and the ecosystems they inhabit…”
Introducing the ProTECT Act which prohibits the unnecessary trophy hunting of and endangered species and importing the trophy into the United States is a viable way we can make a difference for elephants and other endangered species who are now at risk of extinction.
Please share this updated status for the African elephants to spread awareness of the threats they are facing. They need our support.
Photo by Joaquín Rivero on Unsplash
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With gratitude,
Nicole @Wild For Change