African Forest Elephant

African Forest Elephant is one of the two living African Elephant species, and the smallest of the three living Elephant species in the world, reaching a shoulder height of 2.4 m (7 ft 10 in). They're referred to as ‘ecosystem engineers’ due to their role in physically transforming the forest as they move through it, contributing significantly to maintaining the composition and structure of the African rainforests. Once, these animals roamed across a large span of African forests, but because of habitat destruction and poaching, they are now confined to 25 percent of their historical range. During the 20th century, the population declined due to hunting to less than 30,000 individuals estimated in 2013. Since 2021, the species has been listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. It is estimated that the population of African Forest Elephants in central Africa declined by around 86% in the 31 years. Forest Elephants are primarily threatened by habitat loss, poaching for bushmeat and ivory. In 1986, the African Elephant Database was initiated with the aim to monitor the status of African Elephant populations. This database includes results from aerial surveys, dung counts, interviews with local people, and data on poaching. African Forest Elephants are estimated to constitute up to one-third of the continent's elephant population but have been poorly studied because of the difficulty in observing them through the dense vegetation that makes up their habitat. Thermal imaging has facilitated observation of the species, leading to more information on their ecology, numbers, and behavior, including their interactions with one another and other species as well.