Forest Elephants Of Central African Republic

The Forest Elephants of the Central African Republic

Forest elephants (Loxodanta cyclotis) inhabit the dense, humid forests of west and central Africa

The Dzanga Sangha Protected Areas Complex (DSPA) in the Central African Republic is home to the famous Dzanga Bai. This forest clearing, created by elephants, is a prime destination for these ecosystem engineers and other wildlife in search of water, food and rich mineral soils. Similar clearings can be found across the Congo Basin, all created and maintained by generations of forest elephants as they move across the landscape.

Forest elephants (Loxodanta cyclotis) inhabit the dense, humid forests of west and central Africa. In addition to the Central African Republic, forest elephants are found in other countries with dense forests including Gabon, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, and Nigeria among others.

The difference between forest elephants
and savanna elephants

Forest elephants are morphologically different from savanna elephants (Loxodanta africana), the other species that inhabit much of the African continent (including the larger desert-adapted elephants of Mali). The ears of the forest elephant are oval-shaped, and their tusks are straight and point downward, unlike the tusks of savanna elephants which curve outwards.

The forest elephant is smaller in size than
its savanna counterpart

For example, male forest elephants (known as bulls) can reach 2.4m (7’ 10”) at shoulder height, while male savanna elephants can reach 3.96m (12’ 11”) at shoulder height. For reference, one of the tallest humans ever recorded reached 2.72m (8’ 11”)! The smaller size of the forest elephant facilitates movement underneath the forest canopy.

Forest Elephants

Are Critically Endangered

Across its range, forest elephants are threatened by expanding illegal wildlife economies that target the species for their ivory. They are at risk from forest loss as industrial agricultural plantations for items like oil palm grow to meet the demands of the global market. In early 2021, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) officially recognized the forest elephant and savanna elephant as two distinct species. At the same time, the forest elephant’s status was elevated to Critically Endangered by the IUCN. This is the highest classification category for a species and means it is at high risk for extinction.

The loss of forest elephants will have cascading consequences

The loss of forest elephants will have cascading consequences for forests and global ecosystems. Forest elephants are herbivores, eating up to 100kg of grasses, fruits, and seeds per day! As they move through the forest, they open pathways and disperse seeds in their dung, ensuring that the forest is in continual process of regeneration!

We can all help by educating ourselves about the products we use that contribute to loss of forests that elephants and local populations need to survive.

While estimates vary, the number of African forest elephants has declined by more than 86% over a period of 31 years according to the assessments by the IUCN.

Chengeta’s Operations

in the Central African Republic

Chengeta has been operating in DSPA in Central African Republic since 2018 in partnership with the Management Unit of DSPA.

Here we work directly with communities to protect wildlife, including the forest elephant. Our Community Program is key to empowering and motivating local communities to protect the forest elephants in the Dzanga Sangha Protected Areas.

Championing communities to protect wildlife in such a biodiverse region is a key focus of Chengeta’s ongoing work in the Congo basin. Read more about our communities blueprint for conservation here.