A comprehensive new study analyzing data from 50 years has revealed a dramatic decline in elephant populations in Africa. The researchers compile data from 1,325 surveys, showing that between 1964 and 2016, the number of savanna elephants fell by more than 70% and forest elephants by more than 90%.
The study highlights the urgency to reverse these declines, calling for stronger public-private partnerships in the management of protected areas, community involvement in conservation, and increased efforts to combat ivory poaching. Successful conservation strategies include sustainable tourism expansion, land use plans to respond to elephants, and improving law enforcement agencies against illegal wildlife trade. With Africa's population more than doubled over the next 50 years, experts are underscoring the need for immediate action to protect the remaining elephant populations and restore lost habitats.
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Source: Daily News
