Continent-wide survey reveals massive decline in African savannah elephants

PeerJ

article

Michael J. Chase¹  Scott Schlossberg¹  Curtice R. Griffin²  Philippe J.C. Bouché³  Sintayehu W. Djene⁴  Paul W. Elkan⁵  Sam Ferreira⁶  Falk Grossman⁵  Edward Mtarima Kohi⁸  Kelly Landen¹  Patrick Omondi⁹  Alexis Peltier^1,10  S.A. Jeanetta Selier^1,11  Robert Sutcliffe¹ 

[1] Elephants Without Borders;Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts Amherst;Department of Biosystems Engineering, Forest Resource Management, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège;College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Haramaya University;Africa Program, Wildlife Conservation Society;Scientific Services, South African National Parks;Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation, University of Twente;Mahale-Gombe Wildlife Research Centre, Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute;Division of Species Conservation & Management;Air Adventures ,(Africa) Ltd;Division of Biodiversity Monitoring and Assessment, South African National Biodiversity Institute;Amarula Elephant Research Programme, School of Life Sciences, University of Kwa-Zulu-Natal

关键词: African elephant;    Conservation;    Aerial survey;    Population decline;    Population trend;    Carcass ratio;    Protected areas;    Loxodonta africana;   

DOI  :  10.7717/peerj.2354

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Inra

【 摘 要 】

African elephants (Loxodonta africana) are imperiled by poaching and habitat loss. Despite global attention to the plight of elephants, their population sizes and trends are uncertain or unknown over much of Africa. To conserve this iconic species, conservationists need timely, accurate data on elephant populations. Here, we report the results of the Great Elephant Census (GEC), the first continent-wide, standardized survey of African savannah elephants. We also provide the first quantitative model of elephant population trends across Africa. We estimated a population of 352,271 savannah elephants on study sites in 18 countries, representing approximately 93% of all savannah elephants in those countries. Elephant populations in survey areas with historical data decreased by an estimated 144,000 from 2007 to 2014, and populations are currently shrinking by 8% per year continent-wide, primarily due to poaching. Though 84% of elephants occurred in protected areas, many protected areas had carcass ratios that indicated high levels of elephant mortality. Results of the GEC show the necessity of action to end the African elephants’ downward trajectory by preventing poaching and protecting habitat.

【 授权许可】

CC BY