Better data, same emergency — the forest elephant crisis continues
Daily Maverick | 11.12.2025 05:08
A new 2024 status report dedicated to the African forest elephant collates the most comprehensive dataset yet for the species across its range. Its topline estimate – about 145,050 elephants when combining systematic estimates with additional “guesses” for poorly surveyed areas – is higher than the total presented in 2016. But the report’s core warning is stark: this apparent increase is largely the result of improved surveying and better coverage, not evidence of a sustained population rebound.
