THE AFRICAN FOREST ELEPHANT

THE ENDANGERED SPECIES

BACKGROUND ON THE AFRICAN FOREST ELEPHANT

The African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) is one of the two living African elephant species.
It is native to humid forests in West Africa and the Congo Basin. Long considered to be a subspecies of the African elephant,
the African forest elephant is now considered by many scientists to be its own species — separate from the African savanna or bush elephant.

THE DIFFERENCE

They are smaller than the better-known savanna elephant, have tusks that are straight and point downward, unlike the savanna elephants curved tusks. Bulls sometimes have tusks that almost reach the ground. They have rounded ears while the savanna elephant’s ears are more pointed. This species of the African elephant also has five toenails on each forefoot and four on its hind feet — more similar to that of the Asian elephant.

REASONS TO WHY THEY ARE ENDANGERED

• - The ivory in their tusks makes them more of a target to poachers
• - Our lack of knowledge leaves them vulnerable of protection
• - They have the one of the slowest reproduction rates

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