the african forest elephant
TRANSCRIPT
-
8/9/2019 The African Forest Elephant
1/6
African Forest
Elephants By James Remington Orozco NewtonAbout the Elephants
The endangered African Forest Elephant of Central and Western Africa
lives in the humid environment of the lush tropical rainforests. Though
smaller than its well known cousin the African Bush Elephant, Forest
Elephants have straighter, slimmer tusks, and smoother skin. Allowing them
to easily move through the dense forests they live in. the Bush Elephant was
considered a sub species of the Forest Elephant. Although DNA testinggives proof that the two are different species, not all agree that the evidence
is sufficient. Formally the IUCN African Elephant Specialist Group believes
the evidence provided is enough to split the species into two. Also the
disputed Pygmy Elephant of the Congo Basin is assumed to be a different
species. But is likely just Forest Elephants whose lack of growth is due to
environmental conditions.
-
8/9/2019 The African Forest Elephant
2/6
By poaching and the large demand of ivory, the African Forest Elephant
population critically plummeted in the 1990s and 2000s. But conservation
efforts in half a year have quintupled the amount of African forest elephants
in the wild. They did this by establishing a DNA identification system to
trace the origin of poached ivory. At the time it had been well known thatthe ivory of African Forest Elephants was straight, very hard, and had a
pinkish tinge and to it. The DNA strangely indicated that the African Forest
Elephant and the African Bush Elephant were more different than
anticipated previously before. From the results, the two species were as
distinct as they are to the, also well known, Asian Elephant.
Although they sustain themselves on fruit more than bush (or savanna)
elephants do. The Forest Elephants need for mineral salt attracts it to certain
mineral open clearings of the forest. These clearing are called bais
(pronounced buys). Here the Forest Elephants dig up the soil, or extract
the mineral from the beds of rivers and streams. Kneeling down with theretrunks to reach the mineral salt or by even diving underwater.
The range of an individual elephant can be 772 square miles, larger than
the national parks in Central Africa. These animals are now primarily found
in the Republic of Congo and Gabon. Also with a good amount remaining in
-
8/9/2019 The African Forest Elephant
3/6
the southeastern corner of the Republic of Cameroon, and the south western
tip of the Central African Republic.
Threats and Challenges
African Forest Elephant thrive in world with municipal disequilibrium
and hominal impoverishment, raising the chances for the discretion of these
beings. As civilization and industry grow around them, the more rainforest
they lose. The ranges of the Forest Elephants forests are becoming
increasingly destroyed by industry. The more rainforest these animals lose
the less chance of conservational efforts to succeed in preserving these
elephants.
What was once the bountiful heart of natural Africa has become
vigorously crisscrossed with roads and plentiful with human commotion.
These new roads that swarm through the Congo Basin have become dense in
with human settlements. These serve as direct conduits for poachers who
have come seeking the diverse forests, including elephant tusks to supply the
financially competent illegal ivory trade to other countries. Scientists call
these roads highways of death, for the Forest Elephant, and stopping
illegal hunting is critical to the survival of the species.
-
8/9/2019 The African Forest Elephant
4/6
The African Forest Elephant is still fairly unknown besides the basic
information. There is little scientific data about these animals, including
their home range requirements, ranging patterns, and seasonal movement.
This information is well needed in helping to stop irreversible impacts on the
population of the Forest Elephants, and resolving conflicts between humans
and these animals.
Conservation Efforts
"It was once said that in Africa human communities were like islands
surrounded by elephants," remembers Andrea Turkalo, of the Wildlife
Conservation Society, "These days its exactly the opposite." Turkalos
leading study of forest elephants is conveyed at Dzanga Bai, a foreign, 30-
acre open range on one of the largest islands on the continent. This island is
a cluster of rain forest preserves in central Africa.
When Turkalo arrived here around 10 years ago, little was known about
Loxodonta africanacyclotis. Other wise known as the African ForestElephant that makes up almost one-third of the 600,000 remaining African
elephants. Ranging widely through thick forest, the Forest Elephants are
-
8/9/2019 The African Forest Elephant
5/6
extraordinarily hard to study. For many years researchers considered it lucky
even to spot a forest elephant, much less observe one. As a result they based
their limited conclusions on insufficient evidence, such as dung or feeding
trails. This wasnt resolved until Turkalo set up camp at Dzanga Bai in
Dzanga-Ndoki National Park.
Today, Turkalo flawlessly observes every elephant that visits, by working
from a platform in the trees. Noting physical characteristics to establish
individual identities, she later works on this data to study life histories,
family structure, and patterns of group behavior. With insect repellent and a
spotting scope, Andrea Turkalo spends her usual afternoon on her platform,
"unraveling the intricacies of the forest elephants' lives," as she says it.
Sources
African Forest Elephant Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Forest_Elephant
African Forest Elephant Wildlife Conservation Society
http://www.wcs.org/saving-wildlife/elephants/african-forest-elephant.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Forest_Elephanthttp://www.wcs.org/saving-wildlife/elephants/african-forest-elephant.aspxhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Forest_Elephanthttp://www.wcs.org/saving-wildlife/elephants/african-forest-elephant.aspx -
8/9/2019 The African Forest Elephant
6/6
Forest Elephants National Geographic Magazine
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/09/forest-elephants/belt-text
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/09/forest-elephants/belt-texthttp://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/09/forest-elephants/belt-text