Gabon is last bastion of endangered Africanforest elephants18 November 2021, by Farai Mutsaka

Lit by a red light, a rare forest elephant is photographedin Gabon's Pongara National Park forest, on March 11,2020. Gabon holds about 95,000 African forestelephants, according to results of a survey by theWildlife Conservation Society and the National Agencyfor National Parks of Gabon, using DNA extracted fromdung. Previous estimates put the population at between50,000 and 60,000 or about 60% of remaining Africanforest elephants. Credit: AP Photo/Jerome Delay

Loss of habitat and poaching have made Africanforest elephants a critically endangered species.Yet the dense forests of sparsely populated Gabonin the Congo River Basin remain a "laststronghold" of the magnificent creatures, accordingto new research that concluded the population ismuch higher than previous estimates.

Counting forest elephants is a far bigger challengethan surveying plains-dwelling savanna elephantsfrom the air. It takes difficult and dirty scientificwork that doesn't involve laying eyes on the elusiveanimals that flee at the slightest whiff of humanscent.

Instead, researchers have been trekking for yearsthrough dense undergrowth collecting dung from

Gabon's forest elephants and analyzing the DNAfrom thousands of samples to determine thenumber of individual elephants in each plot of landexamined.

Now the survey by the New York-based WildlifeConservation Society and the National Parks ofGabon, released Thursday, has concluded that thecentral African country of about 2.3 million peopleharbors about 95,000 forest elephants.

Previous estimates put the population at 50,000 to60,000—or about 60% of the world's remainingAfrican forest elephants.

Herds have nearly been decimated elsewhere inthe region Gabon shares with conflict-riddencountries such as Cameroon, Congo and CentralAfrican Republic, according to researchers.

A rare forest elephant is photographed in Gabon'sPongara National Park forest, on March 12, 2020. Gabonholds about 95,000 African forest elephants, according toresults of a survey by the Wildlife Conservation Societyand the National Agency for National Parks of Gabon,using DNA extracted from dung. Previous estimates putthe population at between 50,000 and 60,000 or about60% of remaining African forest elephants. Credit: APPhoto/Jerome Delay

1 / 10

Central Africa has the largest number of forestelephants in the world, although figures have fallenby more than 86% over a 31-year period, accordingto the International Union for Conservation ofNature, which cites increasing threats of poachingand habitat loss.

The latest new survey in Gabon is the "firstnationwide DNA-based assessment of a free-ranging large mammal in Africa," according to theresearchers. The technology is also being used tocount elephants and tigers in India.

"Gabon is quite unique, certainly for forestelephants. But actually across Africa whereelephants occur, it's very unique in that ... what wecall potential elephant habitat pretty much coversthe entire country," said Emma Stokes, the WCSAfrica regional director.

"We found elephants were distributed acrossalmost 90% of the total surface area of thecountry," she said. "And you know, Gabon hasforest cover of up to 88% of the country. That's veryunusual."

Park rangers drive through Gabon's Pongara NationalPark forest, on March 12, 2020. Gabon holds about95,000 African forest elephants, according to results of asurvey by the Wildlife Conservation Society and theNational Agency for National Parks of Gabon, using DNAextracted from dung. Previous estimates put thepopulation at between 50,000 and 60,000 or about 60%of remaining African forest elephants. Credit: AP

Photo/Jerome Delay

In Gabon, tourists may still see some elephants onthe beaches and coastal forests of the Atlanticcoast. But, unlike their bigger savanna cousins thatroam the plains of southern Africa in abundance,most forest elephants live in dense forests socounting them is painstaking work.

The solution: Trail their dung for genetic material.For three years, research teams would spend amonth in the bush, walking 12 kilometers (about 7miles) a day seeking elephant fecal samples,breaking only for a week at a time.

The team trudged through patches of savanna,thickets, densely wooded wetlands and riversfollowing elephant tracks marked by broken treebranches, old dung piles and footprints, looking forfresh dung.

"We got some dung here," Fabrice Menzeme, aranger, shouted after walking for about threekilometers (1.8 miles) in Pongara National Park onthe Atlantic coast during fieldwork in 2020.Animated team members rushed in. Upon closerinspection, disappointment followed. The dung wasmore than a day old.

Forest elephant cross a meadow in Gabon's PongaraNational Park forest, on March 11, 2020. Gabon holdsabout 95,000 African forest elephants, according toresults of a survey by the Wildlife Conservation Society

2 / 10

and the National Agency for National Parks of Gabon,using DNA extracted from dung. Previous estimates putthe population at between 50,000 and 60,000 or about60% of remaining African forest elephants. Credit: APPhoto/Jerome Delay

Researchers want the dung "steaming fresh,"Stokes said. "So, it's warm, it's fresh, it has a sheento it. And the idea is to take the outer surface of thatdung pile; a very small amount is needed inpurpose-built tubes that are taken out by the fieldteams."

The fecal swabs were put into small test tubes andtaken to a government wildlife genetic analysislaboratory in the capital, Libreville, where scientistsextracted DNA from about 2,500 samples collectedcountrywide.

Extracting DNA from dung samples is "a bit like acooking recipe, following several steps" to removevegetation and seeds arising from elephants' diet orbacteria or organisms that develop on the dung,said Stéphanie Bourgeois, a research scientist withthe parks agency and co-author of the researchpaper. "That's why you have to clean them and tryto purify your DNA before you do your analysis."

A millipede climbs a tree in Gabon's Pongara NationalPark dense forest looking for forest elephant dung, onMarch 9, 2020. Gabon holds about 95,000 African forestelephants, according to results of a survey by the WildlifeConservation Societyand the National Agency forNational Parks of Gabon, using DNA extracted from

dung. Previous estimates put the population at between50,000 and 60,000 or about 60% of remaining Africanforest elephants. Credit: AP Photo/Jerome Delay

"DNA is unique for every individual, the same forhumans as it is for elephants. So DNA is just a toolto help us identify individuals and the number oftimes we sample each of these individuals,"Bourgeois said at the laboratory. "We use acomplex statistical model and from this we estimatethe number of elephants that are in the area wesampled."

This is Gabon's first nationwide elephant census in30 years. Only 14% of the elephant habitat in thecountry had been surveyed in the last decade,according to researchers. Previous surveys reliedon dung counts, which can be more expensive,more difficult and less reliable than DNA samplingon large-scale surveys, they said.

"This is an exciting paper because it substantiallyraises the population estimates of forest elephantsin Gabon and establishes a new, rigorous country-level monitoring methodology," said John Poulsen,associate professor of tropical ecology at DukeUniversity's Nicholas School of the Environment,who was not involved in the research.

Park rangers cut through Gabon's Pongara National Parkdense forest looking for forest elephant dung, on March9, 2020. Gabon holds about 95,000 African forestelephants, according to results of a survey by the WildlifeConservation Society and the National Agency for

3 / 10

National Parks of Gabon, using DNA extracted from dung.Previous estimates put the population at between 50,000and 60,000 or about 60% of remaining African forestelephants. Credit: AP Photo/Jerome Delay

"At the same time," Poulsen said, "the governmentof Gabon now has an enormous responsibility forconserving forest elephants in the face of poaching,and especially human-elephant conflict and crop-raiding."

About 65% to 70% percent of all African forestelephants surviving today live in Gabon, accordingto Lee White, Gabon's minister of water andforests.

"That's an indication of the fact that Gabon hasresisted the slaughter and the tragedy that hasplayed out in the countries around Gabon," saidWhite.

Conservation efforts include massive publicawareness campaigns and efforts to deter cross-border poachers.

"You see it around Africa. Countries that have losttheir elephants, have lost control of their naturalresources, have often actually lost control of theircountries," White said. "The countries that havealmost no elephants have been through civil warsand are much less stable than the countries thathave preserved their elephants."

A broken branch signals the proximity of elephants inGabon's Pongara National Park dense forest, on March9, 2020. Gabon holds about 95,000 African forestelephants, according to results of a survey by the WildlifeConservation Society and the National Agency forNational Parks of Gabon, using DNA extracted fromdung. Previous estimates put the population at between50,000 and 60,000 or about 60% of remaining Africanforest elephants. Credit: AP Photo/Jerome Delay

A Park ranger uses a GPS in Gabon's Pongara NationalPark dense forest to track forest elephant, on March 09,2020. Gabon holds about 95,000 African forestelephants, according to results of a survey by the WildlifeConservation Society and the National Agency forNational Parks of Gabon, using DNA extracted fromdung. Previous estimates put the population at between50,000 and 60,000 or about 60% of remaining Africanforest elephants. Credit: AP Photo/Jerome Delay

4 / 10

Emma Stokes, WCS Regional Director Africa, runs froman approaching elephant in Gabon's Pongara NationalPark forest, on March 9, 2020. Gabon holds about95,000 African forest elephants, according to results of asurvey by the Wildlife Conservation Society and theNational Agency for National Parks of Gabon, using DNAextracted from dung. Previous estimates put thepopulation at between 50,000 and 60,000 or about 60%of remaining African forest elephants. Credit: APPhoto/Jerome Delay

Park ranger Fabrice Menzeme, forward, prepares tocollect elephant dung in Gabon's Pongara National Parkforest, on March 9, 2020. Gabon holds about 95,000African forest elephants, according to results of a surveyby the Wildlife Conservation Society and the NationalAgency for National Parks of Gabon, using DNAextracted from dung. Previous estimates put thepopulation at between 50,000 and 60,000 or about 60%of remaining African forest elephants. Credit: APPhoto/Jerome Delay

Park rangers run from an approaching elephant inGabon's Pongara National Park forest, on March 9, 2020.Gabon holds about 95,000 African forest elephants,according to results of a survey by the WildlifeConservation Society and the National Agency forNational Parks of Gabon, using DNA extracted fromdung. Previous estimates put the population at between50,000 and 60,000 or about 60% of remaining Africanforest elephants. Credit: AP Photo/Jerome Delay

Park rangers run from an approaching elephant inGabon's Pongara National Park forest, on March 9, 2020.Gabon holds about 95,000 African forest elephants,according to results of a survey by the WildlifeConservation Society and the National Agency forNational Parks of Gabon, using DNA extracted fromdung. Previous estimates put the population at between50,000 and 60,000 or about 60% of remaining Africanforest elephants. Credit: AP Photo/Jerome Delay

5 / 10

Park rangers run from an approaching elephant inGabon's Pongara National Park forest, on March 9, 2020.Gabon holds about 95,000 African forest elephants,according to results of a survey by the WildlifeConservation Society and the National Agency forNational Parks of Gabon, using DNA extracted fromdung. Previous estimates put the population at between50,000 and 60,000 or about 60% of remaining Africanforest elephants. Credit: AP Photo/Jerome Delay

The sun sets over Gabon's Pongara National Park foreston March 12, 2020. Gabon holds about 95,000 Africanforest elephants, according to results of a survey by theWildlife Conservation Society and the National Agencyfor National Parks of Gabon, using DNA extracted fromdung. Previous estimates put the population at between50,000 and 60,000 or about 60% of remaining Africanforest elephants. Credit: AP Photo/Jerome Delay

Park ranger Fabrice Menzeme collects elephant dung forDNA testing in Gabon's Pongara National Park forest, onMarch 9, 2020. Gabon holds about 95,000 African forestelephants, according to results of a survey by the WildlifeConservation Society and the National Agency forNational Parks of Gabon, using DNA extracted fromdung. Previous estimates put the population at between50,000 and 60,000 or about 60% of remaining Africanforest elephants. Credit: AP Photo/Jerome Delay

A Wildlife Conservation Society researcher photographselephant dung in Gabon's Pongara National Park forest,on March 9, 2020. Gabon holds about 95,000 Africanforest elephants, according to results of a survey by theWildlife Conservation Society and the National Agencyfor National Parks of Gabon, using DNA extracted fromdung. Previous estimates put the population at between50,000 and 60,000 or about 60% of remaining Africanforest elephants. Credit: AP Photo/Jerome Delay

6 / 10

Park ranger Fabrice Menzeme sets a remote camera inGabon's Pongara National Park forest, on March 9, 2020.Gabon holds about 95,000 African forest elephants,according to results of a survey by the WildlifeConservation Society and the National Agency forNational Parks of Gabon, using DNA extracted fromdung. Previous estimates put the population at between50,000 and 60,000 or about 60% of remaining Africanforest elephants. Credit: AP Photo/Jerome Delay

A rare forest elephant is photographed in Gabon'sPongara National Park forest, on March 9, 2020. Gabonholds about 95,000 African forest elephants, according toresults of a survey by the Wildlife Conservation Societyand the National Agency for National Parks of Gabon,using DNA extracted from dung. Previous estimates putthe population at between 50,000 and 60,000 or about60% of remaining African forest elephants. Credit: APPhoto/Jerome Delay

Lit by a red light, a rare forest elephant is photographedin Gabon's Pongara National Park forest, on March 11,2020. Gabon holds about 95,000 African forestelephants, according to results of a survey by the WildlifeConservation Society and the National Agency forNational Parks of Gabon, using DNA extracted fromdung. Previous estimates put the population at between50,000 and 60,000 or about 60% of remaining Africanforest elephants. Credit: AP Photo/Jerome Delay

Park rangers and researchers search for elephants inGabon's Pongara National Park forest, on March 13,2020. Gabon holds about 95,000 African forestelephants, according to results of a survey by the WorldConservation Society and the National Agency forNational Parks of Gabon, using DNA extracted fromdung. Previous estimates put the population at between50,000 and 60,000 or about 60% of remaining Africanforest elephants. Credit: AP Photo/Jerome Delay

7 / 10

A lab technician tests a sample of elephant dung fromGabon's Pongara National Park for DNA in Libreville, onMarch 11, 2020. Gabon holds about 95,000 African forestelephants, according to results of a survey by the WildlifeConservation Societyand the National Agency forNational Parks of Gabon, using DNA extracted fromdung. Previous estimates put the population at between50,000 and 60,000 or about 60% of remaining Africanforest elephants. Credit: AP Photo/Jerome Delay

A forest elephant steps out of the forest in Gabon'sPongara National Park forest, on March 12, 2020. Gabonholds about 95,000 African forest elephants, according toresults of a survey by the Wildlife Conservation Societyand the National Agency for National Parks of Gabon,using DNA extracted from dung. Previous estimates putthe population at between 50,000 and 60,000 or about60% of remaining African forest elephants. Credit: APPhoto/Jerome Delay

Park rangers and researchers search for elephants inGabon's Pongara National Park forest, on March 13,2020. Gabon holds about 95,000 African forestelephants, according to results of a survey by the WildlifeConservation Society and the National Agency forNational Parks of Gabon, using DNA extracted fromdung. Previous estimates put the population at between50,000 and 60,000 or about 60% of remaining Africanforest elephants. Credit: AP Photo/Jerome Delay

Forest elephant graze in Gabon's Pongara National Park,on March 12, 2020. Gabon holds about 95,000 Africanforest elephants, according to results of a survey by theWildlife Conservation Society and the National Agencyfor National Parks of Gabon, using DNA extracted fromdung. Previous estimates put the population at between50,000 and 60,000 or about 60% of remaining Africanforest elephants. Credit: AP Photo/Jerome Delay

8 / 10

Using red lights, park rangers look for forest elephants inGabon's Pongara National Park forest, on March 11,2020. Gabon holds about 95,000 African forestelephants, according to results of a survey by the WildlifeConservation Society and the National Agency forNational Parks of Gabon, using DNA extracted fromdung. Previous estimates put the population at between50,000 and 60,000 or about 60% of remaining Africanforest elephants. Credit: AP Photo/Jerome Delay

A lab technician prepares a sample of elephant dungfrom Gabon's Pongara National Park for DNA testing inLibreville on March 11, 2020. Gabon holds about 95,000African forest elephants, according to results of a surveyby the Wildlife Conservation Society and the NationalAgency for National Parks of Gabon, using DNAextracted from dung. Previous estimates put thepopulation at between 50,000 and 60,000 or about 60%of remaining African forest elephants. Credit: APPhoto/Jerome Delay

A sample of elephant dung from Gabon's PongaraNational Park is ready DNA testing in Libreville, on March11, 2020. Gabon holds about 95,000 African forestelephants, according to results of a survey by the WorldConservation Society and the National Agency forNational Parks of Gabon, using DNA extracted fromdung. Previous estimates put the population at between50,000 and 60,000 or about 60% of remaining Africanforest elephants. Credit: AP Photo/Jerome Delay

Still, the minister said, Gabon is facing elephantproblems of its own in addition to cross-borderpoaching for ivory, which he says has declinedsince China banned ivory imports.

One big problem, he said in an interview at therecent climate conference in Glasgow, is human-elephant conflicts that kill about 10 people a year."When I go into rural Gabon, I get a lot of angrypeople who are screaming at me because theelephants have eaten their crops and, tragically,even occasionally have killed their relatives."

One reason elephants are raiding village crops,White said, may be that global warming hasdramatically reduced the abundance of forest fruitover the past 40 years. "So, it looks like climatechange is starting to impact the forest," he said."And that means the elephants are hungry."

© 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast,rewritten or redistributed without permission.

9 / 10

APA citation: Gabon is last bastion of endangered African forest elephants (2021, November 18)retrieved 14 March 2022 from https://phys.org/news/2021-11-gabon-bastion-endangered-african-forest.html

This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, nopart may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

10 / 10