Details
Loxodonta cyclotis
African forest elephant is a forest elephant of Central African rainforests with relatively rounded ears. Ivory poaching and forest loss place the species under severe conservation pressure.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
It uses lowland rainforest, swamp forest, and forest clearings around the Congo Basin. Main habitat types in this guide are forest.
Typical length 250-400 cm, weight 2 t-6 t. It is smaller than the savanna elephant, with straighter downward tusks and rounded ears.
It is diurnal and a social species. Small female-led groups move through forest and may travel long distances for fruit.
It is herbivorous. Fruit, leaves, bark, and branches are eaten, making the species an important seed disperser.
Females bear single calves at long intervals, and calves grow slowly within the group.
Wild populations are extremely limited and require strict protection. Ivory poaching and forest loss place the species under severe conservation pressure.
