For a long time Africa’s elephants were treated as a single species. In March 2021 the IUCN Red List assessed them separately for the first time, following genetic evidence that the forest and savanna elephants are distinct species.
The forest elephant lives in the rainforests of Central and West Africa. Its numbers fell by more than 86% over 31 years, and it was listed as Critically Endangered. The main causes are poaching for ivory, which rose sharply after 2008 and peaked in 2011, and the loss of forest to farming and other land uses.
Traditional uses of plants and animals are recorded as cultural knowledge and credited to the communities who hold it. They are not medical advice. Never use a plant to treat illness without a qualified health professional.
Sources
African elephant species now Endangered and Critically Endangered – IUCN Red List (IUCN, 25 March 2021). iucn.org/node/18226
Sources checked on October 25, 2026. The summary is written by CCAF; see the sources for full details.
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