The first authoritative population assessment for African forest elephants estimates there are more than 145,000 individuals.
Researchers say new survey techniques relying on sampling DNA from elephant dung provide the most accurate estimate of a species that’s difficult to count in its rainforest habitat.
Central Africa remains the species’ stronghold, home to nearly 96% of forest elephants, with densely forested Gabon hosting 95,000 individuals.
Conservationists say the findings can help inform the design of targeted conservation actions and national plans for forest elephants.
