TANZANIA: A GROUNDBREAKING study has mentioned Tanzania in the list of few countries with a stable and growing elephant population over the last 50 years amid widespread declines across the continent.
The Wildlife Conservation Society’s (WCS) Conservation Scientist, Dr Fiona Boo Maisels who is also a contributing author of the study said in a statement early this week that while the overall picture is discouraging for both forest and savanna elephants, some populations have remained stable or are even growing.
She said: “examples for forest elephants include those of the Nouabale-Ndoki National Park in the Republic of Congo and the Mbam et Djerem National Park in Cameroon and for savanna elephants, the Katavi-Rukwa and Ruaha-Rungwa ecosystems in Tanzania and the KAZA landscape in Southern Africa.”
She said such findings suggest that elephant populations if well protected and managed can still increase despite rising pressures surrounding them and their habitats.
“Indeed, elephants need our help now more than ever,” she noted.
The research which was released on Tuesday analysed hundreds of population surveys from 475 sites across 37 African countries between 1964 and 2016.
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According to the study, there is an average decline of 90 per cent for African forest elephant populations, 70 per cent for savanna elephant populations and the combined average decline of 77 per cent across both species continent-wide.
“Some populations have disappeared entirely, with others showing rapid growth. No elephant population in the northern savannas grew and many became extinct,” read the statement.
Senior author and elephant expert with Save the Elephants, Mr George Wittemyer emphasised the importance of identifying regions where elephant populations increased.
“This study helps us pinpoint successful conservation actions in different contexts. We must develop and implement a portfolio of effective solutions to address the diverse challenges elephants face across Africa,” he said.
The research provides crucial insights into elephant conservation status, highlighting areas of concern and opportunities for learning from success stories in regions or sites where populations remain stable or increasing.
As threats to these iconic species continue to mount, this comprehensive analysis offers valuable direction for future conservation efforts.
