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77-571: The Fang people once inhabited the Minkébé area but after becoming a protected area, the park now has no permanent human population. The name Minkébé derives from the Fang word minkegbe , which means ' valleys ' or 'ditches'. Historically, the park was under former French army control in the 1920s. In 1997, the WWF initiated a management program and established two main centres of forest command, one at Oyem,

154-662: A lingua franca in Yaoundé and much of the rest of Cameroon's Center and South Provinces. The Eton live primarily in the Lekie division of Cameroon's Centre Province with major settlements at Sa'a and Obala . They speak the Eton language or dialect, which had 500,000 speakers in 1982. The Fang (or Fan) form the second group. Individual ethnic groups include the Fang proper, the Ntumu ,

231-415: A behavioral change, as evidenced by lowered levels of vocalizations in response to gunfire sounds related to poaching. For these mammals, hearing and smell are the most important senses they possess because they do not have good eyesight. They can recognize and hear vibrations through the ground and can detect food sources with their sense of smell. Elephants are also an arrhythmic species, meaning they have

308-472: A complex network of permanent trails that pass through stands of fruit trees and connect forest clearings with mineral licks . These trails are reused by humans and other animals. In Odzala-Kokoua National Park , groups were observed to frequently meet at forest clearings indicating a fission–fusion society . They stayed longer when other groups were also present. Smaller groups joined large groups, and bulls joined family units. The African forest elephant

385-405: A few hundred inhabitants. These villages are mostly linear, with houses paralleling the road and backed by forest. The typical dwelling unit is constructed of dried-mud bricks placed onto a bamboo frame and roofed with raffia-palm fronds. In recent times, metal roofing has become increasingly common, and wealthier individuals may construct their homes in concrete. Beti-Pahuin territory also includes

462-541: A forest-bush elephant hybrid. The average tusk size is uncertain due to measurements historically being lumped in with those of African bush elephants, but based on the sizes of the largest known tusks may be in the region of 1.6–2 metres (5.2–6.6 ft) and 25–30 kilograms (55–66 lb). Populations of the African forest elephant in Central Africa range in large contiguous rainforest tracts from Cameroon to

539-573: A large area of the surrounding forest, and an estimated 350 miles (560 km) of railway, up to 40,000 Chinese laborers, and a hydroelectric dam would be needed to make it possible. This could seriously threaten the future of the conservation area, and the WWF are working with the Chinese and other mining companies in Gabon to attempt to provide a solution. The Minkebe forest itself covers 30,000 km in

616-442: A lowland rain forest in the northern Republic of Congo contained seeds of at least 96 plant species, with a minimum of 30 intact seeds and up to 1102 large seeds of more than 1 cm (0.39 in) in a single pile. Based on the analysis of 855 dung piles, it has been estimated that African forest elephants disperse a daily mean of 346 large seeds per 1 km (0.39 sq mi) of at least 73 tree species; they transport about

693-414: A more balanced distribution of combinatorial call types compared to other elephant species. Despite having a simpler social structure, L. Cyclotis can display a comparable repertoire of rumble-roar call combinations than L. Africana . Communication patterns vary across age and sex, with adult males typically producing more combinatorial calls than adult females. Additionally, certain events may provoke

770-587: A number of sizable towns and cities, most of which were begun by the Germans or French. Here, settlements are more in the European pattern, with a network of streets, various neighborhoods, and central administrative or commercial districts. Most individuals maintain an agrarian lifestyle . Manioc and maize form the staple crops with plantains , yams , and groundnuts also playing a vital role (in fact, "Ewondo" and/or "Yaoundé" mean "groundnut") and in general

847-812: A poacher who killed over 500 African forest elephants in the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park , was convicted to 30 years in prison for charges of poaching and others. Guyvanho was the first poacher to be tried criminally in the Republic of the Congo, and has the longest prison sentence for a poacher in the Republic of the Congo. It is not ivory alone that drives African forest elephant poaching. Killing for bushmeat in Central Africa has evolved into an international business in recent decades with markets reaching New York and other major cities of

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924-639: A relocation project at the request of the Ivory Coast government, moving four elephants from Daloa to Assagny National Park . Genetic analysis of confiscated ivory showed that 328 tusks of African forest elephants seized in the Philippines between 1996 and 2005 originated in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo; 2,871 tusks seized in Hong Kong between 2006 and 2013 originated in Tridom,

1001-599: A result, human-elephant conflict has increased. Poaching for ivory and bushmeat is a significant threat in Central Africa. Because of a spike in poaching, the African forest elephant was declared Critically Endangered by the IUCN in 2021 after it was found that the population had decreased by more than 80% over 3 generations. Civil unrest, human encroachment, and habit fragmentation leaves some elephants confined to small patches of forest without sufficient food. In January 2014, International Fund for Animal Welfare undertook

1078-1114: A resurgence, such as the Bwiti religion and, as has a flowering of new styles of music and dance, such as the Bikutsi of the Ewondos. Thus, today many Beti-Pahuin consider themselves Christian, go to church on Sundays, and then attend various secret societies or visit a traditional healer at other times during the week. Some Fang peoples also speak or understand their countries’ official languages: Spanish in Equatorial Guinea ( Annobonese in Annobón ); French in Cameroon , Equatorial Guinea , and Gabon ; Portuguese , Angolar , Principense , and Forro in São Tomé and Príncipe , English in Cameroon . Forest elephant The African forest elephant ( Loxodonta cyclotis )

1155-465: A six-month period, corresponding to around 60–70 days of total hunting time, meaning that despite the large quantity of meat provided by each individual elephant, it did not provide reliable subsistence, with the Mbuti instead relying on hunting smaller animals. Following the death of the animal, the Mbuti hunters returned to their homes, with the whole community moving to dismember the elephant carcass. Meat

1232-751: A third of the large seeds for more than 5 km (3.1 mi). Seeds passed by elephant gut germinate faster. The African forest elephant is one of the most effective seed dispersers in the tropics and has been referred to as the "megagardener of the forest" due to its significant role in maintaining plant diversity. In the Cuvette Centrale , 14 of 18 megafaunal tree species depend on seed dissemination by African forest elephants, including wild mango ( Irvingia gabonensis ), Parinari excelsa and Tridesmostemon omphalocarpoides . These 14 species are not able to survive without elephants. African forest elephants provide ecological services that maintain

1309-528: Is also a management strategy towards hunting activities in the north-eastern periphery of the park between the Ministry of Forestry Economy, the Ministry of Mines, and local representatives. In 2007, it was reported that a Chinese company had filed to exploit the second-largest iron ore deposit in the world, near the Minkebe National Park. To clear for the mining, it would involve removing

1386-490: Is also essential to reduce predation. The baby suckles using its mouth while its trunk is held over its head. Their tusks do not come until around 16 months and calves are not weaned until they are roughly 4 or 5 years old. By this time, their tusks are around 14 cm (5.5 in) long and begin to get in the way of suckling . Forest elephants have a lifespan of about 60 to 70 years and mature slowly, coming to puberty in their early teens. Bulls generally pass puberty within

1463-844: Is an herbivore . Elephants observed in Lopé National Park fed mostly tree bark and leaves , and at least 72 different fruits . To supplement their diet with minerals , they congregate at mineral-rich waterholes and mineral licks. Elephant dung piles collected in Kahuzi-Biéga National Park contained seeds and fruit remains of Omphalocarpum mortehanii , junglesop ( Anonidium mannii ), Antrocaryon nannanii , Klainedoxa gabonensis , Treculia africana , Tetrapleura tetraptera , Uapaca guineensis , Autranella congolensis , Gambeya africana and G. lacourtiana , Mammea africana , Cissus dinklagei , and Grewia midlbrandii . Dung piles collected in

1540-658: Is banned in the Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Côte d'Ivoire, and Senegal. African forest elephants are estimated to constitute up to one-third of the continent's elephant population but have been poorly studied because of the difficulty in observing them through the dense vegetation that makes up their habitat. Thermal imaging has facilitated observation of the species, leading to more information on their ecology, numbers, and behavior, including their interactions with elephants and other species. Scientists have learned more about how

1617-539: Is central to the lives of many Beti-Pahuin, particularly in Equatorial Guinea and São Tomé and Príncipe. In addition, a substantial number of Beti-Pahuin are involved in the cocoa plantations that dot the territory of Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Cameroon's south. Most of these are Bulus or Fangs, since their territory contains the largest concentration of plantations. In contrast, the Ewondos farther north often find work as unskilled labor, as their environment

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1694-429: Is considerably smaller than the African bush elephant, though the size of the species has been subject to contradictory estimates. A 2000 study suggested that bulls of the species reach a shoulder height of 2.4–3.0 m (7 ft 10 in – 9 ft 10 in), and weighed 4,000–7,000 kg (8,800–15,400 lb), while females were about 1.8–2.4 m (5 ft 11 in – 7 ft 10 in) tall at

1771-517: Is evident in Japan, where hard ivory has nearly monopolized the trade for some time. Premium quality bachi , a traditional Japanese plucking tool used for string instruments , is contrived exclusively from African forest elephant tusks. In the impenetrable and often trackless expanses of the rain forests of the Congo Basin, poaching is extremely difficult to detect and track. Levels of off-take, for

1848-646: Is inhabited by creatures such as mandrill , black colobus and chimpanzee . The western lowland gorilla , chimpanzee , black colobus , mandrill and golden potto have all been listed on the IUCN Red List . The riparian areas of the Minkébé forest provide for creatures who require a water habitat, including the dwarf crocodile , spotted-necked otter , crested mangabey , sitatunga , and water chevrotain . The swampy areas interspersed with vegetation also includes habitat for parrots and python . The park contains some animals which are rare in Gabon including

1925-497: Is much more urbanized. Many Beti-Pahuin were highly skilled workers in wood, ivory, and soapstone . They were particularly noted for their lively masks . Most Beti-Pahuin peoples were Christianised by 1939 (though the Fang were also influenced by the Mitsogo ). At that time, much of their traditional culture was abandoned, including much native dance and song . After the colonial era ended, their traditional religion has enjoyed

2002-704: Is one of the two living species of African elephant . It is native to humid tropical forests in West Africa and the Congo Basin . It is the smallest of the three living elephant species, reaching a shoulder height of 2.4 m (7 ft 10 in). As with other African elephants, both sexes have straight, down-pointing tusks, which begin to grow once the animals reach 1–3 years old. The forest elephant lives in highly sociable family groups of up to 20 individuals. Since they forage primarily on leaves, seeds, fruit, and tree bark, they have often been referred to as

2079-631: Is sparsely covered with black coarse hair, which is 20–200 mm (0.8–8 in) long around the tip of the tail. The length of the tail varies between individuals from half the height of the rump to almost touching ground. It has five toenails on the fore foot and four on the hind foot. Its back is nearly straight. Its oval-shaped ears have small elliptical-shaped tips. and the tip of the trunk has two finger-like processes. The African forest elephant's tusks are straight and point downwards, and are present in both males and females. The African forest elephant has pink tusks, which are thinner and harder than

2156-457: The Baka . A large number of Beti-Pahuin are involved in lucrative enterprises such as cocoa and coffee farming. The Beti-Pahuin peoples organised themselves according to a series of patrilineal kinships, although some of its subgroups seem to have practiced matriliny in the past. As a consequence of this matrilineal past we can still nowadays see the strong link among the maternal uncle and

2233-644: The African bush elephant . Morphological and DNA analysis showed that they are two distinct species . The taxonomic status of the African pygmy elephant ( Loxodonta pumilio ) was uncertain for a long time. Phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial genome of nine specimens from museum collections indicates that it is an African forest elephant whose diminutive size or early maturity is due to environmental conditions. Phylogenetic analysis of nuclear DNA of African bush and forest elephants, Asian elephants , woolly mammoths and American mastodons revealed that

2310-674: The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora on CITES Appendix I since 1989. This listing banned commercial international trade of wild African elephants and their parts and derivatives by countries that signed the CITES agreement. Populations of Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe were listed in CITES Appendix II in 1997 as was the population of South Africa in 2000. Hunting elephants

2387-532: The Democratic Republic of the Congo , with the largest stable population in Gabon , where suitable habitat covers 90% of the country. Nonetheless, it was estimated that the population of African forest elephants in Central Africa had declined by around 86% (in the 31 years preceding 2021) due to poaching and loss of habitat. In places such as Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of

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2464-741: The Fong and Zaman of the Dja River valley, the Yengono , Yembama and Yelinda of the Nyong River valley, and the Yesum , Yebekanga , Yebekolo , and Mvele . In addition, several other peoples are currently being assimilated or "Pahuinised" by their Beti-Pahuin neighbours. These include the Manguissa , Yekaba , Bamvele , Evuzok , Batchanga (Tsinga) , Omvang , Yetude , and, to some extent,

2541-603: The French Global Environment Facility (FFEM). The WWF has attempted to create a complex of protected areas in the interzone between Gabon, Republic of the Congo and Cameroon and the Minkebe was intended to become a part of a conservation process on a much broader geographical scale. This interzone is considered one of the most biologically rich forests in Africa and is ecologically a part of

2618-716: The Mvae , and the Okak . Fang territories begin at the southern edge of Cameroon south of Kribi , Djoum , and Mvangan in the South Province and continue south across the border, including all of Río Muni in Equatorial Guinea and south into Gabon and Congo . The third grouping is called the Bulu and makes up about a third of all Beti-Pahuin in Cameroon. The Bulu include the Bulu proper of Sangmélima , Kribi, and Ebolowa ,

2695-563: The bongo and the giant forest hog . Although the park itself is not permanently inhabited by humans, populations of Baka pygmy , Fang, Kota and Kwèl ethnic groups live in the forest region and possess a rich cultural and superstitious heritage, The Kota mask, the forest spirit, Baka Edzengui, and the Kwel Deke dance are of cultural note in the region. Species of bird, including the spot-breasted ibis ( Bostrychia rara ) and Rachel's malimbe ( Malimbus racheliae ), are fairly common in

2772-473: The rain forest of Gabon's Lopé National Park between 1984 and 1991 comprised between three and eight individuals. Groups of up to 20 individuals were observed in the Dzanga-Sangha Complex of Protected Areas , comprising adult cows, their daughters and subadult sons. Family members look after calves together, called allomothering . Once young bulls reach sexual maturity , they separate from

2849-541: The 'megagardener of the forest'; the species is one of many that contributes significantly to maintaining the composition, diversity and structure of the Guinean Forests of West Africa and the Congolese rainforests . Seeds of various plants will go through the elephant's digestive tract and eventually pass through in the animal's droppings (likely in a new location where they will sprout), thus helping to maintain

2926-418: The 1990s and early 2000s. Over several decades, numbers are estimated to have fallen from approximately 700,000 to less than 100,000, with about half of the remaining population in Gabon. In May 2013, Sudanese poachers killed 26 elephants in the Central African Republic's Dzanga Bai World Heritage Site . Communications equipment, video cameras, and additional training of park guards were provided following

3003-488: The African forest elephant and African bush elephant are two distinct species that genetically diverged at least 1.9 million years ago. They are therefore considered distinct species. Despite evidence of hybridization between the two species where their ranges overlap, there appears to have been little gene flow between the two species since their initial divergence. DNA from the extinct European straight-tusked elephant ( Palaeoloxodon antiquus ) indicates that members of

3080-699: The Congo and the Central African Republic , many areas of appropriate forest habitat have been reduced after years of warfare and human conflict. During the first wildlife survey in 30 years (in 2021) by the Wildlife Conservation Society and the National Parks of Gabon, it was reported that an estimated 95,000 forest elephants lived in Gabon. Prior to this the population had been estimated to be as low as 50,000 to 60,000 individuals. They are also distributed in

3157-421: The Congo Basin's forests. Although much of the protected area is unspoiled with human intervention, logging of Gabonese redwood trees has increased considerably in recent years where roads have been built and there are two logging concessions in the area which could threaten the park in the future. Other threats to the park include low scale gold mining and hunting for crocodile skin, ivory or meat to sell in

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3234-483: The Congo basin, including by Mbuti pygmies , among others. It is unknown how long the active hunting of elephants in the region has been practised, and it may have only begun as a response for the demand for ivory beginning in the 19th century or earlier. Elephants are traditionally hunted using spears , typically to stab at the lower abdomen (as is done among the Mbuti) or knees, both of which are effective at rendering

3311-675: The Northwest Congolian Lowland Forest ecoregion , one of WWF's main global ecoregions. This work at a regional level in the interzone between Cameroon, Republic of the Congo and Gabon is known as the Dja- Odzala-Minkébé Tri-National (TRIDOM), where each of the countries have committed themselves to cooperating, implementing and managing the interzone in order to promote conservation and sustainable development . The TRIDOM zone covers 140,000 km which equates to approximately 7.5% of

3388-536: The United States, and the industry is still on the rise. This illegal market poses the greatest threat not only to forest elephants where hunters can target elephants of all ages, including calves, but to all of the larger species in the forests. There are actions that can be taken to lower the incentive for supplying to the bushmeat market. Regional markets, and international trade, require the transporting of extensive amounts of animal meat which, in turn, requires

3465-402: The ability to see just as well in dim light as they can in the daylight. They are capable of doing so because the retina in their eyes adjusts nearly as quickly as light does. The elephant's feet are sensitive and can detect vibrations through the ground, whether thunder or elephant calls, from up to 10 miles away. Females reach sexual maturity between the age of 8 and 12 years, depending on

3542-469: The animal immobile. Anthropologist Mitsuo Ichikawa observed the hunting of elephants by Mbuti pygmies in fieldwork during the 1970s and 1980s, when the Mbuti used spears tipped with metal points (though earlier reports suggest that that prior to this they used purely wooden spears, which may have been less effective at breaking the elephants hide). As observed by Ichikawa, elephant hunting by the Mbuti pygmies involved both small and large groups of hunters, which

3619-623: The cities of Gabon although this is relatively low. Hunting management is being implemented by a protocol signed within Gabon, between the Gabonese Ministry of Forestry Economy, the Governorate of the Woleu-Ntem Province, Bordamur and the villages in which are directly involved. The protocol acknowledges the interests of conservationists, loggers and local communities on matters relating to hunting and fishing. There

3696-698: The composition and structure of Central African forests. Vocalization is a trait found among L. Cyclotis with studies emphasizing significance in acoustic structure and their social dynamics. Vocalization patterns can be classified into three main types: single rumble, single broadband, and combinatorial. Rumbles are tonal, low-frequency calls, while broadband are calls that lack clear harmonic structures, resembling barks and roars. The utilization of rumbles and broadband calls in combinatorial calls may involve distinct acoustic elements, forming multi-element calls, which combine meaningless elements to generate context-specific meaningful calls. L. Cyclotis also exhibits

3773-471: The early 21st century, they form the largest ethnic group in central Cameroon and its capital city of Yaounde . Their Beti languages are mutually intelligible . The Beti-Pahuin are made up of over 20 individual clans. Altogether, they inhabit a territory of forests and rolling hills that stretches from the Sanaga River in the north to Equatorial Guinea and the northern halves of Gabon to Congo to

3850-540: The earth. A variety of forest products, such as greens , insects , mushrooms , and various palm products, supplements the diet. Livestock is limited to small animals that may be left to forage unattended, such as goats , pigs , and chickens . These are typically saved for special occasions such as funerals or New Year's Day . Instead, the main source of animal protein during the year, comes from bushmeat , that is, wild game such as pangolin , porcupine , and monkey brought in by jungle hunters . Likewise, fishing

3927-508: The evergreen moist deciduous Upper Guinean forests in Ivory Coast and Ghana , in West Africa . There is a small population of perhaps 10-25 elephants living on the escarpment to the east of Luanda in the Kambondo forest (Hines, pers. comm. 2015) and sightings of these elephants are marked as point records. Which are the southernmost forest elephants in Africa. The African forest elephant lives in family groups. Groups observed in

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4004-484: The extinct elephant genus Palaeoloxodon interbred with African forest elephants, with over 1/3 of the nuclear genome as well as the mitochondrial genome of the straight-tusked elephant deriving from that of African forest elephants, with the genomic contribution more closely related to modern West African populations of the forest elephant than to other populations. Palaeoloxodon carried multiple separate mitochondrial lineages derived from forest elephants. Diagram of

4081-469: The family group and form loose bachelor groups for a few days, but usually stay alone. Adult bulls associate with family groups only during the mating season. Family groups travel about 7.8 km (4.8 mi) per day and move in a home range of up to 2,000 km (770 sq mi). Their seasonal movement is related to the availability of ripe fruits in Primary Rainforests . They use

4158-402: The herd to breed or to socialize; they do not provide prenatal care to their offspring but rather play a fatherly role to younger bulls to show dominance. Females are polyestrous , meaning they are capable of conceiving multiple times a year, which is a reason why they do not appear to have a breeding season. However, there does appear to be a peak in conceptions during the two rainy seasons of

4235-558: The massacre to improve protection of the site. From mid-April to mid-June 2014, poachers killed 68 elephants in Garamba National Park , including young ones without tusks. At the request of President Ali Bongo Ondimba , twelve British soldiers traveled to Gabon in 2015 to assist in training park rangers following the poaching of many elephants in Minkebe National Park . On 19 August 2020, Guyvanho ,

4312-433: The most part, are estimated from ivory seizures. The scarcely populated and unprotected forests in Central Africa are most likely becoming increasingly alluring to organized poacher gangs. Late in the 20th century, conservation workers established a DNA identification system to trace the origin of poached ivory. Due to poaching to meet high demand for ivory, the African forest elephant population approached critical levels in

4389-413: The musth scent, and they may even flap their ears, accompanied by a musth rumble, so that their smell can be blown toward other elephants. Another behavior affiliated with musth is urination. Bulls allow their urine to slowly come out and spray the insides of their hind legs. All of these behaviors are to advertise to receptive females and competing bulls that they are in the musth state. Bulls only return to

4466-494: The nephew. The family (a man, his wife or wives, and his children) forms the backbone of this system. Several families of a common lineage live together in a village , and in turn, several related villages form a clan . These clans come under the nominal rule of a chief, who is also traditionally regarded as a religious authority. The majority of the Beti-Pahuin ethnic groups live in small, roadside villages of no more than

4543-499: The next year or two of females. Between the ages of 15 and 25, bulls experience " musth ", which is a hormonal state they experience marked by increased aggression. The male secretes fluid from the temporal gland between his ear and eye during this time. Younger bulls often experience musth for a shorter period of time, while older bulls do for a longer time. When in musth, bulls have a more erect walk with their head high and tusks inward, they may rub their heads on trees or bushes to spread

4620-494: The other at Makokou. A central camp was also installed at the mouth of the river Nouna to manage the protected area. Since 1997, the park has received funds from DGIS ( Netherlands Development Cooperation ) and CARPE ( USAID ), and the WWF has worked with other groups to build up ways in which to manage and protect the biodiversity in the park. The park has received donors from the European Union , CARPE , UNESCO and

4697-566: The park in many places is extremely limited due to the distinct lack of infrastructure in the park which has helped to protect the area and leave much of it unspoiled by human interference. The forest elephant is particularly important to the park and is believed by the WWF to contain one of the largest populations in Africa. The lesser forest in the park is inhabited by elephants , gorillas , and various small carnivores, porcupines , squirrels , african golden cats , leopards , giant pangolins , duikers and red river hog . The primary forest

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4774-456: The park, and the tree species Sterculia subviolacea is found in the national park and not found elsewhere in Gabon. Beti-Pahuin#Fang The Beti-Pahuin are a Bantu ethnic group located in Center region of Cameroon . Though they separate themselves into several individual clans , they all share a common origin, history and culture. Estimated to be well over 8 million individuals in

4851-427: The population density and nutrition available. On average, they begin breeding at the age of 23 and give birth every 5–6 years. As a result, the birth rate is lower than the bush species, which starts breeding at age 12 and has a calf every 3–4 years. Baby elephants weigh around 105 kg (232 lb) at birth. Almost immediately, they can stand up and move around, allowing the mother to roam around and forage, which

4928-444: The relationships of elephant mitochondrial genomes, after Lin et al. 2023. Elephas (Asian elephant) Mammuthus (mammoths) Loxodonta africana (African bush elephant) North central African forest elephant clade Palaeoloxodon antiquus + Chinese Palaeoloxodon West central African forest elephant clade Western African forest elephant clade P. antiquus + P. cf mnaidriensis The African forest elephant

5005-612: The shoulder and 2,000–4,000 kg (4,400–8,800 lb). However, a 2003 study of forest elephants at a reserve in Gabon did not find any elephants taller than 2.16 metres (7.1 ft). A 2015 study alternately suggested that fully grown African forest elephant males in optimal condition were only on average 2.2 metres (7.2 ft) tall and 2,000 kilograms (4,400 lb) in weight, with the largest individuals no bigger than 2.75 metres (9.0 ft) tall and 3,500 kilograms (7,700 lb) in weight. The African forest elephant has grey skin, which looks yellow to reddish after wallowing . It

5082-759: The south, and from the Atlantic Ocean to the west to the Dja River in the east. The first grouping, called the Beti , consists of the Ewondo (more precisely Kolo ), Bane , Fang (more precisely M'fang ), Mbida-Mbane , Mvog-Nyenge , Bran (more precisely Brang or Brong ) and Eton (or Iton ). The Eton are further subdivided into the Eton-Beti , Eton-Beloua , and Beloua-Eton . The Ewondo, or Yaunde, are centered on Yaoundé , Cameroon's capital, which

5159-402: The species has been listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List . Elephas ( Loxodonta ) cyclotis was the scientific name proposed by Paul Matschie in 1900 who described the skulls of a female and a male specimen collected by the Sanaga River in southern Cameroon . The African forest elephant was long considered to be a subspecies of the African elephant, together with

5236-414: The spread and biodiversity of the forests. The first scientific description of the species was published in 1900. During the 20th century, overhunting caused a sharp decline in population, and by 2013 it was estimated that fewer than 30,000 individuals remained. It is threatened by habitat loss, fragmentation, and poaching . The conservation status of populations varies across range countries. Since 2021,

5313-415: The traces of an elephant are detected, it was carefully tracked, before being approached from downwind and stabbed. It typically took several hours to several days from the first stab to the death of the elephant. Many hunts failed due to elephants detecting the hunters before being stabbed and fleeing, with field research by Ichikawa finding that only one out of six Mbuti elephant hunts were successful in

5390-467: The tri-national Dja - Odzala - Minkébé protected area complex and the adjacent Dzanga Sangha Reserve in the Central African Republic. So did partly worked ivory confiscated between 2013 and 2014 at warehouses in Togo comprising 4,555 kg (10,042 lb) of tusks. The hard ivory of the African forest elephant makes for more enhanced carving and fetches a higher price on the black market . This preference

5467-518: The tusks of the African bush elephant. The length and diameter vary between individuals. Tusks of bulls grow throughout life, tusks of cows cease growing when they are sexually mature. The tusks are used to push through the dense undergrowth of their habitat. The largest tusk recorded for the species is 2.41 metres (7.9 ft) long and 60 kilograms (130 lb) in weight. A larger tusk measuring 2.96 metres (9.7 ft) long and weighing 70 kilograms (150 lb) has been recorded, but this may belong to

5544-691: The utilisation of vehicles. Having checkpoints on major roads and railroads can potentially help disrupt commercial networks. In 2006, it was estimated that 410 African forest elephants are killed yearly in the Cross-Sanaga-Bioko coastal forests . In 1986, the African Elephant Database was initiated with the aim to monitor the status of African elephant populations. This database includes results from aerial surveys, dung counts, interviews with local people, and data on poaching. Both African elephant species have been listed by

5621-472: The wider area. There exists a wide diversity of habitats, from inselberg forest, herbaceous swamps, inundated river forest to secondary forest. The landscape of the park is dominated by isolated rock domes overlooking the surrounding forest and trees of many hundreds of years old are to be found. An abundance of marshy areas break the forest cover. The Minkébé forest has four main rivers and there are also areas of grassland with elephant tracks. Accessibility to

5698-430: The year. Generally, the female conceives after two or three matings. Though the female has plenty of room in her uterus for twins, twins are rarely conceived. Gestation lasts 22 months. Based on the maturity, fertility, and gestation rates, African forest elephants have the capacity to increase their population by 5% annually under ideal conditions. African forest elephants are hunted by various hunter-gatherer groups in

5775-412: Was led by at least one experienced hunter called a mtuma. Before the hunt began, ritual acts of singing and dancing were performed by the community to support the success of the hunt. These hunters often went into the forest without food, living off of wild honey and vegetables, smearing themselves in mud, elephant dung, and charcoal made from certain plants to disguise their scent from the elephants. Once

5852-711: Was named for them. They also populate the eastern Mefou division and the Mfoundi and Nyong and So divisions in the Centre Province . The remainder of their territory lies in the northern portions of the Ocean division in the South Province . Their language (or Beti dialect), also called Ewondo , is the most widely spoken of the Beti languages in Cameroon, with an estimated 1,200,000 speakers in 1982. It serves as

5929-524: Was shared equally among the community with the exception of a few body parts which were reserved for certain community members, with the feast on the animals remains lasting for several days. Elephant hunting was a dangerous activity that was known to result in the deaths of hunters. Both African elephant species are threatened foremost by habitat loss and habitat fragmentation following conversion of forests for plantations of non- timber crops, livestock farming, and building urban and industrial areas. As

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