African forest elephants

Why in news?

• The African forest elephant is now listed as critically endangered, and the African savanna elephant is now listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species
• The two species, which were previously considered as a single species on the Red List, were previously listed as vulnerable.

About African forest elephants:

• The African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) is one of the two living African elephant species.
•  It is native to humid 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).
• Both sexes have straight, down-pointing tusks and lives in family groups of up to 20 individuals.
• Since it forages on leaves, seeds, fruit, and tree bark, it has been referred to as the 'megagardener of the forest'.
• It contributes significantly to maintain the composition and structure of the Guinean Forests of West Africa and the Congolese rainforests.
• The population declined due to hunting to less than 30,000 individuals estimated in 2013.
• It is threatened by habitat loss, fragmentation, and poaching.

About African Bush Elephants:

• The African bush elephant also known as the African savanna elephant, is the largest living terrestrial animal.
• It is distributed across 37 African countries and inhabits forests, grasslands and woodlands, wetlands, and agricultural land.
• Since 2021, it has been listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
• It is threatened foremost by habitat destruction, and in parts of its range also by poaching for meat and ivory.
• It is a social mammal, traveling in herds composed of cows and their offspring. Adult bulls usually live alone or in small bachelor groups.
• It is a herbivore, feeding on grasses, creepers, herbs, leaves, and bark.

Prelims Question

Consider the following statements regarding African forest elephants:
1.They are listed as critically endangered under IUCN red list.
2.They are the smallest of living elephant species.
Which among the above statements is/are correct?
(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)Both 1 and 2 
(d)Neither 1 nor 2

Answer to the Prelims Question