African Elephants
Why WCS?
28 percent
WCS sites and landscapes cover 28% of the African forest elephant population.
14 percent
WCS sites and landscapes cover 14% of the African savannah elephant population.
On Our Strategies
Protect Elephants and Their Habitat
We support rangers and help government agencies better manage rangers' patrols using SMART (the Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool). In addition, WCS helps protect elephants at key sites through the use of intelligence networks and aerial surveillance.
Build Capacity in Range States
WCS has helped or is currently helping develop and implement National Elephant Action Plans and Strategies with a number of countries, including Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and Uganda.
In Action
For decades, WCS has helped to strengthen and secure elephant strongholds throughout the Congo Basin. In areas where WCS has supported ranger patrols with our SMART program, elephants are seven times more abundant when compared to unpatrolled forest areas. While elephants in many parts of Africa continue to be slaughtered by well-armed, criminal gangs of ivory poachers, elephant populations in the Republic of Congo are stable in all areas managed by WCS.
12 countries
WCS works in 12 of the 37 African elephant range states.
Monitor Elephant Numbers
For African savannah elephants, WCS is a key partner in the Great Elephant Census, a Paul G. Allen Project, leading the counts in 11 countries, including Mozambique, Uganda, and South Sudan.
Related Regions
Related News
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November 1, 2022
Extensive Wildlife Survey in Tanzania Confirms Elephant Recovery in Key African Wildlife Stronghold
Tanzania's Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism (MNRT) released the results of a second ever landscape wildlife survey confirming that elephant numbers have stabilized in an area that was amongst the hardest hit by ivory poachers in the last...
Read the story
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October 31, 2022
WCS Helps Congo Key in on Critical Wild Areas for Conservation (English and French)
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is building on its long-standing collaboration with the Republic of the Congo's government to work together to identify key biodiversity areas (KBAs) in a country incredibly rich in biodiversity.
Read the story
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December 16, 2021
WCS Welcomes EU Steps on Further Restricting its Domestic Ivory Market
The following statement was issued by WCS Vice President of International Policy Dr. Susan Lieberman in response to the European Union’s new ivory trade rules announced today.
Read the story
View All News
Extensive Wildlife Survey in Tanzania Confirms Elephant Recovery in Key African Wildlife Stronghold
Tanzania's Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism (MNRT) released the results of a second ever landscape wildlife survey confirming that elephant numbers have stabilized in an area that was amongst the hardest hit by ivory poachers in the last...
Read the storyWCS Helps Congo Key in on Critical Wild Areas for Conservation (English and French)
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is building on its long-standing collaboration with the Republic of the Congo's government to work together to identify key biodiversity areas (KBAs) in a country incredibly rich in biodiversity.
Read the storyWCS Welcomes EU Steps on Further Restricting its Domestic Ivory Market
The following statement was issued by WCS Vice President of International Policy Dr. Susan Lieberman in response to the European Union’s new ivory trade rules announced today.
Read the storySign Up for Email Updates
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