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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August 24, 2020
MEDIA STATEMENT: WCS Commends Congolese Justice System on 30-Year Sentence of Notorious Elephant Poacher and Ivory Trafficker in Republic of Congo
“This unprecedented conviction in the criminal court is a major milestone in the protection of wildlife in the Republic of Congo and in upholding the rule of law. It sends an extremely strong message that wildlife crime will not be tolerated.” –...
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August 11, 2020
STUDY: New Analysis Pinpoints Most Important Forests for Biodiversity and Conservation Remaining in Central Africa
A study by WCS and partners produced new analyses to pinpoint the most important forests for biodiversity conservation remaining in Central Africa.
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November 22, 2019
WCS Statement on Dr. Carlos Lopes Pereira Winning the Tusk Conservation Award – The Prince William Award for Conservation in Africa
The Wildlife Conservation Society congratulates Dr. Carlos Lopes Pereira, who was honored with a lifetime achievement Tusk Conservation Award in Africa – the Prince William Award for Conservation in Africa – for his four decades of work to protect...
Read the story
View All News
MEDIA STATEMENT: WCS Commends Congolese Justice System on 30-Year Sentence of Notorious Elephant Poacher and Ivory Trafficker in Republic of Congo
“This unprecedented conviction in the criminal court is a major milestone in the protection of wildlife in the Republic of Congo and in upholding the rule of law. It sends an extremely strong message that wildlife crime will not be tolerated.” –...
Read the storySTUDY: New Analysis Pinpoints Most Important Forests for Biodiversity and Conservation Remaining in Central Africa
A study by WCS and partners produced new analyses to pinpoint the most important forests for biodiversity conservation remaining in Central Africa.
Read the storyWCS Statement on Dr. Carlos Lopes Pereira Winning the Tusk Conservation Award – The Prince William Award for Conservation in Africa
The Wildlife Conservation Society congratulates Dr. Carlos Lopes Pereira, who was honored with a lifetime achievement Tusk Conservation Award in Africa – the Prince William Award for Conservation in Africa – for his four decades of work to protect...
Read the storyWe Stand for Wildlife
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