Based on the area surveyed, where are the major hotspots of elephant decline? Where are elephant populations stable or increasing?

Question

Turn off the 1979 and 2007 range layers and turn on the 2016 trends layers. Based on the area surveyed, where are the major hotspots of elephant decline? Where are elephant populations stable or increasing?

Answer 1

Major hotspots of elephant decline include Central Africa (e.g., Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic) due to poaching and habitat loss, and parts of East Africa (e.g., Tanzania, Kenya) where ivory trade and habitat encroachment have caused significant reductions. Elephant populations are stable or increasing in regions like South Africa, particularly in Kruger National Park; Botswana, known for large populations in Chobe National Park and Okavango Delta; Namibia, with rising numbers in the northwest; and certain areas in Zimbabwe, where conservation efforts and protected areas management have had positive effects.