Monitoring Key Forest Elephants Strongholds and Threats in Gabon

Gabon is the main stronghold for critically endangered forest elephants (Loxodonta cyclotis). Studies show that in just a decade, over three-quarters of elephants in Gabon’s Minkebe National Park were killed due to poaching, which highlights the urgent need for early and indirect detection tools to monitor elephant populations and assess threats. This project addresses this need by implementing non-invasive monitoring methods like anti-poaching patrols to collect direct evidence of illegal activities, and deploying acoustic monitoring devices and camera traps. Information gathered will be used to produce the first documented comparison of forest elephant body condition across multiple sites in Gabon in order to evaluate the health of the population. Eco-guards and other staff will be trained on these methods thereby expanding capacity for conservation interventions and analysis.

IEF #AF1056

Project Years: 2025

Project Partners:
Stéphanie Bourgeois, National Parks Agency of Gabon (ANPN) , Gabon