African Forest Elephant Loxodonta cyclotis

African Forest Elephant Loxodonta cyclotis

Location: Central and West Africa – Guineo-Congolian tropical forests, including Cameroon, Gabon, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, and surrounding regions.

IUCN Status: Critically Endangered

The African Forest #Elephant is a Critically Endangered species found in the dense #rainforests of Central and #WestAfrica. They are smaller than their savanna relatives, with straighter tusks and rounder ears, uniquely adapted to their forested habitat. As ecosystem engineers, these elephants play a crucial role in maintaining Afrotropical forests by dispersing seeds and mitigating against climate change by shaping forest composition. However, relentless #poaching for ivory, habitat destruction due to #palmoil, #cocoa and #tobacco agriculture, and human-elephant conflict have decimated their population. Recent studies have shown that African Forest Elephants’ movement patterns vary significantly between individuals, with some elephants exploring vast distances while others remain in small home ranges. This variation poses unique challenges for conservation efforts. Resist and fight for their survival each time you shop, be #vegan and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife.

https://youtu.be/cldLHm2-pnQ

African Forest #Elephants are ecosystem engineers fighting #ClimateChange in #WestAfrica. Yet #poaching and #palmoil #deforestation have rendered them critically endangered 😿🐘 Help them and be #vegan #BoycottPalmOil 🌴⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/09/11/african-forest-elephant-loxodonta-cyclotis/

Supremely intelligent and sensitive African Forest #Elephants 🐘🩶 face several grave threats, incl. #PalmOil #Deforestation and #poaching in #Gabon 🇬🇦 #Congo 🇨🇩 #WestAfrica. Fight for them when you #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🔥🧐⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/09/11/african-forest-elephant-loxodonta-cyclotis/

Rapid land use change, including palm oil plantations across their range is driving the direct loss and fragmentation of habitat, is an increasing threat to African elephants across their range.

IUCN red list

Appearance and Behaviour

African Forest Elephants are smaller than their savanna counterparts, with a shoulder height of 2 to 3 metres. They have a more compact build, rounded ears, and long, narrow tusks that point downward, (Gobush et al., 2021). Their grey skin is often darker due to the humid rainforest environment. They live in small, matriarchal family groups and display remarkable individual variation in movement behaviours. Some elephants, known as “explorers,” travel vast distances, while others, the “idlers,” remain within confined home ranges. These behavioural differences complicate conservation efforts, as strategies must account for their diverse space-use needs.

These elephants are highly intelligent and social, living in small, matriarchal family groups that navigate the rainforest together. Their deep infrasonic rumbles travel through the ground, allowing communication over vast distances, even in the thickest jungle. Recent research has revealed that their vocalisations have a structure akin to human syntax—complex combinations of calls used to convey intricate meanings (Hedwig & Kohlberg, 2024).

Other research has found that the foraging, seed dispersal and exploration of African Forest Elephants helps to mitigate African forests against climate change. A 2019 study from the Ndoki Forest in the Republic of Congo (ROC) and LuiKotale in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) estimated that if elephants were removed from these sites, the loss of their forest-shaping food preferences would reduce the forest’s carbon capture by 7%.

Diet

Forest Elephants are frugivorous and play an irreplaceable role as seed dispersers, particularly for large fruiting trees. They are responsible for spreading the seeds of over 41 timber species, including Bobgunnia fistuloides (pao rosa), a tree prized for its high-value wood (Blake et al., 2009; Campos-Arceiz & Blake, 2011). Without these elephants, the rainforest’s ability to regenerate and store carbon would be drastically diminished.

Reproduction and Mating

With a gestation period of 22 months—the longest of any land mammal—female African Forest elephants give birth only once every four to six years (Gobush et al., 2021). Due to their slow reproductive rate, population recovery is incredibly difficult, making conservation efforts even more urgent. Calves remain under their mother’s care for over a decade, learning crucial survival skills in the rainforest.

Geographic Range

African Forest Elephants roam vast home ranges, some spanning over 2,000 km² (Beirne et al., 2021). Their movements are largely dictated by fruiting cycles, water availability, and human encroachment. A recent study found that they exhibit remarkable individual variation in movement patterns—some acting as ‘explorers,’ roaming far and wide, while others remain within familiar territories (Beirne et al., 2021). Roads and logging concessions disrupt these traditional routes, forcing elephants into human settlements and escalating conflict.

Threats

• Illegal Wildlife Trade and Poaching: The illegal and criminal trade in elephant ivory continues to drive rampant poaching. Despite international bans, demand remains high in black markets (Wittemyer et al., 2014; Maisels et al., 2013).
• Palm Oil Agriculture Expansion: Forests are being obliterated for palm oil, cocoa, tobacco and rubber plantations, erasing habitat at an alarming rate (Scalbert et al., 2022).
• Logging, Mining, and Infrastructure Expansion: The development of roads and infrastructure for timber and mining grants poachers greater access to once-inaccessible forest areas (Beirne et al., 2021).
• Human-Elephant Conflict: Shrinking forests push elephants into farmland, leading to fatal clashes with farmers trying to protect their crops (Ngama et al., 2016).
• Climate Change: Disruptions in rainfall patterns and fruiting cycles impact the food supply of African Forest Elephants, forcing them into riskier migration routes where they can come into contact with poachers or conflict with farmers.
• Slow Reproduction Rate: African Forest Elephants have a long gestation periods and high calf mortality, their populations cannot recover quickly from losses.

Elephants and Language: Call Combinations and Syntax

Groundbreaking research has revealed that African Forest Elephants use complex call combinations, akin to human syntax, to communicate in high-stakes situations (Hedwig & Kohlberg, 2024). Their vocal repertoire includes:

• Low-frequency rumbles: Used to coordinate movements and social interactions. These deep sounds can travel several kilometres through dense rainforest.
• Broadband roars: Express distress, urgency, or aggression, particularly in response to predators or conflict.
• Combined calls: When rumbles and roars are merged, they create new meanings. These combinations are more frequently used in competitive situations, suggesting that elephants alter their vocal signals to convey specific messages in dangerous or high-emotion contexts.

The ability to combine calls strategically may help elephants navigate social disputes, secure access to resources, or reunite with separated family members. This discovery sheds light on the cognitive abilities of these animals and their sophisticated social lives.

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African Forest Elephants Help Fight Climate Change

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African Forest Elephants and Timber Concessions

Timber and palm oil concessions now cover vast portions of forest elephant habitat, with little understanding of how these logging operations impact elephant populations (Scalbert et al., 2022). While elephants can persist in selectively logged forests, they require large, undisturbed areas to sustain viable populations. Key findings include:

• African Forest Elephants regenerate forests: By dispersing seeds of high-carbon tree species, they facilitate the regrowth of timber species, making their role essential for maintaining the economic value of these forests.
• Logging alters movement patterns: While some elephants adapt to fragmented landscapes, others are displaced, forced into human-dominated areas where they are at greater risk of poaching and conflict.
• Forest loss drives ecological collapse: Without elephants maintaining seed dispersal, many commercially valuable trees may struggle to regenerate, ultimately degrading the timber industry’s long-term viability.

You can support this beautiful animal

Sheldrick Wildlife

Virunga National Park

Africa Conservation Foundation

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Further Information

Beirne, C., Houslay, T. M., Morkel, P., Clark, C. J., Fay, M., Okouyi, J., White, L. J. T., & Poulsen, J. R. (2021). African forest elephant movements depend on time scale and individual behavior. Scientific Reports, 11, 12634. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-91627-z

Gobush, K.S., Edwards, C.T.T, Maisels, F., Wittemyer, G., Balfour, D. & Taylor, R.D. 2021. Loxodonta cyclotis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T181007989A181019888. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T181007989A181019888.en. Downloaded on 08 June 2021.

Hedwig, D., & Kohlberg, A. (2024). Call combination in African forest elephants Loxodonta cyclotis. PLOS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0299656

Scalbert, M., Vermeulen, C., Breuer, T., & Doucet, J. L. (2022). The challenging coexistence of forest elephants Loxodonta cyclotis and timber concessions in central Africa. Mammal Review, 52(3), 501–518. https://doi.org/10.1111/mam.12305

African Forest Elephant Loxodonta cyclotis

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The World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert

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#Africa #African #AfricanForestElephantLoxodontaCyclotis #Angola #Bantrophyhunting #Benin #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #BurkinaFaso #Cameroon #CentralAfricanRepublic #climatechange #cocoa #Congo #CriticallyEndangeredSpecies #deforestation #DemocracticRepublicOfCongo #elephant #elephants #Forest #Gabon #Guinea #ivory #Mammal #Nigeria #Pachyderm #pachyderms #palmoil #poaching #pollination #pollinator #rainforests #SeedDispersers #SierraLeone #timber #tobacco #vegan #WestAfrica

Sumatran Elephant Elephas maximus sumatranus

Sumatran Elephant Elephas maximus sumatranus

Critically Endangered

Population: 2,400 – 2,800

The Sumatran elephant is a critically endangered subspecies of the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), confined to the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. As one of the world’s largest land mammals, they play a vital role in their ecosystem as keystone species, facilitating seed dispersal and maintaining forest biodiversity. Tragically, their population has been reduced by more than 80% in the last 75 years due to palm oil deforestation and poaching.

With fewer than 2,400 individuals estimated to remain in the wild, the Sumatran elephant is at immediate risk of extinction. Protect their future by boycotting palm oil products and advocating for stronger conservation efforts. Use your voice and wallet as weapons. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-BdEF0EBng

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5olrnYKT4Q

Sumatran #Elephants are rapidly disappearing 🐘🐘💀 critically endangered in #Sumatra #Indonesia due to #palmoil #deforestation and #poaching. Help them to survive when you #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🪔🤮☠️⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/01/19/sumatran-elephant-elephas-maximus-sumatranus/

Lighter coloured than other #pachyderms, Sumatran #Elephants deserve to live in freedom. They’re 🐘💀 critically endangered in #Indonesia 🇮🇩 due to #palmoil #deforestation and #poaching. #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🪔🤮☠️⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/01/19/sumatran-elephant-elephas-maximus-sumatranus/

While Sumatra is home to several of the country’s largest national parks, many areas in these parks are destroyed—illegally—to produce palm oil. The elephant population across the island is crashing, with far fewer than 3,000 surviving, as herds are left homeless, harassed and killed due to intense conflict with people over shrinking habitat. Their decline is closely linked to the rapid expansion of palm oil plantations, illegal logging, and human-wildlife conflicts.

The Asian Elephant is one of the last few mega-herbivores (i.e. plant-eating mammals that reach an adult body weight in excess of 1,000 kg) still extant on earth (Owen-Smith, 1988). Being hindgut fermenters with relatively poor digestive efficiency (Dumonceaux 2006), elephants must consume large quantities of food per day to meet energy requirements. The lack of reliable population estimates across most of the Asian elephant range presents a considerable challenge to detecting such declines.

Nevertheless, from what is known about trends in habitat loss and other threats including poaching, an overall population decline of at least 50% since 1945 over the last three generations (estimated to be 75 years, based on a generation time estimated to be 25 years) seems realistic. The Sumatran subspecies is listed as Critically Endangered

Appearance and Behaviour

Sumatran elephants are smaller than their mainland Asian relatives, with males standing between 2 and 3.2 metres tall and weighing up to 5,000 kilograms. Their lighter grey skin often features depigmented patches on the ears and trunk, which are particularly prominent in this subspecies. These elephants have larger ears relative to other Asian elephants, an adaptation that helps them regulate body temperature in Sumatra’s tropical climate (Nurcahyo et al., 2023).

An anatomical distinction of Sumatran elephants is their 20 pairs of ribs—one more than other Asian elephant subspecies. Male elephants typically develop long tusks, while females either lack visible tusks or have small, rudimentary ones. Their physical adaptations and behaviours are crucial for surviving in dense, tropical forests and swamps, where they navigate their environment with remarkable dexterity.

Geographical Range

Historically, Sumatran elephants roamed throughout the island’s lowland rainforests, peat swamps, and grasslands. Today, their habitat has been reduced to just a fraction of its original range, with an estimated 69% of suitable habitat lost between 1985 and 2009 (Hedges et al., 2020). Their remaining populations are concentrated in fragmented forest patches in the provinces of Aceh, Riau, Lampung, and North Sumatra.

The expansion of palm oil plantations is a primary driver of habitat destruction, with millions of hectares of forest cleared to meet global demand. Fragmented habitats force elephants into smaller areas, increasing the risk of inbreeding, resource competition, and conflict with humans (Setiawan et al., 2019).

Population Status

The Sumatran elephant population is estimated to be between 2,400 and 2,800 individuals, down from tens of thousands just decades ago. This decline represents the loss of hundreds of elephants annually due to habitat destruction, poaching, and conflict (Hedges et al., 2020). If current trends continue, the species could face extinction within 30 years.

Diet

Sumatran elephants are herbivorous and consume over 200 plant species, including grasses, fruits, leaves, bark, and roots. They consume up to 150 kilograms of vegetation daily, playing a critical role in seed dispersal and forest regeneration. Elephants forage over large areas, often moving between different forest types to meet their dietary needs (Nurcahyo et al., 2023).

Reproduction and Mating

Female Sumatran elephants have a gestation period of approximately 22 months, the longest of any land mammal. They typically give birth to a single calf every four to five years. Calves weigh 80–120 kilograms at birth and are highly dependent on their mothers for the first two years of life. These slow reproductive rates make population recovery challenging, particularly in the face of ongoing threats (Setiawan et al., 2019).

Threats

Sumatran elephants are protected under Indonesian law, but enforcement is often weak. Conservation efforts focus on habitat restoration, anti-poaching patrols, and mitigating human-elephant conflicts. Protected areas, such as Gunung Leuser and Way Kambas National Parks, are crucial for the survival of remaining populations. However, deforestation within these protected areas remains a significant challenge (Hedges et al., 2020).

IUCN Status: Critically Endangered

• Palm oil deforestation: The rapid conversion of forests into palm oil plantations has destroyed large portions of the elephants’ habitat. Between 1985 and 2009, Sumatra lost nearly half its forest cover (Hedges et al., 2020).
• Human-Elephant Conflict: As elephants venture into agricultural areas, they are often perceived as pests. This results in retaliatory killings, which account for significant population losses each year (Nurcahyo et al., 2023).
• Poaching: Male elephants are heavily targeted for their ivory, which is illegally traded. Despite national protections, poaching continues to drive population declines (Setiawan et al., 2019).
• Climate Change: Rising temperatures, altered rainfall patterns and extreme weather events threaten the availability of food and water resources, further stressing elephant populations (Nurcahyo et al., 2023).

Take Action!

Protect the Sumatran elephant by boycotting palm oil products, supporting reforestation initiatives, and advocating for stricter wildlife protection laws. Every purchase matters. Fight for their survival with #BoycottPalmOil and #Boycott4Wildlife.

Spotlight on Sumatran Elephants – Craig Jones Wildlife Photography

Without direct intervention in the national parks the Orangutans along with other forest-dependant wildlife- like the Sumatran Tigers and Elephants will become progressively scarcer until their populations are no longer viable. Spotlight Sumatra – The Final Chapter by Craig Jones

Help the organisations helping these beautiful animals

Sumatran Elephant Conservation Initiative e.V.

Way Kambas National Park Sumatra

Further Information

Gopala, A., Hadian, O., Sunarto, ., Sitompul, A., Williams, A., Leimgruber, P., Chambliss, S.E. & Gunaryadi, D. 2011. Elephas maximus ssp. sumatranus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2011: e.T199856A9129626. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-2.RLTS.T199856A9129626.en. Downloaded on 19 January 2021

Nurcahyo, A., et al. (2023). The movement pattern and home range of Sumatran elephants in the Mila-Tangse landscape. ResearchGate. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/369190606

Setiawan, I., et al. (2019). Recent observations of Sumatran elephants in Sembilang National Park, South Sumatra. Journal of Tropical Forest Science, 31(2), 299–308. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334776259

BBC Earth. (2020). Sumatran Elephant: Project Hope. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/28hWyXFGHPhm20nTVG4pT0n/sumatran-elephant

Wikipedia contributors. (2023). Sumatran elephant. In Wikipedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumatran_elephant

Sumatran Elephant Elephas maximus sumatranus

How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?

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2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.

Wildlife Artist Juanchi Pérez

Read more

Mel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings

Read more

Anthropologist and Author Dr Sophie Chao

Read more

Health Physician Dr Evan Allen

Read more

The World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert

Read more

How do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy

Read more

3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.

https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20

https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20

https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20

4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.

5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here

#Bantrophyhunting #Borneo #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #CriticallyEndangeredSpecies #deforestation #elephants #Indonesia #Malaysia #Pachyderm #pachyderms #palmoil #poaching #pollination #pollinator #SeedDispersers #SouthEastAsia #Sumatra #SumatranElephantElephasMaximusSumatranus

@shelby.elizabeth.art shared:

#elephants #animals #herbivores #pachyderms

Large herbivores such as elephants contribute to tree diversity

A recent study using satellite data has highlighted the critical role that large herbivores play in promoting tree diversity in forest ecosystems. The research showed that areas with abundant large herbivores like elephants had more varied tree cover and more tree diversity. This finding underscores the importance of large herbivores in many ecosystems and that they should have primary importance in conservation strategies, particularly in the context of global efforts to combat climate change and extinction. Help big herbivores every time you shop and #Boycottpalmoil and #Boycott4Wildlife in the supermarket!

Recent #research finds that lots of large #herbivores like #elephants 🦏🐘help plant #biodiversity in rainforests! Help big plant eaters and #plants to survive! 🐘🩶#Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife 🧐🪔⛔️ @palmoildetect.bsky.social https://wp.me/pcFhgU-7dB

Soulful #elephants 🐘💗 are not only intelligent, they add more tree cover and #tree diversity, finds this landmark #study. All #elephant species are threatened by #palmoil #deforestation and #poaching for ivory. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife 🌴🔥⛔ @palmoildetect.bsky.social https://wp.me/pcFhgU-7dB

Cover image credit: A Sumatran elephant enjoys a playful river dip, by Craig Jones Wildlife Photography

Lanhui Wang, Joris P.G.M. Cromsigt, Robert Buitenwerf, Erick J. Lundgren, Wang Li, Elisabeth S. Bakker, Jens-Christian Svenning. Tree cover and its heterogeneity in natural ecosystems is linked to large herbivore biomass globally. One Earth, 2023; DOI: 10.1016/j.oneear.2023.10.007 Media release from Lund University. “Large herbivores such as elephants, bison and moose contribute to tree diversity.” ScienceDaily, 3 November 2023.

Maintaining species-rich and resilient ecosystems is key to preserving biodiversity and mitigating climate change. Here, megafauna — the part of the animal population in an area that is made up of the largest animals — plays an important role. In a new study published in the scientific journal One Earth, an international research team, of which Lund University is a part, has investigated the intricate interplay between the number of voracious herbivores like elephants and the diversity of trees in the world’s protected areas.

“Our findings reveal a fascinating and complex story of how large herbivorous animals shape the world’s natural landscapes. The tree cover in these areas is sparser, but the diversity of the tree cover is much higher than in areas without large herbivores,” says Lanhui Wang, a researcher in physical geography and ecosystem science at Lund University.

“In our global analysis, we find a substantial association between the biomass of large herbivores and varied tree cover in protected areas, notably for browsers and mixed-feeders such as elephants, bison and moose and in non-extreme climates,” explains the study’s senior author, Jens-Christian Svenning, professor at Aarhus University.

Hereby, the study supports that large wild herbivores promote a diverse vegetation structure, creating a rich habitat for many other species. This is due to the animals’ consumption of vegetation as well as physical disturbances.

According to Lanhui Wang, these new research findings highlight the need to integrate large herbivores into restoration and conservation strategies. Not only for the sake of the animals themselves but also for the vital role they play in shaping landscapes and influencing biodiversity. The researchers argue that this aspect is not sufficiently considered within the framework of sustainable land management and ecosystem restoration.

“At a time when global initiatives are intensely focused on combating climate change and biodiversity loss, our findings highlight the need for a broader and more nuanced discussion about ecosystem management and conservation measures. It is of utmost importance to integrate understanding of the ecological impact of megafauna into this,” says Lanhui Wang.

The UN has declared the 2020s as the decade of ecosystem restoration. In total, 115 countries have agreed to restore up to 100,000 square kilometres of nature in total. To achieve this, more wild-living large herbivores are needed worldwide, says Lanhui Wang.

“I believe that we will need to protect and conserve large herbivores to achieve the UN goals. Megafauna are crucial for tree cover, which in turn promotes carbon sequestration and a diversity of habitats,” says Lanhui Wang.

Lanhui Wang, Joris P.G.M. Cromsigt, Robert Buitenwerf, Erick J. Lundgren, Wang Li, Elisabeth S. Bakker, Jens-Christian Svenning. Tree cover and its heterogeneity in natural ecosystems is linked to large herbivore biomass globally. One Earth, 2023; DOI: 10.1016/j.oneear.2023.10.007 Media release from Lund University. “Large herbivores such as elephants, bison and moose contribute to tree diversity.” ScienceDaily, 3 November 2023.

ENDS

Learn about other animals endangered by palm oil and other agriculture

Learn about “sustainable” palm oil greenwashing

Read more about RSPO greenwashing

A 2019 World Health Organisation (WHO) report into the palm oil industry and RSPO finds extensive greenwashing of palm oil deforestation and the murder of endangered animals (i.e. biodiversity loss)

Take Action in Five Ways

1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.

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2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.

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https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20

https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20

https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20

4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.

5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here

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#AfricanElephant #Bantrophyhunting #biodiversity #BorneanPygmyElephantElephasMaximusBorneensis #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #deforestation #ecology #elephant #elephants #EndangeredSpecies #herbivores #Pachyderm #pachyderms #palmOilDeforestation #palmoil #plants #poaching #research #study #SumatranElephantElephasMaximusSumatranus #tree #WorldElephantDay

According to a new study, #elephants use unique names to call each other, which they create for their fellow #pachyderms. While dolphins and parrots mimic the sounds of others in their species to communicate, elephants are the first non-human animals observed using names that do not involve imitation, researchers suggest.
#amazingnature #nature #animals

https://www.theguardian.com/science/article/2024/jun/10/elephant-names-study-ai