Localized extinction almost certain as African elephant population plunges by 30 percent in 7 years

African elephant numbers are dwindling down fast.

(Image credit: SIMON MAINA/AFP/Getty Images)

published 31 August 2016

Scientists estimate that before European colonization, the elephant population in Africa numbered around 20 million. By 1979, that number was a mere 1.3 million. But now, following the first major study of its scale and kind, the population of elephants living in Africa is estimated to be just over 350,000, CNN reports.

Due primarily to rampant poaching, between 2007 and 2014 the number of elephants in Africa dropped by 30 percent. In some regions, it dropped by more than 75 percent:

"When you think of how many elephants occurred in areas 10 or 20 years ago, it's incredibly disheartening," says [Mike Chase, the lead scientist of the Great Elephant Census]."Historically these ecosystems supported many thousands of elephants compared to the few hundreds or tens of elephants we counted."The current rate of species decline is 8 percent, meaning that elephant numbers could halve to 175,000 in nine years if nothing changes, according to the survey — and localized extinction is almost certain.Even before the census offered proof, scientists calculated that far more elephants were dying than being born. Now the species has reached a tipping point. [CNN]

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.