A new study by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and Gabon's National Park Agency (ANPN), reveals that Gabon has the largest population of forest elephants in Africa.

In that African country, elephants are present in more than 250,000 square kilometers of the country, which is equivalent to 90% of the territory. With a low population density, the study by WCS and Gabon's National Park Agency (ANPN), estimates that there is one elephant for every twenty people.

"These results underscore the importance of Gabon as a critical stronghold for forest elephants - containing an estimated 60 to 70% of Africa's forest elephants. Gabon, along with northern Republic of Congo, probably maintains up to 85% of the remaining forest elephants - in large and relatively stable populations," the research points out, and then adds that: "with significant declines in forest elephants reported across much of the rest of the Congo Basin, these two nations will determine the future of the forest elephant in Africa."

However, study co-author Emma Stokes said that for this

research, a count of the species in the country was conducted using a non-invasive method, using Capture and Recapture techniques and based on molecular sampling of manure.

"The results demonstrate the presence of 95 110 forest elephants in Gabon, and their distribution is higher in relatively flat areas," says Emma Stokes.

It should be noted that this was the first comprehensive study of the forest elephant population since the late 1980s. For experts, monitoring the population is crucial so that measures can be developed to ensure its protection and that of its habitat.