How Many Elephants Are Left In The World?

These giant mammals roam Africa and Asia, but their numbers are dwindling. Learn how many elephants are left in the world and what can be done to save the elephant population.

By Sofia Quaglia
Oct 30, 2023 1:00 PM
African elephant
A majestic African Elephant walking down the road. (Credit: Timmy V Photography/Shutterstock)

Newsletter

Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news
 

Elephants are the largest land mammals to roam the planet and some of the most socially intelligent creatures scientists have studied.

They’re doting parents, they demonstrate empathy towards their elephant friends, they can imitate human speech — and one baby elephant recently took the news by storm for peeling a banana herself.

Yet, there are not many of these stunning animals left on Earth.

How Many Elephants Are Left In The World?

In the 1930s, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature, the African continent was home to more than 10 million wild elephants. Those numbers have been plummeting though, and as of 2016, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) African Elephant Status Report, there were just 415,000 African elephants left across 37 countries in Africa.

0 free articles left
Want More? Get unlimited access for as low as $1.99/month

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

0 free articlesSubscribe
Discover Magazine Logo
Want more?

Keep reading for as low as $1.99!

Subscribe

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

Stay Curious

Sign up for our weekly newsletter and unlock one more article for free.

 

View our Privacy Policy


Want more?
Keep reading for as low as $1.99!


Log In or Register

Already a subscriber?
Find my Subscription

More From Discover
Recommendations From Our Store
Shop Now
Stay Curious
Join
Our List

Sign up for our weekly science updates.

 
Subscribe
To The Magazine

Save up to 40% off the cover price when you subscribe to Discover magazine.

Copyright © 2024 Kalmbach Media Co.