Elephant status and conservation in the Upper Bandama Game Reserve, Ivory Coast

Abstract

Upper Bandama is the largest game reserve in the Ivory Coast. About 80 elephants were estimated to live in Upper Bandam GR's woodland savannah habitat during the 1980s, but no elephant were observed during a reconnaissance flight in 1996. However, between 1995 and 1999 several people observed elephant when flying over the area, and since large patches of forest are still present inside the Reserve elephant may still exist, but to locate them ground observation may be necessary. During the 1990s the estimate normally given for this area was 40 elephant, but the author suggests that now a more realistic estimate would be 20. Hunting pressure is high. The animals, if there are any, would have stayed in the Reserve area for protection from hunters and because of increasing conflict with human settlements and domestic stock in the surrounding area.