Using innovative passive acoustic monitoring (PAM), researchers have revealed how forest elephants (Loxodonta cyclotis) in Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park adjust their behavior in response to gunfire. The data shows an 8-day reduction in elephant presence after hunting incidents, along with increased nighttime vocalizations—clear evidence of stress caused by poaching. This groundbreaking study highlights the profound impact of human activity on these keystone species.
The research, a collaboration between Cornell University's Elephant Listening Project, Wildlife Conservation Society, and Congolese scientists, deployed 50 acoustic recorders across 1,250 km² of dense rainforest. Local researchers and eco-guards played a vital role in data collection, contributing to successful elephant protection efforts in the park. As ecosystem engineers crucial for forest regeneration and carbon storage, forest elephants require urgent conservation measures, including anti-poaching enforcement and preservation of ecological corridors. The full study offers critical insights for African biodiversity conservation.
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