African wildlife numbers down 80 percent since 1970

Monitored vertebrate populations across Africa dropped by an average of 80 percent between 1970 and 2022, according to the Living Planet Report 2026 released on Oct. 8. The continent-wide figure outpaced the worldwide average decline of 73 percent over the same period.

The analysis, overseen by the Zoological Society of London alongside the World Wide Fund for Nature, evaluated nearly 36,000 population trends covering 5,790 vertebrate species. Representatives emphasized that the metric tracks relative shifts in monitored group sizes rather than a total loss of all wild animals or species.

Environmental degradation and habitat destruction stand as the primary drivers behind the losses globally. Additional pressures highlighted in the assessment include overexploitation, shifting climate patterns, pollution, invasive organisms, and emerging pathogens.

Pressures in Central Africa

In regions like the Congo Basin, agricultural expansion, mining, timber harvesting, and expanding infrastructure have broken up forested landscapes. Hunting and poaching further strain native animals. WWF noted that African forest elephant numbers plunged by more than 60 percent during recent decades due to ivory poaching and habitat loss.

Nadège Nzoyem, who leads WWF initiatives in the Congo Basin, stated that changing this trajectory demands joint work across official sectors and civic organizations, placing Indigenous groups and local residents at the forefront.

Signs of localized recovery

Despite the sharp overall downward trend, approximately half of all monitored groups worldwide remained stable or grew. In Southern Africa, savanna elephants continue to struggle across extensive portions of their range, yet certain populations have grown where neighboring communities directly participate in wildlife stewardship and reap tangible benefits.

These positive local outcomes were reinforced by targeted anti-trafficking enforcement, anti-corruption initiatives, and court reforms. The report concluded that reversing broader declines will require systemic transformations in food, financial, and energy networks alongside habitat protections.