Dzanga Bai: A Long-Term Window into Forest Elephant Life

Long-term work at Dzanga Bai blends direct elephant observation with 24/7 acoustic monitoring to map forest elephants’ social lives, track population trends, and detect threats, while training local researchers and partnering with nearby communities to build a sustainable, locally led conservation model; despite ongoing poaching risks and funding dependence, the site shows a relatively stable population and demonstrates how forest health, livelihoods, and elephant protection are deeply linked.