The winning photo was of a forest bull elephant in Congo’s Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park. This photo is particularly noteworthy because, despite their size, forest elephants blend amazingly well into the lush vegetation of the Congo Basin rainforest, to the point of being able to disappear. Surprisingly silent, they move about creating trails used by all the wildlife, as well as the humans who study and protect them in this region.
© Scott Ramsay / WCS
An elephant takes a determined step up the slope in Matusadona National Park, a symbol of hope. Under the stewardship of the Matusadona Conservation Trust, and support from the Elephant Crisis Fund, Matusadona has renewed vigour in its conservation efforts. The title “Onwards and Upwards” embodies Matusadona’s journey toward a brighter future. The first step is often the hardest, yet with the support of our partners and donors Matusadona is forging ahead. With momentum on our side, we are committed to making a lasting conservation impact in this beautiful landscape.
© Kyle Hinde / African Parks
A female forest elephant and her calf watch on from the shallows as we pass by on a boat near one of the Kessala beaches in Bateke Plateux National Park, Gabon.
© Alexander Botha / Panthera
The winning photo shows an elephant slowly navigating a dense forest. To the right, an electrified fence, funded by ECF, stands as a key barrier, preventing elephants from straying into cultivated areas. This vital conservation infrastructure helps reduce human-wildlife conflict while safeguarding both elephant habitats and the livelihoods of nearby communities.
© Irene Galera / African Parks
Nigeria is now home to just 300 to 400 elephants, with the largest population residing in the Yankari Game Reserve. With around 100 individuals, this horde has not been the victim of poaching since 2015, but still faces a major problem: conflicts with communities linked to raids on crops adjacent to the Reserve. To limit the frequency of such confrontations, the Reserve has installed 11 watchtowers, from which communities can see elephants coming from a distance and react by trying to frighten them away and contacting the Reserve team.
© Clément Kolopp / WCS
In this photo, a female farmer crosses a trench created to protect the fields from the devastation caused by elephants. This trench, financed by the ECF, plays an essential role in the preservation of local cultures, allowing farmers like her to secure their crops. She embodies resilience and highlights the importance of community commitment in protecting rural livelihoods.
© Irene Galera / African Parks
