The African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) There are two distinct subspecies of African elephant – Savanna elephants and the smaller Forest elephants. Both subspecies are in rapid decline due to habitat loss and illegal poaching for the international ivory trade, as well as for meat. In many areas elephants are currently being poached faster than they can reproduce. This is hugely significant when we consider that female elephants only produce a single calf after a 22 month gestation period. Male