Pendjari Jumbos

Recent DNA studies suggest the West African elephants are sufficiently different genetically to be classified as a third species of African elephant.
The Pendjari National Park has a relatively healthy population, with around 2000 elephants.
West African elephants have smaller tusks than the ones in East and Southern African. They seldom weigh more than 15kg.
Although there is not much poaching on them (partly because of their small tusks), an average of 12 elephants are killed each year by poachers.