A census of large animals has begun in the Selous Game Reserve and Mikumi National Park ecosystem in Tanzania.

The 2013 and 2014 Selous aerial surveys revealed a drastic decline in the elephant population from about 45 000 in 2009 to about 15 000 animals in 2014.

As a result, the Selous Game Reserve was inscribed on the list of World Heritage Sites in danger in 2014.

The census is being conducted by the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute in collaboration with the Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority, the Tanzania National Parks and Frankfurt Zoological Society.

“The Selous Game Reserve Management team is looking forward to the information the census will provide to further guide protection within the game reserve,” said Henock Msocha, the Selous Project Manager.

Kathryn Doody, Project Manager of Frankfurt Zoological Society, said: “We hope the 2017 Selous-Mikumi large mammal census will give clarity about the development of the elephant population in Selous.”