African elephant welfare in their native range is threatened by habitat loss, human-elephant conflict, poaching, and drought. Conservation programs increasingly integrate welfare alongside population protection.
Wild African elephants experience welfare threats across their range. Habitat fragmentation forces encounters with humans and limits access to seasonal food and water resources. Conflict-related killings, including retaliatory poisoning, represent preventable welfare harms. Community-based conservation programs that provide direct benefits to people living with elephants have shown success in reducing conflict and improving both human and elephant welfare.