In terms of distribution, it is not easy to do surveys for the "forest elephant" of the forests of Central and West Africa. It is even more difficult to prevent poaching. Most observers are very pessimistic about preserving the forest elephant herds.
分佈中、西非洲森林裡的「森林象」不易進行族群調查，更難防止盜獵，對森林象族群的延續，大部分保育人士都持悲觀看法。