Nigeria has only about 400 elephants left in the wild, with conservationists warning that habitat loss, illegal ivory trade and human-wildlife conflict are threatening the survival of the species.
The conservationists disclosed this at a media engagement organised by Wild Africa and the Nigerian Conservation Foundation ahead of World Elephant Day, celebrated annually on August 12.
The News Agency of Nigeria monitored the event virtually on Sunday.
Dr Mark Ofua, a wildlife veterinarian, conservationist and West African representative of Wild Africa, said the remaining population comprised about 300 forest elephants and 100 savannah elephants.
Ofua described the population as a critical mass, warning that continued habitat fragmentation and hunting could result in inbreeding and eventually push the species into extinction.
