The population of African elephants has suffered a major decline in the last decade, indicating a grim outlook for the species, a new study suggests.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) revealed that the total elephant population in Africa experienced a decline of 111,000 in the last ten years.

The African Elephant Status report, which was based on 275 estimates from across the continent, has placed the current population at around 415,000.

The numbers are concerning because they indicate the worst status of the animal's population in 25 years, study authors said.

It is also the first time in 25 years that the IUCN's report detailed a decline in continental numbers.

Illegal Poaching

The IUCN points to poaching, which began to surge in Africa a decade ago, as the main driver of the major population decline.

Indeed, a report published in early September revealed that the population of elephants in Africa dropped by 30 percent from 2007 to 2014 due to the heavy demand for ivory.

Known as the Great Elephant Census, the report revealed a decline of 144,000 in a span of seven years, with the population of African elephants continually shrinking by 8 percent every year continent-wide.

Illegal poaching is a huge threat to the conservation of African elephants, as poachers kill elephants for their tusks, from which they would take ivory.

East Africa, the area most impacted by illegal poaching for ivory, has seen a 50 percent drop in African elephant population.

Inger Andersen, chief of the IUCN, said it is shocking but not surprising that illegal poaching has taken a tragic toll on the species.

However, the species also face other issues aside from poaching.

Experts are concerned about the existence of huge infrastructure projects that apparently cut up the ranges of the elephants.

Chris Thouless, a co-author of the Great Elephant Census, said such situations are an issue for road development in east and central Africa.

"These are all major issues that will have to be dealt with once the poaching crisis is over," added Thouless.

African Elephant Conservation

The new IUCN report was presented at the CITES meeting in Johannesburg, where experts are considering new proposals to strengthen animal conservation.

Thousands of government officials and wildlife conservationists are seeking to thrash out international trade regulations aimed at protecting different endangered species.

The plight of the African elephant will be one of the most discussed topics in the scientific community as experts consider whether to loosen or tighten controls of the ivory trade.

Countries such as Kenya propose extra protection for elephants, while others such as Zimbabwe and Namibia seek to liberalize the safeguards and open up the trade.

The CITES meeting will continue until Oct. 5.

Photo: Lil Shepherd | Flickr