By Nneka Nwogwugwu
A previously unknown family of eight African forest elephants were recently captured by camera traps in Guinea.
The family had not been seen before by any of the local team, and included three calves.
It is thought that less than two dozen African forest elephants are thought to remain in the country, and that the species may be on the brink of local extinction.
However the footage of this new family suggests that the species could be beginning to recover. It is believed that this family has crossed into Guinea from neighbouring Liberia.
The African forest elephant was only recently confirmed as separate species to the African savanna elephant, being smaller and inhabiting forests.
The decline of both species has been driven by poaching for ivory and habitat loss, Discovery wildlife reports.
