(April 2017) The population has been reduced dramatically (african elephant populations in 18 countries declined by ~30%) since a mass ivory sell off by southern african countries in the early 2000's to present time. Three living species are currently recognised: the African bush elephant, the African forest elephant, and the Asian elephant. They are the only surviving members of the family Elephantidae and the order Proboscidea; extinct relatives include mammoths and mastodons.