A third of Africa’s wildlife power has vanished, sparking global biodiversity alarm

Africa’s Wildlife Energy Collapse Raises Alarm for Global Biodiversity (Image: Canva)

Africa’s wildlife is losing its natural power, scientists say. A new Oxford-led study reveals that ecosystems across the continent are operating on less than two-thirds of the energy they once had. Published in Nature, the study exposes how the decline of large animals is weakening the natural processes that keep life thriving.

Africa’s Lost Energy Flow and the Role of Megafauna
Can Africa’s ecosystems survive without their biggest animals? Researchers from the University of Oxford say the continent has lost over a third of its natural energy since pre-colonial times. This energy represents the biological power driving essential functions like nutrient cycling, seed dispersal and water regulation.

Dr Ty Loft from Oxford’s Environmental Change Institute called the finding alarming. He said large wild animals act as “ecological engineers” whose roles cannot be filled by smaller creatures or livestock. Elephants once shaped savannas, and rhinos maintained open grasslands, but their decline has left fragile landscapes behind. The loss has reshaped biodiversity and threatens livelihoods tied to nature’s balance.

Tracking the Invisible Energy of Life
How does this loss affect the living web of nature? The Oxford team studied “ecosystem energetics” to track how energy flows from plants to animals. Professor Yadvinder Malhi, co-author of the study, said energy flow is the web holding ecosystems together. Mapping these changes shows how life reorganises when animal populations fall or recover.

Smaller animals now dominate the remaining energy flow in many regions, altering vegetation and affecting both carbon and water cycles. The team believes this energy-based approach could redefine how conservationists assess nature’s health worldwide.  It offers a measurable way to understand vitality loss beyond mere counting of species.

Restoring Function, Not Just Wildlife Numbers

Can traumatised ecosystems ever reclaim their old strength? According to researchers, the restoration needs to be more than just bringing species back. Dr Loft said the focus should be on reviving what animals do, not where they live. Early signs of recovery through targeted rewilding and ecosystem restoration are evident in various initiatives across Kenya and Mozambique.

By measuring the energy contribution of each species, conservation planners can prioritise animals that play the biggest ecological roles. Governments and NGOs may use such data to set meaningful biodiversity goals, focusing on restoring natural processes rather than only population numbers.

A Global Warning from Africa's Decline

Could the fading wildlife energy of Africa signal a global threat? Professor Malhi said the disappearance of animal-driven energy flow connects the local decline of biodiversity to that of planetary health. He warned that weakening natural energy systems affects the planet's ability to regulate climate and sustain life.

According to the Oxford study, saving wildlife is not just about protecting beauty or heritage; it's about defending the living systems that make Earth habitable. As the world prepares for COP30, its findings send a critical message to global leaders: the health of the planet depends on restoring the energy of life itself.