Vulnerable

Mandrill

Mandrillus sphinx

Vulnerable

IUCN Red List status · Population decreasing as of 2023

About the Mandrill

The largest monkey in the world, the mandrill is famous for its vivid red and blue facial markings. They live in large social groups called hordes and are crucial seed dispersers in Central African rainforests. Bushmeat hunting and deforestation are driving their decline.

Region

Central Africa

Population

Unknown

Trend

Decreasing

Data Year

2023

Key Facts

WeightUp to 37 kg (male)

Group sizeUp to 800 in a horde

DietFruits, seeds, insects, roots

LifespanUp to 40 years

Threats to Survival

Bushmeat hunting

Mandrills are hunted for food across their range, particularly in Cameroon and Gabon.

Deforestation

Logging and agricultural expansion destroy the closed canopy rainforest they depend on.

Ecosystem Role

🌳

Seed disperser

Mandrills eat hundreds of fruit species and disperse seeds across vast forest areas, vital for forest regeneration.

Habitat Types

Tropical RainforestMontane Forest

Found In

CameroonGabonRepublic of CongoDR Congo

Why Africa's Wildlife Matters

Africa's megafauna are not just iconic — they are ecosystem engineers. The loss of a single keystone species can trigger cascading collapses across entire biomes. Elephants create waterholes, lions regulate prey, and predators maintain the biodiversity that keeps Africa's grasslands and forests functioning.

20%

of Earth's bird species in Africa

25%

of mammals found in Africa

3,000+

endemic plant species at risk

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