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Oct 19, 2023 · Elephants play a crucial role in our environment. They provide numerous ecosystem services which include providing food, shelter, water; help in creating pathways in forests and also help identify salt licks.
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- They’re the world’s largest land animal. The African Savanna (Bush) elephant is the world's largest land animal – with adult males, or bull elephants, standing up to 3m high and weighing up to 6,000kg on average.
- You can tell the three species apart by their ears. There are three species of elephant: African Savanna (Bush), African Forest and Asian. The ears of African elephants are much larger than their cousins and are described as being shaped like the African continent, whereas the ears of Asian elephants are shaped like the Indian subcontinent.
- Their trunks have mad skills. Elephants have around 150,000 muscle units in their trunk. Their trunks are perhaps the most sensitive organ found in any mammal.
- Their tusks are actually teeth. Elephant tusks are actually enlarged incisor teeth which first appear when elephants are around 2 years old. Tusks continue growing throughout their lives.
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- Characteristics & Structure
- Role Ecosystems
This article is about the importance of elephants and their role in shaping ecosystems. It discusses the decline in elephant populations due to habitat loss, poaching for illegal ivory trade, human-elephant conflict etc. The article also highlights the efforts made by WWF to protect elephants through various initiatives such as establishing protect...
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The greatest threat to African elephants is poaching for the illegal ivory trade, while Asian elephant populations are most at risk from habitat loss and resulting human-elephant conflict.
Both male and female African elephants grow tusks, led by matriarch, organized into complex social structures of females and calves with males living in isolation or small bachelor groups. A single calf is born every 4-5 years after 22 months gestation period.
Elephants play pivotal role shaping their habitats, directly influence forest composition and density, disperse seeds, alter broader landscape; they maintain biodiversity of ecosystems they inhabit as keystone species. At least 1/3 tree species rely on elephants for seed distribution in central Africa forests.
Elephants are among the most intelligent of the creatures with whom we share the planet, with complex consciousnesses that are capable of strong emotions. Across Africa they have inspired respect from the people that share the landscape with them, giving them a strong cultural significance.
Aug 10, 2018 · As the largest of all land mammals, African elephants play an important role in balancing natural ecosystems. They trample forests and dense grasslands, making room for smaller species to co-exist. Elephants also create water holes used by other wildlife as they dig dry riverbeds when rainfall is low.
Aug 28, 2023 · Elephants, considered as keystone species, contribute to ecosystem health through seed dispersal via their dung, creating canopy gaps by trampling vegetation and providing waterholes that benefit other animals.
Aug 12, 2022 · They break and fell trees as they feed and travel – opening up vegetation for new plant growth and grassland to thrive. This benefits grazing species such as buffalo, wildebeest, and zebra – which in turn provide food for carnivores including leopard, cheetah, and lion.
