5 exciting facts about elephants: Are they the secret environmentalists?
- AutorIn: Chris Kaiser
- Datum:
- Kategorie: Hacks, tips, knowledge
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There may be arguments between cat people and dog people, but there’s no doubt that elephants are awesome!
Although they are these large and majestic animals, they seem so vulnerable and sensitive at the same time. Did you know that elephants are not only fascinating to look at? We really do benefit from our pachyderms in so many ways.
Did you know that elephants are natural environmentalists? Without realizing it, these environmentally friendly mammals are responsible for 35% of natural seed germination.
Find out what other talents they have, more fun facts about elephants and one not so fun fact.
Five fun facts about elephants: Eco-Edition
If a herd of elephants were writing this article, they would call us immediately to tell us even more elephant facts; but enough of our elephant jokes, these scientific findings will have to suffice for now.
Check out these facts about elephants!
Elephant fact #1: Elephant poo is nature’s greatest gardener
Elephants are naturally draft animals and move in herds (I wonder how an elephant family dinner goes, everyone has to eat a ton).
As the group traverses the landscape and eats their favorite snacks, they excrete seeds with built-in fertilizer. If there is a lack of elephant dung in the areas, there is also a lack of diversity. These big animals really know how to make a place look green.
All these excreted seeds stimulate the soil and roots and increase carbon storage, making it easier for the world to breathe.
Do you know an elephant lover? Share these fun facts about elephants with them.
Elephant fact #2: They recycle old forests
Would you describe yourself as a bull in a china store? Then you have something in common with these pachyderms.
Although they don’t want to knock down trees, they are just, well, clumsy. As they stumble on their way, they inadvertently clear habitat to increase the fertility of the soil so that new life can grow back.
So, if a tree falls in the forest and there are only elephants around, does it make a noise?
Elephant fact #3: You have the best nose
Which animal has the strongest sense of smell? You would never guess it because their trunks are so long, but the answer is: elephants!
According to Phys, “elephant noses are five times stronger than human noses, twice as strong as dog noses and even stronger than the previously known record holder in the animal kingdom: rats.”¹
With that kind of sleuthing power, it’s no surprise that they can uncover underground water sources in times of need. The safari animals owe them a letter of thanks.
Elephant fact #4: They are super smart
Elephants are among the smartest animals on the planet and are very similar to humans in many ways. They form family structures, teach survival skills and have complex thinking.
Alongside human-like tracks, they are an integral part of the safari animal world. They attract attention and tourism, which gives the countries an additional economic advantage for elephant conservation.
A big dream of many people is to experience their elegance in the wild (in protected areas, of course), which helps fund elephant conservation initiatives. They symbolize many large and small animals.
Do you agree that we need to protect these wonderful animals? Help us to create a habitat by planting a tree.
Elephant fact #5: They teach us about medicine
Age can be a terror, can’t it? Not just for people.
Scientific evidence has shown that elephants, as similar as they are to us, have many of the health problems we have as we get older (it’s a shame to have that in common, sorry elephants). Stanford University is even planning to model hearing aids on the hearing of elephants.²
But that’s not all, they also have a body mechanism called ‘extended knee posture’, which means they will encounter similar joint problems.
Add in the risk of osteoarthritis and cardiovascular problems, and these big boys need an insurance plan!
As you can see, the pachyderms are extremely important for our planet. It is obvious that they have to let go sometimes. Their playtime is not too different from human children. See for yourself.
Can you tell the difference between an Asian and an African elephant?
Imagine waking up in a foreign country and having to find out which continent you are on. And the only indicator you see is an elephant. Could you tell the Asian elephant from the African elephant?
No? You are not alone. Let’s look at some of the most visible indicators together.
Would you like to find out more about our project in Thailand and how we create habitats for pachyderms? Then take a look here:
The not-so-funny elephant fact
Would you ever have thought that you are quite similar to these majestic animals? Before you go, we need to talk about the only not-so-fun fact.
What are some of the biggest threats to elephants in everyday life?
Of course, poachers are one of the biggest threats, as they hunt elephants for the illegal ivory trade. Many organizations and countries are combating this violent culture of trafficking by hiring law enforcement to keep watch in wildlife sanctuaries or by bringing the problem to the public’s attention.
Habitat destruction and habitat displacement is still the most common cause of the decline in elephant births. These mammals are forced into uninhabited areas where it is unsafe for them to raise young and far from their natural food source and vegetation.
There are currently only 20,000 to 40,000 Asian elephants left, which corresponds to a decline of 50 percent in the last 75 years. At the beginning of the 20th century, there were more than 100,000 wild elephants in Thailand. Today there are only 3,000 to 4,000.
These figures are scarce, but the positive contributions that elephants make to the environment are enormous.
Help us to protect these beautiful pachyderms
As mentioned above, most of the decline is due to habitat destruction, so we have launched a habitat creation initiative for elephants called Trees for Tuskers. To not only raise awareness, but to do our part to create a safe place for our great environmentalists.
It’s a big tusk, so we need all the help we can get! Plant a tree and help us create habitat for tuskers:
Replanting, education and outreach are the only ways to spark a recovery and protect our beloved elephants.
Let’s grow valuable habitat for these gentle giants together. They deserve it for everything they give back to us. Thank you for your support!
Tell your friends about these fantastic elephant facts and how we can protect them.
Sources
² https://scopeblog.stanford.edu/2018/07/27/eavesdropping-on-elephants-in-the-name-of-research/