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Source: This post on African Elephant has been created based on the article “Researchers document huge drop in African elephants in a half century” published in The Hindu on 14th November 2024.
Why in news?
A recent study reveals drastic declines in African elephant populations, with data spanning surveys from 475 sites across 37 African countries between 1964 and 2016.
Savanna elephant populations have declined by approximately 70% on average, and forest elephants by about 90% at the surveyed sites.
About African Elephant
| Aspects | Description |
| About | 1. The African elephant (Loxodonta africana) is the largest land animal on Earth. 2. It is renowned for its impressive size, intelligence, and social structure. |
| Location | 1. African elephants are primarily found across sub-Saharan Africa, living in varied habitats, from savannas and deserts to forests and marshes. 2. There are two subspecies of African elephants: the African bush elephant and the smaller African forest elephant, each adapted to different ecosystems. |
| Physical Characteristics | 1. African elephants are massive, with males reaching heights of up to 4 meters (13 feet) at the shoulder and weighing up to 12,000 pounds. 2. Females are generally smaller but are still formidable in size. 3. One of their most distinctive features is their large, fan-shaped ears, which help regulate body temperature by dissipating heat. 4. Unlike Asian elephants, African elephants have two “fingers” on the tips of their trunks, which allow them to grasp small objects with great dexterity. 5. Both males and females have tusks, although males tend to have larger, more prominent ones. |
| Diet | As herbivores, African elephants spend a significant part of their day feeding, consuming up to 300 pounds of vegetation daily. Their diet includes grasses, fruits, leaves, and bark, which they can strip from trees using their trunks and tusks. |
| Ecological Role | 1. Elephants play a crucial role in shaping their environment, often referred to as a “keystone species.” 2. By breaking trees, digging water holes, and dispersing seeds through their dung, elephants help maintain biodiversity in their ecosystems. |
| Conservation Status | African elephants are classified as vulnerable to endangered due to threats from habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and poaching for their ivory tusks. |
| Conservation efforts | Conservation efforts include anti-poaching initiatives, habitat restoration, and community engagement programs aimed at fostering coexistence between humans and elephants. |
Key differences between African and Asian elephants:
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1. African elephants have larger, fan-shaped ears that resemble the African continent, while Asian elephants have smaller, rounded ears.
2. Body Size: African elephants are generally larger and heavier, with males standing up to 13 feet at the shoulder, while Asian elephants are slightly smaller.
3. Head Shape: African elephants have a fuller, more rounded head, while Asian elephants have a twin-domed head with an indent in the middle.
4. Trunk: African elephants have two finger-like projections at the tip of their trunk, while Asian elephants have only one.
5. Back Shape: African elephants have a concave or saddle-shaped back, while Asian elephants have a more convex or humped back.
6. Location: African elephants are found in various parts of Africa (savannas, forests, and deserts), while Asian elephants are native to Southeast Asia, including India, Sri Lanka, and parts of Indonesia.
UPSC Syllabus: Environment
