Elephants are the largest land mammals.There are two types of elephants; the Indian elephants and the African elephants. The African elephants are mostly found in kenya. Kenya is a home to two African elephant species. i. e the African savanna elephants and the African forest elephant.These magnificient gentle giants are herbivores consuming around 250 kilograms and drinking 60 galoons of water per day.They live in matriarchal herds and are always led by the oldest and most experienced female.
The savanna elephants are normally larger with very large ears and heavier compared to those of the forest elephants.Elephant ears help in cooling of their bodies.They are found in open grasslands and sub – Saharan Africa unlike the forest elephants are normally found in dense rainforests of west and central Africa.The limiting factor of an elephant is wearing down of its sixth set of molars thus no longer able to eat dying of starvation.They are migratory animals.They have a gestation period of twenty two months.The rumbling sound is a means of communication within a heard when undisturbed but displays their annoyance with mock changes shown by the display of displeasure with much head shaking flapping their ears.Elephants have a very very low frequency sound wave beyond human hearing helping them to communicate over long distances.In case anything happens to a nursing female elephant,the other lactating females will usually take over nursing of the ophan.
In Kenya,top spots where to find these majestic creatures include; AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK which is famous of the stunning backdrops of the Mount Kilimanjaro.Tsavo East and West National Parks known for the very large – red elephants.MAASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE too is a home for not only the spectacular wildebeest migration but also the gentle giants.
In the past few years, the elephant hunters in the southern Taru desert in Tsavo used to dip a tip of their arrows in battery acid which led to high numbers of poaching.Poaching is wrong and every nature lover will always stand with me to say NO TO POACHING.Poaching generally has been curbed due to various reasons which may include; the improved technology,the level of literacy,government policy{s} and many other more.
On the other hand,in the next few decades we will lose not only the African elephants but also most of our precious animals due to habitat loss caused by more of human encroachment and lack of concervation within our national parks and reserves.Human encroachment leads to both elephant and human beings loss of life.This is evident when elephants raid farmers crops leading them to either kill or leave them nursing severe injuries.The human – elephant conflict also affects human beings on the other end with a very low survival chance.
Elephants are of much importance in the savannah more than just theirmajestic presence impacting the environment ,other wildlife and even livelihoods of fellow kenyanyans.Elephant’s foraging is shapes the vegetation.They akso maintain a mosaic of habitats that benefits a multiple of other species.They also play a crucial role in seed dispersal via their dung which they may transport it to long distances or also by their feeding habits contributing to seed diversity and regeneration of forests.In kenya elephants are some of the key insights which plays a big role in the Kenyan tourism which is a top contributor of the Kenyan economy.
Taking care of these gentle giants of Africa not only actions should be taken but a multi – pronged approach of how to assist in their survival.Some of these measures include expanding and protecting elephant habitat by aquiring land grabbed by Kenyans who interfere with the natural elephant migration which will help the reduction of the human – elephant conflict.The government should also invest in Reserch and monitoring to get a population survey of the number of elephants and know on how to increase them.Also everyone should take it as his\her own responsibility to raise awareness and education to everyone mostly the local people on the importance of elephants in our eco – system.Booking a safari with ANTONIO SAFARIS is actively supporting elephant conservation with the pay of the entrance fees,park levies which help fund the anti – poaching patrols,habitat restoration and education programs in local communities.
