Elephant
Setswana Name: Tlou
Scientific Name:
Loxodonta africana
The African elephant is the largest living land mammal. Of all its specialized features, the muscular trunk is perhaps the most extraordinary. It serves as a nose, hand, extra foot, signaling device and tool for gathering food, siphoning water, dusting, and digging.
The tusks are another notable feature of both males and females. Elephants are right or left-tusked, using the favored tusk more often, thus shortening it from constant wear. Tusks differ in size, shape and angle and researchers can use them to identify individuals.
The large ears serve a display function but also assist in cooling the body. The backs of the ears are well supplied with blood vessels, and as the ears are flapped the blood is cooled.
Smell is the most highly developed sense, but deep growling or rumbling noises is the principle means of communication. Some researchers think that each individual has its signature growl by which it can be distinguished. Sometimes elephants communicate with an ear-splitting blast when in danger or alarmed, causing others to form a protective circle around the younger members of the family group. Elephants make low-frequency calls, many of which, though loud, are too low for humans to hear. These sounds allow elephants to communicate with one another at distances of five or six miles.
Elephants live in small family groups, each led by an elder cow, the matriarch. Each group consists of the matriarch and her offspring and may include other related cows with their young. A number of family groups may come together to form herds, not infrequently numbering several hundreds. The family group retains its identity during these gatherings and normally the smaller groups move off on their own.
These large congregations gather when food is abundant or at water, but there are no reproductive or social benefits. If left uncontrolled herds may destroy their habitat, not only for themselves but for other species as well, and population control may become essential. Adult bulls usually only join the family herds when cows are in breeding condition and have leave to join bachelor groups afterwards. A cow may mate with several bulls during estrus. Although the elephant is active both by night and by day, it usually rests in shade during the heat of the day. It is normally a peaceful animal but when wounded, sick, or in defense of a small calf it can be dangerous.
Reproduction
A single calf, weighing approximately 120kg, is dropped after a 22- month gestation period. Calves may be born at any time of the year but in some areas there is a peak in births that coincides with the rainy season. The calf is pinkish-grey and hairier than the adults. An orphaned calf will usually be adopted by one of the family's lactating females or suckled by various females. Elephants are very attentive mothers, and because most elephant behavior has to be learned, they keep their offspring with them for many years. The calf suckles with its mouth (the trunk is held over its head). Once weaned, usually at age 4 or 5, the calf still remains in the maternal group.
Habitat
Elephants have an extremely wide habitat tolerance as long as sufficient food, water and shade are available. They are widespread and common throughout the Caprivi and northern parts of Botswana especially Chobe (the largest elephant population in the world) extending south to the Aha Hills, in the western Okavango and the northern parts of Makgadikgadi and Tuli Block. Small herds and individuals are seen in the mopane woodland on the eastern fringe of the Makgadikgadi and the Boteti River.
Food
Although not specialized feeders, Elephants do show a marked preference for certain species, for which they will travel long distances. During the rains, green grass forms a high percentage of their diet. An adult Elephant may eat as much as 300kg per day. Elephants consume about 5% of their body weight and drink 30-50 gallons of water per day. They eat an extremely varied vegetarian diet including grass, leaves, twigs, bark, fruit and seed pods.
Elephants face a number of threats including poaching for the ivory markets and encroachment by humans on their traditional areas. When confined to limited areas by outside pressure they can inflict considerable damage on vegetation and it is for this reason that control programmes are sometimes essential.
