Savannah African elephants

According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, savannah African elephants are an endangered species. The African Savannah Elephants, also known as Bush Elephants, are the world’s biggest mammals on land with their curved tusks. Still, there are also forest elephants, which represent the other species of elephant, and for them, they are darker. When compared to the African bush elephants and their tusks, which are straighter and pointed down, as opposed to their Savannah African elephant counterparts, this is incredibly fascinating and incredibly wonderful, making the safari experience so very special.

The Loxodonta Africa savannah African elephants weigh about 2000 to 6200 kilograms, have the size of a forefoot, and have a life span of about 70 to 70 years. Safari bush elephants have got their habitat within the open and closed savannah grasslands and within the arid deserts and are herbivores in nature, meaning that they feed on grass. The female African bush elephants have a gestation period of about 22 months and it is the humans that feature as the highest predators for the African bush elephants and, occasionally, some hyenas and lions do exhibit the same.

African bush elephants are found in 37 African countries, and there are around 415,000 of them left on the globe. In 2021, the International Union for Conservation of Nature designated this population of African savanna elephants as endangered. African savannah elephants can be found in any region with plenty of food and water, with populations strewn across Sub-Saharan Africa’s savannahs, with about 70% of the total population living in protected areas such as game reserves and national parks.

Different challenges are facing the African savannah elephants as they become more and more endangered species. Several reasons that have led to the decline in the population of the Savannah African elephant include, among others, those discussed below;

sights of African Elephants in African Wilderness

Savannah elephant poaching has been cited as the major reason leading to the reduction in the population of Savannah African elephants. This is one of the reasons why these animals are so endangered, and most of their predators are only interested in the ivory, further endangering the species. People have long coveted the huge tusks that African savannah elephants utilize for foraging and grasping objects, resulting in ivory trafficking and poaching. People have long coveted the huge tusks that African savannah elephants utilize for foraging and grasping objects, resulting in ivory trafficking and poaching.

A long gestation time is required. Elephants have one of the longest gestation periods among animals, with female elephants having a gestation period of roughly 22 months and producing only one child at the end of it all, which happens once every six years. Long gestation durations, along with poaching, have resulted in a dramatic decline in the population of African savannah elephants.

Raising awareness to end the ivory trade and demand, empowering community members to wholesomely accept the existence of elephants and thus co-exist with them, and allowing them enough room to roam, that is, providing a favorable and large enough habitat, are all solutions to the decline of the African savannah elephant population.

How does the savannah African elephant behave?

Elephants have a pleasant disposition and are very friendly. African bush elephants, like people, are vertebrates, and highly friendly ones at that. They live in families or crowds, with the majority of them consisting of a more established matron and a few generations of females and family members. Male African savannah elephants are already extremely unique, and once developed, they can live in small groups of three or four people.

African elephants feeding on shrubs

African shrubbery elephants’ diet. African bush elephants spend much of their time eating, which is understandable given their size. Elephants spend most of their days exploring the vast savannah areas, covering greater distances in search of grass, organic goods, bark, and roots. Elephants can consume up to 136 kg of food each day.

The nose is long. Elephants have a long, slender nose that also serves as an arm. Elephant trunks are their nostrils, which are used for breathing, sniffing, drinking, trumpeting, and obtaining objects. They are occasionally referred to as arms. Elephants also use their trunks to show off their warmth.

Of the 37 African countries where they live, Tanzania is perhaps the best place to witness African savannah elephants. Even though elephants may be seen in almost every game reserve and national park in Tanzania, Tarangire National Park and Lake Manyara National Park are the best places to watch them. Travelers that go on Tanzania safari tours to Tarangire National Park and Lake Manyara National Park will see massive herds of African wild elephants, with some gatherings of up to 300 people.

Even though African savannah elephants are a threatened species, consider visiting Tanzania on a Tanzania safari trip to see African shrubbery elephants. Contact a reputable visit administrator for help putting together an incredible Tanzania safari trip where you can see massive herds of African savannah elephant right in your backyard