Hobbies And Interests
Grassland
Grasslands are large, open areas of grass with very sparsely distributed trees, if any. These areas have extremely nutrient-rich soil, which is excellent for growing grasses. Large mammals, like elephants, often pick grasslands as grazing areas, which inhibits the introduction of trees and shrubs. Droughts and fires also add to this lack of vegetation.
Savanna
Savannas are very similar to grasslands; however, they have trees scattered throughout. Savannas go through both dry and rainy seasons, that tend to be very distinct. Generally, rainy season runs from October through December and again from March to June. Dry season is the longest, running from June to November, with some overlap of the seasons during the transition month of October.
Woodland
Woodlands are areas covered with shrubbery and trees. Unlike forests, they have an open canopy that allows sunlight to filter through the treetops. Woodlands provide a wide variety of vegetation for elephants to include in their diets. Woodlands and forest land make up almost 22 percent of the African continent.
Tropical Forest
Tropical forests lie near the equator and have two very distinct seasons. They have a rainy and dry season and are exposed to 12 hours of daylight, which does not change much with seasonal shifts. There are several different species of trees and shrubbery found in tropical forests, covered by a thick canopy of treetops that allow for little sunlight penetration.
Migration
Elephants migrate annually, generally at beginning of the dry season, to find more favorable conditions and more abundant supplies of water. Elephant herds often follow the same migration routes each year. Migration allows adequate time for vacated habitats to re-grow the vegetation that the elephants eat during grazing. When herds migrate back to these habitats during the rainy season they have newly grown flora on which to feed.
Habitat Loss
Elephants have lost several habitats to climate changes and human population since the mid-1900s. Humans are constantly expanding and taking over areas that are home to wildlife, such as elephants. Many smaller animals like birds and insects can relocate to other areas; however, elephants are very large and do not have the luxury of relocating: Climate changes have also had an impact on available elephant habitats. Climates have progressively become much hotter and drier, making it difficult for foliage to survive. Elephants depend on grasses, trees and shrubs for a large portion of their diet, making the continued existence of foliage extremely important to their survival.