We are always keen to learn more about the positive impact elephants can have on their habitats and the wider environment, so we read the recent article ‘Elephants: Unexpected heroes in the fight against climate change’ by Fiona Sparano in The Tiger with interest.
A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences revealed that African forest elephants play a much greater role in helping forests collect atmospheric carbon than previously known.
Overall, the food preferences of African elephants affect the forest’s ability to sequester atmospheric carbon in high-WD trees. Without these elephants, more carbon will be released into the environment, which will add to the already pressing matter of global warming. The argument for saving elephant populations in West and Central Africa has never been clearer. Saving the elephants can help save our planet.
