Mary Allen
Introduction: African Elephants and Their Diet
African elephants are the largest land animals on the planet, with males weighing up to 6,000 kg and standing up to 4 meters tall. These majestic creatures are found in savannas, forests, and deserts across the African continent. Elephants are herbivores, which means they only eat plants. However, their diet is not limited to a few types of vegetation. In fact, African elephants have a varied diet that includes grasses, trees, shrubs, fruits, bark, roots, and tubers.
Grazing and Browsing: Two Ways Elephants Feed
African elephants feed in two main ways: grazing and browsing. Grazing is the act of eating grasses, which is the primary food source for elephants. Elephants can consume up to 160 kg of grass per day. They use their long trunks to pull the grass from the ground and then use their tusks and teeth to break it down into smaller pieces. Browsing, on the other hand, is the act of eating leaves, twigs, and bark from trees and shrubs. Elephants use their trunks to reach high branches and strip off the leaves and bark. Browsing is an important source of nutrition for elephants, especially during the dry season when grasses are scarce.