Elephants are one of the most intelligent creatures which share plants with us. They are very sensitive animals; most particularly emotional. They have many skills and qualities that wonder humans. Elephants contribute a lot to the health of the environment in many ways.
But they are vanishing from the face of Earth.
This article will help you know why elephants are important and how they do their best to save plants and help humans live better.
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15 Benefits Of Elephants That Make Them Valuable For The Mankind
Elephants are survivors of forests and many plants. They are very useful to mankind and their surroundings. They are mostly found in forests, sanctuaries or zoos. Children are fond of kids huge and powerful elephants. They have been among the oldest animals on the planet Earth.
Let’s take a deeper look at the importance of the big guy.
1. Elephants Help Find Water
During the dry season, elephants use their tusks to dig for water resources underground. They dig holes in the ground with their tusks and bring water to the ground from beneath. This not only allows the elephants to survive in dry environments but also helps other animals provide water that is also in search of water.
This way the water resources are found and other animals can survive the dry and hot seasons. They are nature helpers!
2. Elephants Help With Plantation
When elephants feed themselves, they create vacant land and pathway in the forests. This free land allows new plants to grow and create an ecosystem for other smaller animals to use. They also help disperse the seeds of different plants. Some species totally depend upon elephants for seedlings to reach far distances and regenerate.
3. Elephants Help Grow Small Plants And Shrubs
Elephants feed on different plants like tree sprouts and shrubs. Which in turn creates gaps for plants to regrow and increase plantation. Many shrubs are extinct because of their use but no regrow or re-plantation.
But elephants help them grow back. Their dung has the seeds and they help in seed dispersal. This is also a way for seed dispersal of different plants and shrubs. They can help a lot in the fertilization of lands and forests.
4. Elephants Are Very Caring
Elephants are very caring animals, just like humans. If any calf cries, the herd will reach to soothe and provide comfort with the help of their trunks.
They are extremely intelligent animals; with emotions, empathy, feelings and protection. A fun fact about elephants is that they can recognize themselves in a mirror!).
Related Video – Why Protect Elephants?
5. Elephants Are Big and Powerful
One elephant molar is the size of a brick! Elephants may be the largest land animal but the blue whale is the largest animal on the planet.
Elephant trunks have over 40,000 muscles which help them in breathing, smell and communicate. They are capable of picking up something as big and heavy as an average-sized horse to something as tiny as a grain of rice.
6. Elephants Might Help Us Fight Cancer
In the universities of Utah and Chicago, researchers have discovered that elephants had evolved a higher DNA repair process to remove those cells that might help in cancer mutations or maybe a cause of it.
This could help scientists develop advanced drugs to treat cancer or even prevent it from developing.
This is just a start! But who knows what wonders are hidden in the elephant’s DNA.
7. Elephants Could Also Help Hearing-Impaired
An elephant’s hearing range is closer to a human’s than any animal used to model hearing in medicine. Elephants have the ability to detect sounds that travel through the ground as seismic “cues”, such as other elephant calls. They achieve this through vibration-sensitive cells in their feet and trunk.
Humans have similar vibration-detecting cells (as do all mammals) in the hand, foot, lips and even the gut. Research being conducted at Stanford University School of Medicine has shown the potential for elephant-inspired vibrational hearing aids.
8. Elephants Help Paleontologists Understand Extinct Animals
The oldest recorded elephant is Ling Wang, an Asian elephant, who died in 2003 at the ripe old age of 86. They lived for centuries and extinct as the world changed.
This helps many paleontologists to study the ancestors of elephants that are no long in existence. The fossils found during research help them to understand their existence and their reasons for extinction.
9. Elephants Love To Make Music
Elephants are arguably some of the most incredible mammals that walk the earth. We already know they are artistic. They create paintings with their trunks and play harmonicas and drums!
They are fantastic at maintaining the rhythm as well. This helps scientists to understand the brain mapping o elephants.
10. Elephants Were Transporters (Once!)
In ancient times, when there were no cars and modern technology people used to travel on elephants and camels. As they have to cover a long distance, they use to carry loads of food and water. They were a luxury transport back in time. Many kingdoms owe them for transport.
11. Elephants Help Fight Climate Change
Studies have shown that elephants help fight climate change by helping in the forestation and regrowth of plants. Especially African rainforests and savanna forests are very much improved in size and reduce the signs of changing climate damage.
12. Elephants are Ecosystems Engineers
Elephants help our ecosystems to regrow and improve the versatility of plants in forests. That’s why they are known as ecosystem engineers. As they help plants to grow back and in new environments. They help different species to survive and maintain their habitat.
13. Elephants Are A Source Of Entertainment
Mughal Empires used to have elephants in their entertainment shows or fun games. Just like nowadays, we have elephants in the circus for shows and games. They are beloved by their masers/owners which makes them a center of attraction in shows and stunts.
14. Elephants Were Part Of Armies
In the 18th Century, conquerors and rulers should have elephants in their armies and alliances. As they were powerful and set fear on the battlefield. As the huge elephant appears to be participating the enemies would have feared for their lives from death. With this
15. Elephants Attract Tourists
A study shows that the tourism value of an elephant is approximately 1.6 million US Dollars. Tourism can help nearby communities to survive on their own; which means they can build their homes, earn their living and send their children for education to school.
Importance Of Elephants – Conclusion
As you have read the above, you were unaware of many facts about elephants before this. The elephants are caring but powerful! This unique creature is a wonderful gift that lives their lives to protect mankind.