relationships with humans
African elephants interact with humans in both good and bad ways. If you've visited a circus, you've probably seen the amazing elephant tricks. An elephant standing up on a ball, or an elephant doing some cool trick. Well, many people have different views on whether or not the circus members treat the elephants with proper care. Some people claim that humans are holding the elephants in captivity.
Also, humans have hunted for the precious ivory tusks of elephants. Poachers would kill elephants and take their tusks to make a fortune. Now, it is illegal to do so, and it is rather rare to find an elephant with long tusks.
Also, humans have hunted for the precious ivory tusks of elephants. Poachers would kill elephants and take their tusks to make a fortune. Now, it is illegal to do so, and it is rather rare to find an elephant with long tusks.
relationships with other animals
African Elephants have many relationships between different organisms. Elephants have Symbiotic, Commensalistic, and Parasitic relationships.
Definitions:
Symbiotic: involving interaction between two different organisms living in close physical association.
Mutualism: A symbiotic relationship that results in both organisms benefitting.
Commensalism: A symbiotic relationship that results in one organism benefiting, while the other is unaffected.
African Elephants have symbiotic relationships with other animals such as:
Definitions:
Symbiotic: involving interaction between two different organisms living in close physical association.
Mutualism: A symbiotic relationship that results in both organisms benefitting.
Commensalism: A symbiotic relationship that results in one organism benefiting, while the other is unaffected.
African Elephants have symbiotic relationships with other animals such as:
Ox-peckers:
An Ox-pecker is a bird that eats lice, parasites, and ticks from an elephants skin. The elephant gets cleaned, while the bird gets fed. When an Ox-pecker spots a predator, it can emit a high pitched scream to warn the elephant as well.
An Ox-pecker is a bird that eats lice, parasites, and ticks from an elephants skin. The elephant gets cleaned, while the bird gets fed. When an Ox-pecker spots a predator, it can emit a high pitched scream to warn the elephant as well.
Olive Baboons:
Elephants dig water holes as part of their daily routine. Olive Baboons also drink from these watering holes. They also act as Ox-peckers. They are able to alert the elephant of any predators. This is an example of a mutualistic relationship between Olive Baboons and African Elephants.
Elephants dig water holes as part of their daily routine. Olive Baboons also drink from these watering holes. They also act as Ox-peckers. They are able to alert the elephant of any predators. This is an example of a mutualistic relationship between Olive Baboons and African Elephants.
Dung Beetles:
Elephants poop, (feces) is ate by Dung Beetles. This is a commensalistic relationship because the elephant doesn’t benefit at all, but the Dung Beetle gets nutrients from the feces.
Elephants poop, (feces) is ate by Dung Beetles. This is a commensalistic relationship because the elephant doesn’t benefit at all, but the Dung Beetle gets nutrients from the feces.