On a clear, sunny day in MalaMala Game Reserve, David den Hartog encountered a breathtaking sight! A giant African elephant was in the process of toppling a massive tree – a display of strength, intelligence and determination.
David couldn’t believe his eyes as he watched the elephant use a well-practiced technique involving its large body and strong trunk to bring down a tree nearly three times its size!
Watch the sighting:
Choosing a Strategy
To accomplish this incredible feat, the elephant uses a combination of techniques including strength, momentum, and calculated strategy. Initially, the elephant shoves the tree using only its face to test the strength of the trunk, but quickly realizes this will not do the trick.
Next, the elephant gets its whole body into motion. Using its heavy weight to rock the tree back and forth like a child pushing a swing, the elephant loosens up the solid, stubborn roots of the tree.
As the tree starts to lean, the elephant has one more strategy to pull out of its back pocket. It wraps its incredibly strong trunk around a mighty branch and pushes continuously.
With one final push and a thunderous crash, the tree is successfully knocked to the ground, and the elephant can finally enjoy its well-earned snack.
When Giants Make Their Mark
Toppling trees is a behaviour that is commonly observed in African elephants. The reason they do this is to gain access to all the nutrients of the tree: the roots, the bark, and especially the leaves which are usually too high up to snack on.
Additionally, elephants play a key role in shaping their environments. By toppling trees, they provide opportunities for new growth through seed dispersal, supply shelter for smaller species, and overall maintain the balance between forest and grassland ecosystems in Kruger National Park.
Picky Eaters
Scientists have been studying the tree-toppling habit of elephants for many years to learn more about the impacts on the ecosystem, and about the elephants themselves. Their studies have found that elephants have a clear preference for medium-sized trees in the five to eight meter range.
They also found that the majority of tree falls occurred in lowland areas. These areas tend to have moist soil, leading to a particularly high nutrient content in the trees, and making for an even tastier snack for the elephants.
Shaping the Landscape
Even though elephants have been using this behaviour for a long time, increasing human-caused pressures on both elephants and their environment mean that conservationists need to keep an eye on this spatially unique tree-toppling behaviour.
Park managers increasingly need to track the elephant impacts in sensitive areas so that they can focus their actions and ensure the stability of both elephant and tree populations.
As an elephant’s brute power reshapes the landscape, it can remind us of the delicate balance within ecosystems. Each fallen tree tells a story of survival, change, and the interconnectedness of all living things—a story we must continue to monitor and protect for future generations.