I was excited to see them so close, but also respectful, knowing I was in their home. Seeing them made me feel grateful to live in a place where such beautiful animals roam free.
Elephants in Botswana live in many places, including the Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park and other wild areas with water and trees. They move around in family groups called herds, led by the oldest female, known as the matriarch.
Elephants eat leaves, grass, bark and fruit. They use their trunks to pick up food and to drink water. In the dry season, elephants dig holes in riverbeds to find hidden water. These holes help other animals, too! Their movement across the land also spreads seeds, helping new plants grow.
Sadly, the biggest threat to elephants is humans. Since my village is close to a river, humans and elephants compete for resources, leading to conflict. Both humans and elephants eat fruits and vegetables, which leads to elephants eating crops from local farms. Elephants that wander into the village searching for food and water are harassed by the villagers, who are worried that the elephants will destroy their property. The tusks of an elephant are thought to be very valuable, which leads to poachers hunting them for them. Luckily, there are strong conservation efforts in Botswana, and elephants enjoy a relatively high degree of protection. Conservation groups are working hard to protect them by creating safe areas, reducing conflict and teaching others how to live peacefully with these gentle giants.
