Their enormous appetites destroy forests. No, that can be good. Bush elephants are the architects of grasslands. When a hungry elephant uproots an acacia tree or browses on bushes, it opens space for other plants and grasses to grow, providing food for grazing animals. Thirsty elephants often dig water holes during drought, creating a crucial water source for the whole ecosystem.
Elephants plant new forests when they disperse plant seeds in their dung.
An elephant's dung is also a rich source of food for monkeys, since more than half of an elephant's intake is undigested. Without the elephant, a lot of animals would be hungry and thirsty. Zoos to the Rescue In a world with too little wilderness left, populations of elephants have become perilously small. Their plight has kindled a strong interest in zoo breeding programs. In 1985, the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums created a Species Survival Plan for elephants.