A fascinating way to survive
The world's largest land mammal is also renowned for its dependence on water. Elephants on the African savannah drink water almost every day, and like to take a mud bath to keep cool. Yet in the vast Namib Desert, this majestic pachyderm survives despite low rainfall and intense heat. These herds, aptly named desert elephants, travel long distances in very arid environments with only seasonal rivers and sparse vegetation for sustenance. Elephants feed on grass, which accounts for 80% of their daily diet, as well as twigs, seeds, leaves, bark, roots, etc., representing a consumption of 150 to 250 kg of vegetation per day! It sleeps very little (no more than four or five hours). It spends most of its time eating, and travels long distances to diversify its diet as much as possible. For many years, ecologists thought that desert elephants were a distinct species of Loxodonta africana, like the forest elephant found in the Congo, which lives in dense, humid tropical forests. But the distinctive characteristics and unique social structure of desert elephants are merely adaptations to the extreme temperatures and rocky plains of the Kunene region in north-western Namibia.
Elephants adapted to the desert have large feet
There are no genetic or physiological differences between the elephants that live in the Namibian wilderness and the African savannah elephant. However, they have had to adapt to the extreme environment of the Namib Desert. Scientists believe that their long legs and smaller body mass are the result of a diet low in grasses and scattered shrubs. Desert-adapted elephants also appear to have larger feet than those in more temperate regions of Africa, due to their elongated feet. The large surface area of their feet prevents elephants from sinking into the hot sand as they cross the Namib's iconic orange dunes. Like their black rhino counterparts also found in the Kunene region, desert elephants walk hundreds of kilometers in search of food and water.
adapting to water scarcity
Studies have shown that desert elephants in Namibia have a remarkably restricted water intake. Female elephants and adult infants need water every three days; males can go up to five days without drinking a drop! Researchers describe desert elephants as opportunistic drinkers. They have also observed that they use their trunks and paws to dig wells in dry riverbeds - even when they have access to surface water or artificial water pools. This memory of water sources, even when underground, enables the survival of their species in this inhospitable environment. This unique method also indicates their need to purify water before drinking.
Small herds of elephants travel farther
Constantly on the move in search of food and water, desert elephants travel at night to avoid sunburn, and have also adjusted their feeding habits to cope with this lack of resources. As soon as they discover vegetation and water, they will feed continuously for a few days before resuming their trek through the rugged Kunene region, which extends over 115,000 km2. Although elephant families are generally led by a matriarch and other female elephants, those living in the north-west have a more flexible social structure. Scientists continue to investigate the fact that desert elephant family units are generally smaller than other continental populations. With fewer elephants per family, the herd is easier to feed and moves faster, a much-needed survival tactic when food and water are just a few days' walk away in the harsh Namib Desert.
An endangered species
Estimated at between 2,500 and 3,000 in the 18th century, the elephant population in the Namib region today numbers less than 200. Elephant herds have moved from the wetter areas of northern Namibia to the drier north-western regions, to take advantage of the abundance of food in winter. Unfortunately, a large part of this elephant population perished in the second half of the 19th century due to increased hunting and poaching, which saw it decline to 600-800 and reach around 360 elephants during the war of independence in the 1980s. The increase in human population and settlements interrupted the elephants' traditional migratory routes, triggering conflict between man and wildlife and, consequently, further threatening the growth of the species. The 150 or so desert-dwelling pachyderms can now be found in Kunene along the main riverbeds of Ugab, Huab, Hoarusib, Hoanib and Uniab.
The epic of Vorrtrekker
In the late 1990s, an intrepid elephant named Voortrekker, which means "first walker", was the first to venture south of the northern part of the country, where most elephants were found. A few months later, he returned to the region at the head of a group of elephants, known as Mama Afrika, and followed the Ugab River, taking advantage of a few pockets of water and seasonal food. After his exploration, other elephant herds followed Voortrekker, and today there are a total of five matriarchal herds resident in the Ugab and Huab River regions. Killed by a hunter in 2019, his death provoked a nationwide outcry. After declaring that the animal was "causing problems" to community properties in the Omatjete region, the government authorized a hunter, after payment of US$8,500, to shoot Voortrekker, then aged 50.
