Author: Ethan Smith

Ethan aka "The Elephant Man" is a huge fan of elephants. He lives in the US with his wife and three kids. Together they travel to Africa every year to go on safari and see the big 5.

Ethan worked many years covering the news about the endangered animal species of Africa and is even mentioned in the now world renowned documentary "Planet Earth".

Ethan is passionate about conservation and loves educating others about these amazing animals.

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Elephant behaviors

How Does an Elephant Scratch an Itch?

An Elephant scratching its stomach against a car. Photo credit: earthtouchnews.com.
An Elephant scratching its stomach against a car. Photo credit: earthtouchnews.com.

Elephants, known for their size and strength, also face the challenge of itching and the need for relief. Understanding how elephants alleviate their itchiness is a fascinating subject worth exploring.

Elephants possess a range of physical tools that aid in relieving their itchiness. Elephants may use various methods such as rubbing against trees, rocks, or other rough surfaces to alleviate itching.

Their trunks, with their remarkable dexterity, could also be instrumental in reaching and scratching those hard-to-reach areas.

Additional insight can be gained by observing the social behavior of elephants. It is possible that elephants engage in mutual grooming, where one elephant may use its trunk or tusks to gently scratch another elephant’s itchy spots.

This bonding and supportive behavior within the herd could serve as another effective way to alleviate itching while strengthening social connections among elephants.

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Elephant safari Visit elephants

Best Places To See Elephants In Tanzania

Three elephants walking the sunset in Tanzania.
Three elephants walking the sunset Mikumi National Park in Tanzania. Photo by Andrii Ryzhkov.

Tanzania hosts remarkable elephant populations, offering travelers unforgettable experiences to observe these incredible animals in their natural surroundings. In this guide, we’ll uncover top destinations for witnessing elephants, including famous parks and lesser-known gems.

Tarangire National Park is a prime location for elephant sightings. With its dense wildlife population and striking landscape featuring ancient baobab trees, the park provides a beautiful setting for observing elephants.

During the dry season, large herds gather near the Tarangire River, allowing close-up encounters.

Ruaha National Park is another must-visit destination for elephant enthusiasts. As Tanzania’s largest national park, Ruaha’s diverse ecosystem supports a significant number of elephants.

The picturesque Great Ruaha River attracts these animals, presenting an ideal spot to watch them as they drink, eat, and socialize.

Besides these well-known parks, Tanzania has numerous other locations to appreciate elephants.

Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area are perfect examples, where you can see elephants roaming vast plains alongside iconic African wildlife.

For a unique experience, consider visiting the Selous Game Reserve. This off-the-beaten-path destination offers intimate and exclusive encounters with elephants, away from the crowds.

Dive deeper into our guide to discover detailed information on each location, as well as tips and advice to enhance your elephant-viewing experience.

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Elephant behaviors Questions & Answers (FAQs)

Why Do Elephants Destroy Trees?

An Asian Elephant in Thailand destroying trees and bush.
An Asian Elephant in Thailand destroying trees and bush. Photo by xandro Vandewalle.

Have you ever been so frustrated with something that you just wanted to take it out on the nearest tree?

Elephants seem to have the same problem – except they’re much bigger and stronger meaning that when they do push over trees – they actually fall.

From agricultural fields to forests and even urban areas, elephants are known for their destructive tendencies regarding trees. Why is it that elephants destroy trees?

With an uncanny ability to find the most nourishing parts of trees, elephants have developed a habit of breaking tree trunks for easy access.

This gives them quick and effortless access to leaves, roots, and all essential nutrients available within the plant.

In this article, we’ll look at some environmental and anthropogenic factors contributing to elephant-tree destruction and discuss potential solutions.

We’ll also debunk some myths surrounding this issue to understand better what’s happening here.

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Elephant behaviors Questions & Answers (FAQs)

Are Elephants Loyal?

A big Elephant herd at a water hole in Africa.
A big Elephant herd at a water hole in Africa. Elephants are extremely loyal to their herd and their Matriarch. Photo by Glen Carrie.

It’s no secret that elephants are one of the most loyal animals on the planet. They are known for their strong family ties and steadfast loyalty to friends, allies, and to their herd.

But what does this mean for elephant behavior? Are they always loyal? How do they show their loyalty?

Let’s take a closer look at elephant loyalty and what it means for these animals in the wild!

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Elephant safari Visit elephants

Best places to see Elephants in Botswana

A majestic Elephant at a water hole in Botswana
A majestic Elephant at a water hole in Botswana. Photo by Jäger.

It is estimated that more than 130,000 elephants call Botswana home, making the country home to approximately one-third of Africa’s total elephant population.

Recommended reading:
How many Elephants are left in the world?

READ THE ARTICLE


Following the introduction of a hunting ban in 2014, elephant populations in Botswana have gradually increased, and the country’s efforts have won praise from conservationists all around the world.

However, the lifting of the ban has generated a lot of discussion and debate. Botswana is one of the elephants’ last strongholds, and it serves as a sort of talisman for Africa as a whole.

If Botswana can’t protect its elephants, what hope is there for the species elsewhere on the continent?

Even though their numbers have risen to the extent that the government now claims that elephant populations are generating increasing human elephant conflicts, which lead to fights.

Botswana’s wildlife tourism sector is almost entirely reliant on wildlife viewing, and the more people who visit the country’s beautiful places, the more important those creatures become.

Botswana’s elephants are scattered across the country, but there are a few hotspots where your chances of seeing these gentle giants are particularly good. Here are some of the best places to see elephants in Botswana.

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Elephant safari Visit elephants

Best places to see Elephants in Thailand

Best places to see Elephants in Thailand
Asian Elephant taking a bath. Photo by Jakob Owens.

We’re not only referring to the lovely people that call Thailand home when we say it’s home to some gorgeous citizens. The “Land of Smiles” is also known as the “Land of Spectacular Wildlife,” owing to its lush rainforests, tropical beaches, and lovely flora.

According to legend, seeing an Asian Elephant in Thailand will guarantee you good luck. On the other hand, these legends have failed to stop hunting wild elephants or exploiting elephants for profit.

The practice of logging was banned in the 1980s. However, most captive elephants were sold to the tourism industry, resulting in a more than 75% decline. Today, far less than 2,000 elephants live in their natural environments.

Currently, Thailand has no legislation that forbids the mistreatment or exploitation of elephants for tourism purposes. Thailand offers excellent elephant viewing, but timing matters.

However, the elephants rehabilitated in these ethical sanctuaries are helping to heal other elephants who have been abused, and you may do the same thing.

Discover the best time to see elephants in Asia and other global destinations.

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Conservation efforts Saving elephants Visit elephants

Everything you need to know about visiting an Elephant Sanctuary / Orphanage

Elephant strolling into sunset

Elephants are one of the most fascinating animals on earth. They’re intelligent, sensitive, and social creatures that deserve to be treated with dignity. Thankfully there are people who dedicate their lives to taking care of these magnificent animals.

We want you to know everything you need to know about visiting an elephant park. That’s why we created this guide, please read on!

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