An elephant reaches high into a winter thorn tree in Zambia, Africa in the dry season to access the nutritious seed pods to eat.

Reaching High

Zimbabwe, Africa

In Zambia, elephants eat pods from several trees, notably the winter thorn tree and the camel thorn tree. The winter thorn tree yields corkscrew pods that elephants eat when in season. Elephants often stand on their hind legs or use their trunks to reach the higher pods. But when the easy-to-reach pods are taken, an elephants will shake the tree causing the pods to fall, which can then be consumed.

Winter thorn trees produce pods in the dry season when most other trees are bare. This unique dry-season fruiting is a cornerstone of survival for many species in the Lower Zambezi ecosystem. The pods and fruits provide essential nutrients, and elephants play a crucial role in dispersing the seeds of these important trees.

Photo © copyright by Dr. Edward Mikol.

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