Where do elephants fit into the food web?

Adult elephants have no natural predators but calves are killed by lions, tigers and hyenas. Elephants eat leaves, roots, bark, grasses and fruit. They can have considerable impact on local environments.

Elephants can tear down or uproot bushes and small trees. This can lead to erosion but also opens up potential grassland for grazing animals. Elephants distribute seeds in their dung. Because most of the food elephant's eat isn't digested, other animals can use elephant dung for food. Elephants dig for water during droughts, creating water holes that can be used by other species. Elephants also excavate caves, which are used by other animals.