Are there forest Elephants in Bwindi
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is found south west of Uganda famous for its mountain Gorillas . However , there are also other animals coexisting with the mountain Gorillas such as antelopes, chimpanzees, baboons, monkeys forest Elephants and many others.
Forest Elephants in Bwindi are originally from Savannah further north that got stuck in the park and thereby adapted to it .
They are 40-60 in number and have grey skin, black coarse hair around the tip of their tail with large oval shaped ears that enable them live effectively in their habitats
It is vital to put into consideration that forest Elephants are due to extinction as per the international Union for Conservation of Nature thanks to conservation efforts of gazetting forest land in 1991 by the Government of Uganda and evicting the Batwa Pygmies who fed on different vegetation , bush meat and fruits in a bid to conserve the forest Elephants and other wild animals .
It is important to note that elephants in Bwindi are either of two species that is the forest Elephants and savanna elephant
These have distinct features such as the shape of their ears and tusks , their number of nails on their feet .Due to interbreeding, there is apparently a mixture of species leading to a new breed
Forest Elephants are generally herbivores feeding on over 62% trees , 12% bushes and 25%herbs , climbers grasses and sedges . They consume 78 plant species with 9 major food types and rarely eat fruits . They also enjoy barks of trees and bamboo in dry and wet seasons respectively
Usually, forest Elephants are seen hanging around Mubwindi swamp.
They are known for stripling majorly In the bamboo zones and breaking trees In the mixed forest edge ,near rivers and other permanent water sources.
Their reproduction is pretty very slow giving birth to only one infant after every five years and have a gestation period of two years and breed at the age of 23 on average .
Young ones weigh 105kgs and are breast fed for 4-5 years and their tusks are seen at 16 months
Forest Elephants are visible during nature walks in the park and tourists can be safe from any mode of aggression or attack from these creatures with help of an armed game ranger that have ways of communicating to the animals to alert them of the presence of people.
Here is a list of other animals that can be spotted alongside forest Elephants
Duikers
Olive baboons
Buffaloes
Grey checked mangabey
Red colobus monkeys
Giant forest hogs
Bush pigs and many others
By and large , forest Elephants are amazing giants u can see during your different tourist activities in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
