In their respective ecosystems, Asian elephants fulfill several very crucial ecological niches. The

Asian elephant usually dig holes in dry riverbeds in their search for water. Said holes can catch

the rain, creating watering holes for larger animals. They also create holes with their footprints,

which can create rainwater watering holes for smaller animals. (3)

 

The waste products of an Asian elephant disperse and spread the seeds of plant-life in their

ecosystem. This dung is carried underground by certain insects such as dung beetles and

termites, where they fertilize the soil. (3)

 

Asian elephants consume an extremely large amount of vegetation each and every day. This,

combined with their relative lack of natural predators, makes them very taxing on their

ecosystem's food availability. Many local human societies make a habit of killing families of

Asian elephants, seeing them as a threat to their food supplies. However, there exists

considerable empirical evidence showing that the damage elephants have on their ecosystems

have checks and balances, and is not an actual threat to ecological equilibrium. (3)