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Here is the transcript for the video: written by Shermin de Silva at trunks n leaves:
"Here's a question for you. There is a lot of talk about protecting big animals in the wild, like elephants. But why do we really need them?
Ecosystems can be thought of as a complex machine which performs functions that are vital for us. Forests and grasslands cool our planet, clean our air, and create rain clouds. These systems are important for us and for the animals in them.
Now the animals in them don't just occupy their place in the ecosystem like random actors on a stage. The whole ecosystem needs them as much as they need it.
You've probably heard that before right. Let me make my case for the elephant.
Elephants are the largest mammals in Asia and Africa. Because of this, they actually play unique and often irreplaceable roles within their ecosystem. Now, lets look at the Asian elephant in more detail.
First, They dig lots of wells in order to get to mineral-rich water. This helps other smaller animals to access the same scarce resources. At the same time, these actions create micro-habitats for lots of other creatures, like frogs, which can lay eggs in the water. A single elephant footprint can eventually turn into a miniature world full of life.
And of course, elephants must eat. A LOT. An elephant can eat just about any plant, even ones with thorns. It can strip bark off a tree, which can eventually kill the tree. At first this might sound destructive and bad. But a dead tree also makes a good home for birds that like to nest in the hollows. Because of their size and strength, they can make short work of large fruits with shells that are difficult to crack. Other animals also benefit from the fruits they drop on the ground. And finally the plants themselves benefit -- because the elephant is also a gardener.
So the point is that without the elephants, the forests would look very different. The future of the habitats is tied to the future of the elephants -- and vice versa.
So here is the kicker. Who are we to decide what should be in an ecosystem and what shouldn't. Take out the elephant, and you'll loose a lot of species. More so than simply taking out a smaller, less habitat altering critter.
And of course, if we're comparing a native ecosystem to say, one bulldozed for development, weather farming or urban, then we loose out on a LOT of ecosystem servicies. I mean ultimately, we rely on these same habitats for the clean air we breath, and the rain water we drink.
So what are your thoughts? What other reasons can you come up with as to why elephants are vital to the wild ecosystem?
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