Savanna

Elephants Leave a Climate Legacy That Outlives Them, Study Finds

New research is adding a striking ecological dimension to the climate and conservation debate: when elephants die, their bodies can continue to shape savanna ecosystems for years. Scientists say the carcass becomes a long-lived source of nutrients, moisture retention and habitat change, with effects that ripple through vegetation and wildlife well beyond the animal’s death. The findings underscore how the loss of large mammals can alter landscapes in ways that matter for biodiversity, land management and climate resilience.