Exploitation of water soluble soil sodium by elephants in Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda

摘要

SummaryThe availability of water soluble calcium, sodium and potassium in the Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda was established. In certain local situations elephants have been attracted to particular soils or rocks and have dug them up and ingested them. These sites are characterized by high localized concentrations of water soluble sodium, sometimes associated with calcium. Results are compared with those from other regions of Africa, and it is concluded that under these equatorial climatic conditions elephants are attracted to water soluble sodium. Their requirements may, however, be satisfied to a large extent by sodium in drinking water or in food.