Climate change is intensifying drought in African savannas, forcing elephants to travel further for water and food with serious welfare consequences.
Elephants experiencing drought conditions show elevated stress hormones and behavioral changes including aggression and unusual movement patterns. Young calves that cannot maintain pace with herd movements during long water treks face abandonment or mortality. Drought extends the time pregnant and nursing females must spend foraging, reducing reproductive success and calf condition. Climate change projections suggest these stresses will intensify significantly in coming decades.