Mole National Park (MNP) in Ghana, a savanna woodland ecosystem, hosts 742 plant species, including rare and endemic types. While MNP’s flora and elephant ecology are well-documented, research on the dietary preferences of elephants and their impact on vegetation re-greening remains unexplored. This study addresses this gap by investigating whether re-greening vegetation aligns with elephant dietary preferences. Specifically, we aim to identify plant species contributing to re-greening, assess their abundance, and determine the diet composition of elephants by classifying grasses, shrubs, and trees. Our methodology involves surveying plant species and examining the overlap between re-greening vegetation and elephant diet. Comparisons with other studies, such as those in Kenya’s Amboseli National Park, highlight potential shifts in elephant diet with vegetation changes. Understanding this relationship within MNP will inform conservation strategies for managing elephant distribution and protecting biodiversity. This study establishes a baseline for tracking dietary shifts in response to changing vegetation, aiding in effective management of MNP’s ecological balance.
Drivers of Re-greening: An Investigation into Dominant Vegetation Species and their Significance in the Dietary Patterns of Elephants