Forest elephants are sometimes called the 'gardeners of the forest' because of the amazing job they do for the ecosystem. When they eat fruit, they carry the seeds inside them and spread them across the forest in their dung — sometimes many kilometres from where they ate. Without elephants, many forest trees could not reproduce and spread.
They love visiting the mineral-rich clearings called bais, where they dig at the soil with their tusks to get at the salts and minerals hidden underneath. Sometimes dozens of elephants gather at a bai at the same time, creating a magnificent sight for patient observers.
Forest elephants are very shy and quieter than their savanna cousins. They communicate using low rumbling sounds that are so deep humans can barely hear them — these are called infrasound. Because forests are so dense, this low sound travels well through the trees and can be picked up by other elephants far away.