Page 186 - The Miracle of Migration in Animals
P. 186
THE MIRACLE OF MIGRATION IN ANIMALS
suited for calving, so mating and birth take place in the rainy season.
The gestation period in elephants lasts 22 months, the longest in all
land mammals, so that the same weather conditions prevail when
they become impregnated as when they give birth, so that calves are
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born when food is abundant. This perfect timing in giving birth is
remarkable.
Migration of elephants to find food in areas of high rainfall is
still a mystery, in spite of research into how these animals determine
which direction to travel in, and what factors they use to determine
the right time to migrate.
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