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Playful African Elephants Get Drunk On Marula Fruit

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Author Jen Fitschen, BSc Computer Science and Oceanography

elephant
African elephants. Image by Pexels via Pixabay

A fascinating phenomenon has come to light in Africa’s wilderness: playful African elephants indulging in the juiciness of ripe marula fruit. Moreover this results in a humorous spectacle that’s nothing short of a wild party.

Looking Further

elephant and marula fruit
Image via Pixabay (left)
Image via Depositphotos (right)

But why do they act in this way? What role does this strange behavior play in these amazing creatures’ social lives? And what is the backstory of the delicious marula fruit? Let us look into this fascinating story and discover more about the marula treats. Clearly they are cherished by elephants.

What Are Elephants Known For?

Elephant
Elephant in Tsavo. Image via Byrdyak, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

African elephants are the gentle giants of the animal kingdom. Generally they are known for their social behavior, intelligence, and playful interactions within their herds.

The Use Of A Trunk

African elephants. Image via Depositphotos

It’s not uncommon to witness them using their trunks to explore and engage with their environment, even if it means discovering a sweet and succulent marula fruit that has fallen from the trees.

Why Do Elephants Get Drunk on Marula Fruit?

African bush elephant
Elephants – African bush elephants in Matetsi Safari Area, Zimbabwe . Image via Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Marula fruit, when overripe, begins to ferment, thanks to natural yeasts present in the fruit. Moreover fermentation is the process of converting sugars into alcohol, and in the case of marula fruit, this results in a slightly alcoholic content.

Acute Senses

Elephant
African elephants. Image via Depositphotos.

Elephants have a very good sense of smell, so they can find the fermenting fruit miles away. Their curiosity and the enjoyable feeling this natural alcohol supply provides must have piqued their interest. They devour it with utter delight as soon as they find this prize.

The Social Behavior of Elephants

Elephant Throws Tourists
Image by Geranimo via Unsplash

Elephants live in close-knit family units called herds, and social interaction is essential to their survival. Strong emotional relationships are shared by these highly intelligent and compassionate animals, who interact with one another via a sophisticated system of body language, vocalizations, and even vibrations that are invisible to humans.

Fun Times

Elephant
Elephant showing off their trunk. Image by Davide Clode via Unsplash

The phenomena of marula fruit involves sharing an experience with others in addition to feeling tipsy. Elephants frequently congregate to partake in this unusual feast when they come across a marula fruit tree that is dropping its mature, fermenting fruit.

Social Bonding

Elephant walking in grass
Elephant walking in the long grass. Image Via
Depositphotos

It turns into a bonding event. This is similar to when people eat or drink together. It’s about the companionship and mutual delight that the marula tree provides, not just the booze.

The Marula Fruit

A majestic male elephant.
A majestic male elephant. By Tall Black – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=141490891

The marula fruit (Sclerocarya birrea) is a tree native to Southern Africa. Its significance in the local ecosystem is vast. Known as the “elephant tree” for its strong connection with these pachyderms, marula fruit trees bear small fruit. Generally it is round and yellowish with a unique taste that’s both sweet and tart.

Food Source

Elephants
Elephant and her babies vis Unsplash

In addition to being a seasonal treat for elephants, marula fruit is an essential food source for numerous other wild creatures in Africa, such as giraffes, baboons, and different kinds of birds. Because of its abundance in vital nutrients, animals consumes a substantial amount of it during the ripening season.

Nature’s Boozy Gift

Elephant
Elephant walking in grass. Image by aj-robbie. via Unsplash

Marula fruit also has cultural and economic importance for the people of Africa. In many regions, the fruit is used to make jams, juices, and even a popular liqueur known as Amarula.

Alternative Uses

African elephant
African elephant in musth. You can tell he’s in musth by the liquid (temporin) being secreted from the temporal glands in his face.
Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The oil extracted from marula seeds is used in cosmetics. As well as the tree itself has numerous traditional and medicinal uses. In addition to its culinary and economic value, marula trees contribute to the biodiversity of African landscapes.

Want to watch a video of elephants getting drunk?

Wrapping Up with Playful African Elephants Get Drunk On Marula Fruit

Elephant from Kruger Park, South Africa.
Elephant from Kruger Park, South Africa. By Rob Hooft – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=13973

African elephants’ mischievous actions while intoxicated on marula fruit tell a fascinating story. An account of the peculiarities of nature. The elephant herds enjoy these indulgent hours together and feel happier as a result. 

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