‘How the (Elephant) Cow Ate the Cabbage’: Cussonia spicata in the Presence of Elephants in the Subtropical Thicket Biome, South Africa

Using transect surveys, we examined the effects of African savannah elephant (Loxodonta africana) herbivory on cabbage trees (Cussonia spicata) within South Africa's Subtropical Thicket Biome over 15 years (2008–2023). There was an 80% reduction in tree density, from 14.3 to 1.4 trees per 0.1 km², and a significant decrease in average height. Notably, as cabbage tree numbers declined, elephant browsing intensity also decreased. Trees in steeper areas survived better, suggesting these act as natural refuges. Our findings highlight the critical need for targeted conservation strategies and long-term ecosystem monitoring to preserve these keystone species in enclosed reserves.