Scientists are exploring the potential of rewilding landscapes to benefit the climate, focusing on large animals as living carbon stores. Elephants, which historically roamed Africa in great numbers, are believed to have significantly shaped ecosystems and the carbon balance. Recent science suggests a substantial decline in elephant populations over centuries due to hunting and habitat loss.
Whales, as the largest animals on Earth, also represent significant carbon reservoirs. Their bodies sequester carbon over their lifetimes. Furthermore, whale waste supports phytoplankton, which absorb considerable amounts of carbon dioxide. Even after death, whale carcasses sink to the ocean floor, contributing to carbon sequestration as deep-sea organisms consume them.
Source: Mongabay