Article:Mûmaks, Part II

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Note: For the diagrams that accompany this article please see the PDF of this issue.

"Sam drew a deep breath. 'An Oliphaunt it was!' he said. 'So there are Oliphaunts, and I have seen one. What a life! But no one at home will ever believe me'."
-The Two Towers

The Ecology of Mûmaks

Mûmaks and elephants are believed to play vital roles in the ecosystems in which they exist. For example, they are thought to be very important agents of seed dispersal. While feeding, these creatures devour large amounts of vegetation and seeds. The seeds that are consumed then pass through the digestive system and are dispersed in the fecal material of the beasts as they travel throughout their home ranges. This excrement then, with the help of insects such as dung beetles, also returns nutrients to soil, which further aids the growth of new vegetation. These are merely a few of several possible ways in which Mûmaks and elephants affect the other organisms that share their habitats. To give another example: as these beasts migrate throughout their habitats, they tromp over the grasses and other vegetation, causing much disturbance. Such disturbances agitate large swarms of insects that usually hide at the base of the foliage (where they normally are not available to birds and others that feed on them). When such agitation occurs, however, these swarms of insects fly into the air where they can more easily be consumed by flocks of birds. As a result, large flocks of birds are often seen following elephant and Mûmak groups, and it is likely that anyone witnessing these beasts in the wild will also see many birds nearby. These are but a few examples of how the many animal species living in such ecosystems are interconnected.

Geographical Distribution

Due to their preference for warm climes, the geographical distribution of Mûmaks and elephants is very limited. In fact, because of their rarity, these beasts are considered to be little more than myth by people living in the far western lands of Middle Earth. Mûmaks and their relatives, for example, are found naturally only in far southeastern Middle Earth. This includes far Harad and parts of Khand. Though also once commonly found in Harondor and even into southern Gondor, neither Mûmaks nor true elephants have been reported in either region for many years.

There is a marked difference in population densities of Mûmaks and elephants as it relates to geographic location. These two types of animals cannot easily co-exist in an area. Although both species are found in Khand and Harad, it is reported that the density of elephant populations increases as one moves west from the western edges of Harad into eastern Khand. Conversely, Mûmak population densities increase as one moves east into far Harad.

Habitat Preferences

As has been stated elsewhere, these beasts prefer primarily open, arid, and warm habitats. Thus, they often inhabit savannahs, but, depending on species, will occasionally graze along the edges of adjacent forests from time to time. Whether Mûmaks or elephants, a water source is usually desired, both for drinking and also for taking "mud-baths". Mûmaks and elephants frequently wallow in mud because it helps protect their skin from the hot sun and insects. When mud is not available, these animals will pick up dirt or dust with their trunks and fling it over their shoulders to help shoo away insects.

Mûmaks

Mûmaks, being far too large to inhabit the interior of any type of forested habitat, are found exclusively in savannahs. These savannahs are usually dominated by rolling landscapes covered in medium-sized vegetation interspersed with open grasslands. They will occasionally patrol the outer most boundaries of woodlands and feed on the leaves of any trees within their reach. The type of flora in these habitats includes scrubby and thorny bushes, small trees with short twisted trunks, long grasses, and the occasional large tree that the beasts can easily overturn (to feed upon its leaves). Wild Mûmaks seem to know no fear and vegetation is not necessary for use as cover, but strictly as food. Vegetation abundance will vary with seasons—the rainy season obviously resulting in a greater amount of vegetation available for consumption by the beasts. Adequate amounts of vegetation are critically important for the survival of these creatures, as the volume of food they are able to consume is legendary. In rare instances, they will roam along very dry prairies that have almost desert-like conditions. In the dry season (mid-summer), Mûmaks are known to congregate around water sources, where food may be more plentiful. Interestingly, it is during this time, when the creatures are congregated, that the young are hunted and captured by the Haradrim to be used as beasts of burden and so on.

True Elephants

True elephants frequently use savannahs, like their larger relatives. It should be noted that Mûmaks and elephants will not co-habitat the same areas (there's not enough vegetation in any area of Middle Earth to sustain a family group of elephants and Mûmaks feeding together). Unlike Mûmaks, however, elephants can occasionally inhabit forest edges and less dense forest interiors, where they hide from predators and threats (primarily from humans who hunt them, not for use as beasts of burden, but for their ivory tusks). As with Mûmaks, finding adequate amounts of food is critically important to the survival of elephants. Unlike Mûmaks, these creatures are frequently found near water sources (regardless of whether it is the rainy or dry season). Thus, they will often visit any rivers, lakes, or potholes that may exist in their territories and make it part of their daily routines.

Home Ranges

Mûmaks and elephants have large home ranges (10-100 sq km/7-62 sq mi) that they frequently patrol as a family group, but territoriality (i.e. the defense of territories) does not seem to occur. However, if resources, such as food, become limited during a particularly lean year, Mûmaks grow to be more wide-ranging, and if they come into contact with an existing elephant group, they will push the elephants out of their home ranges to gain new feeding grounds. This can be devastating for the elephant group involved, and during these times only the strongest individuals survive. Home ranges will almost always contain at least three water sources, one of which will usually be a river or other more permanent body of water (so that water can be acquired even during the dry seasons, and frequent mud baths are possible).

"Men of both sides fled before him, but many he overtook and crushed to the ground."
-The Two Towers

Feeding Habits

There is a significant difference in the food preference of Mûmaks and elephants. Mûmaks, being much taller than elephants, consume leaves and vegetation existing much higher off of the ground. These leaves may occur on both taller shrubs and also trees. Furthermore, they will, without hesitation, consume smaller twigs and branches, and not only the soft leafy parts of the tree. They will also peel bark from trees and shrubs, consuming both bark and the softer pulpy material beneath. It is believed, through observation, that both Mûmaks and elephants spent 18 to 20 hours a day feeding. During which time an unbelievable amount of vegetation is consumed (>400 kg per day in elephants; >800 kg per day in Mûmaks).

Elephants, unlike Mûmaks, consume primarily long grasses. Furthermore, a significant amount of their diet consists of low- growing shrubs and leaves from small trees. Both species will also push over larger trees, using their powerful muscles and tusks, to feed on the leaves that grow higher in the canopy. The tusks are also readily employed for rutting in shallow soil to find edible roots and tubers. Neither Mûmaks nor elephants seem to be bothered by the thorns or coarseness of the vegetation that they consume, the thick hide of their body and trunk protecting them from abrasion.

Predators

Due to their size and power, these beasts have few natural predators. In very rare instances, adults, both Mûmak and elephant, are reportedly consumed by dragons. In fact, dragons are believed to be the only known creatures large enough to physically overpower a healthy adult of either species. Infants and juveniles more frequently fall victim to predators, albeit not without difficulty due to the protective nature of adults. Predators of juveniles range from group-living predators (such as lions and hyenas) to dragons, and most attacks occur during dusk or dawn. Predators that hunt in packs reportedly have a higher success rate when hunting baby Mûmaks or elephants. This is believed to be because pack hunters have the ability to confuse over-protective adults and separate juveniles from their mothers.

Each group of grazing Mûmaks posts two or three individuals as sentries, who circle the herd as it feeds, watching and sniffing for signs of predators. If a predator is located, the sentries raise an alarm call and the group immediately gathers all of their young and forms a protective circle around them. Such a line of defense is nearly impenetrable and is the reason why most attempts at predation on these creatures fail. Elephants employ a similar ant-predator behavior. Yet, they will also hide their juveniles in wooded habitats should a predator be located.

Communication

There are several ways in which Mûmaks and elephants communicate with each other. These include vocalizations and the stamping of feet. It is believed that individuals can hear such sounds up to a distance of over 2 km away from their source. In addition to sound production, the use of pheromones by females entering estrus is also a probable way in which they attract males during the breeding season. Tactile communication is also very important. The trunks of these creatures are so sensitive that it is believed that they can determine, by touch, individuals within their family groups.

Reproductive strategies

Reproduction in both Mûmaks and elephants is an infrequent occurrence. Once physically ready to reproduce, a female elephant will most likely only give birth to only 5-8 offspring throughout her life. Mûmaks, on the other hand, usually only give birth to 3 (despite being much longer lived). Their low reproductive yield is just one of the reasons why these beasts are not common in Middle Earth (even where the habitat is appropriate).

Because they live in matriarchal societies, females (in both Mûmaks and elephants) are the "choosy sex" when it comes to mate selection. Males, on the other hand, must vie for the attention of the female and are not picky when it comes to mating opportunities. Once the breeding season is underway, a female will emit pheromones to show that she is sexually available. These pheromones will attract males to existing family groups from great distances, and this is the only time that males are permitted to be part of the group by existing females. During this time, males will attempt to impress the females through feats of strength, which includes uprooting of trees and other vegetation. Males will also "wrestle" each other in an attempt to show females who is the strongest among them. These wrestling matches usually involve two males pushing against one another head-to-head. The male who gives way first is the loser. The winner then often creates a large scene, to draw attention to his victory. Victory displays, such as these, involve loud trumpeting, the throwing of vegetation and dust into the air, and the rising of the individual up on its hind legs for brief intervals.

Because size is definitely a factor in how often males reproduce, it is usually the largest males that are the most successful. Interestingly, although rare, male Mûmaks with four tusks win their bouts with other males almost immediately. In fact, those who have witnessed contests between four-tusked males and other males noted that the males with only two tusks submitted almost immediately. The reason for this is unknown, but it has lead to wild speculation among the Haradrim that males with four tusks have extra strength in combat and make exceptional weapons of war.

When the female selects the male that she will breed with, copulation occurs almost immediately. After copulating several times, the female chases the male off. If he attempts to return, the largest females in the group will help let him know it's time to leave. Gestation takes an incredibly long time, averaging 22 months in elephants and 30 months in Mûmaks. Females usually give birth to a single calf, and in very rare instances two calves. Calves are given nourishment in the form of milk from the mother, yet all females in the herd share the responsibilities of all other aspects of caring for young.

Development

These creatures develop very slowly. Once born, calves are dependant on their mother (consuming nothing but her milk) for the first five years of life in elephants and 7 years in Mûmaks. It is not until after this time period that they can forage for themselves. Even after they are able to live independently from their mother, they will not reach adulthood for several decades. Neither Mûmaks nor elephants will become sexually active until they reach 20 or 30 years of age.

Mortality Rates and Longevity

Juvenile Mûmaks and elephants have very high survival rates. Because usually only one offspring is born per pregnant female, great care is taken by the group to insure the survival of all offspring. Adult elephants have few natural predators and, unless killed for their ivory tusks by humans, can live to be anywhere from 50 to 80 years. Adult Mûmaks fall victim only to dragons, and otherwise will live well past 150 years. This longevity is tempered by an incredibly low reproductive yield and slow development, thus population sizes are always relatively small.

Society and Allegiances

Mûmaks and elephants are highly social creatures. The bonds between individuals are reported to be uncannily strong. Some even believe that when expressing the strength of these bonds, Mûmaks and elephants display very human-like emotions. They supposedly grieve the death of family members and attempt to console injured or sick members of their group. They are also believed to show joy at the return of a long missing family member, which is expressed by turning in circles, raising their heads and filling the air with a raucous symphony of trumpeting. These interpretations of such actions are purely conjecture, however.

These creatures exist in moderately sized matriarchal family groups containing four to five individuals in Mûmaks and five to ten individuals in elephants. Occasionally, several family groups will combine to form larger units called herds. Whether existing in herds or family groups, the oldest female (i.e. the matriarch) makes all decisions for the group. These decisions include in which direction the group will travel, when it is the appropriate time to find a water source, and so on. When the matriarch dies, her oldest offspring will take her place.

As was previously stated, females dominate family groups (Mûmak or elephant) and the matriarch ejects males from the herd when the reach adulthood (at approximately age 14). The matriarch only allows adult males (or bulls) to return to these family groups during the breeding season. Otherwise, they are forced to travel singly or with other males in, what are termed, "bachelor herds". Adults vehemently protect infants and juveniles, whether they are their own offspring or not. In fact, when danger draws near, all adults in a group will surround the juveniles to shield them from danger. This makes capturing juveniles for domestication (which is preferred) particularly dangerous.

"There came the great beasts, like moving houses in the red and fitful light, the Mûmakil of Harad dragging through the lanes amid the fires huge towers and engines."
-The Return of the King

Economic Uses

The only popular knowledge that people in the west have of these beasts includes their use as siege weapons (a use that they are particularly well adapted for). Many consider them evil beasts and servants of the Dark Lord and his minions. The truth is not quit so cut-and-dried, however. Although Mûmaks, for example, have been tainted by the Dark Lord's hand, they are not inherently evil. Their violent natures, however, can be brought to the surface easily through cruel enslavement and training practices. Mûmaks are used primarily during warfare to break down large barriers (such as city walls) and destroy front lines of cavalry, for they seem to frighten horses. Elephants, on the other hand, are usually only used as beasts of burden. Though they are large enough to be fairly effective as siege weapons, their demeanor is not well suited for it. Because they hail from warm arid climates, these beasts only thrive as captives in regions that are environmentally similar. They do not respond well to damp or cold environments, and thus will fall victim to respiratory infections if kept in sub-optimal temperatures for extended periods.

Elephants may also be hunted for their ivory tusks. In the far southeastern portions of Middle Earth, ivory ornaments are frequently worn. Ivory can be carved for use as knife or sword handles, as well as personal decoration of various types (i.e. earrings nose rings, necklaces, etc.). Because their flesh is tough, and their thick hide is difficult to cut through, these animals are almost never eaten. Thus, if one is killed for its ivory, the rest of the body is often left to rot.

For those of you still interested in learning more, fear not! Information specifically for the Narrator is coming in next month's issue. What type of statistics do these beasts have? How can they most effectively crush your adventuring party underfoot? Tune in next month to find out!