Save the Elephants

Like Us, Elephants Have Names Too!

A groundbreaking study on African elephant communication has revealed that elephants, like humans, use ‘names’ to address each other. Researchers at Save the Elephants, Colorado State University, and ElephantVoices have recorded vocalisations from wild African elephants in Kenya that suggest they address each other with individually specific calls dubbed ‘vocal labels’.

The study, which provides unprecedented insights into animal cognition and the evolution of language, was published on June 10 in the prestigious scientific journal, Nature Ecology & Evolution.

The Elephant Queen: How a wildlife documentary inspired Kenya

Powerful, award-winning nature films like ‘The Elephant Queen’, ​​made by filmmakers Mark Deeble, Victoria Stone and Etienne Oliff, have the potential to reshape attitudes and garner support for elephants in rural communities, according to a new study. The findings are crucial at a time when Kenya and other parts of Africa are grappling with escalating human-elephant conflict (HEC).

Results from the study by Save the Elephants – one of the sponsors of ‘The Elephant Queen Outreach Programme’s ground-breaking mobile cinema which was created by the filmmakers and traveled the length and breadth of Kenya for two years – suggests that nature films could have a positive influence on conservation efforts in marginalized rural communities grappling with HEC.

Mystery of Tuskless Male African Elephant Leaves Scientists Puzz

Save the Elephants (STE) researchers have uncovered what is believed to be the first publicly documented case of a male African elephant born without tusks. This intriguing discovery, published as a scientific study in yesterday’s publication of Pachyderm, challenges established genetic evidence suggesting that only females are born tuskless.

The 13-year-old tuskless male, from a family known as the Hawaiian Islands, was first discovered in 2011 as a very young calf by STE’s Director of Field Operations, David Daballen in Samburu National Reserve, northern Kenya. Although researchers continued to monitor his progress, he never grew any semblance of tusks – a feature that normally emerges around the age of two and a half years.  Moreover, his mother, named Kauai, is also tuskless, leaving scientists to question whether he inherited the tuskless condition from her.

An abrupt end to the jumbo life of iconic bull elephant, Edison

We are deeply saddened to report that one of our best-known and most beloved bull elephants, Edison, has died. Edison’s carcass was found in Westgate Conservancy in Samburu, northern Kenya. We suspect his untimely death could be yet another tragic outcome of the rising cases of Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC) across Africa. Investigations into the cause of death are still continuing. Edison’s death marks the third loss of one of our Samburu study bull elephants within the span of just under a year. In December, bull elephants Sarara and Yeagar were both killed in conflict with herders. 

Helping Communities To Coexist With Elephants

Following the successful launch of our Human-Elephant Coexistence (HEC) Toolbox on World Elephant Day last year, we embarked on a significant milestone this year by conducting our inaugural Toolbox Training of Trainers workshops in Tsavo, Kenya.

Representatives from diverse communities across Kenya gathered at our Sagalla research centre to equip themselves with the knowledge and tools necessary to teach others how to live more in peaceful coexistence with elephants. Set against the picturesque backdrop of the Sagalla hills, the training sessions took place in April, July, and August and were led by our own team of HEC experts from Save the Elephants.

The Community That Lives With Elephants

On the edge of Kenya’s vast Tsavo West National Park lies Lake Jipe –  one of the country’s most important wetlands and home to hippos, crocodiles and unique birdlife. But beyond its tranquil setting, this freshwater lake also holds a remarkable secret—a harmonious and unique coexistence between humans and elephants.

At the center of this tale is Manolo, a wise bull elephant, and his band of equally legendary companions. Save the Elephants (STE) researchers were the first to uncover the extraordinary bond shared between Manolo (aged 40) and the fishing community of Mikocheni living near Lake Jipe.

Unravelling the Intricacies of Wild Elephant Diets

Researchers have unravelled the intricacies of wild elephant diets. Using DNA metabarcoding, the Brown University study analysed elephant dung collected by Save the Elephants almost two decades ago which showed surprising variation from meal to meal – with up to 137 unique plant DNA barcodes detected in one faecal sample, revealing the true extent of variation in an individual’s diet.

Check out our human coexistence toolbox

As human-elephant conflict increases across Africa, farmers need practical, sustainable and affordable ways to peacefully co-exist with elephants without having to resort to violence. Save the Elephants has developed a unique ‘how to’ manual, the Human-Elephant Coexistence (HEC) Toolbox of tried and tested elephant deterrents to empower rural communities to protect their livelihoods from elephants. Built on the success of STE’s Elephants and Bees Project in Tsavo, the Toolbox is the brainchild of Dr Lucy King who heads up STE’s Human-Elephant Coexistence program.