One of the best parts about being an African elephant is enjoying the succulent benefits of the marula tree. Named “The Elephant Tree,” (3) (1) for the herds’ dedication to making the trek each summer to savor the “sacred marula fruit” (3) at peak harvest, these special trees attract the elephants. Their remarkable olfactory systems, …
Name: SEEK Name Origin/Meaning: “…named after the indigenous ‘seeki’ tree that is ‘so strong’ the wood is used for ‘walking sticks’ for the community’s elders”. (2) Gender: Male Age When Rescued: one year old Date of Rescue: 31 December 2020, New Years Eve Location of Rescue: Nanyuki Where Now: RETETI ELEPHANT SANCTUARY Namunyak Wildlife …
Ireland has long held a tradition that, on St. Patrick’s Day, in celebration of their global presence and friendships with other nations they take part in the “greening of an iconic structure” (1) within that nation to symbolize their unique bond. In 2016, in Kenya, the sculpture of Ahmed the Elephant was one of those …
‘Look out!’ Marvin cries to the herd. ‘The machines are coming!’ ‘What do we do?!’ cry the elephants. ‘They’ve got Dirk!’ ‘Wait. What’s that sound? It sounds like…’ ‘Machines.’ ‘I can’t get free!’ shouted Dirk ‘Help me!’ “Amelia screams from the launch pad. Waaaaahhhhhhhhhooooo!’ ‘I can do …
In a perfect world all of our elephants would live as elephants in the wild and have the peace of knowing they were not hunted for what is basically their ‘upper incisors,’ albeit ivory.(1) If there were no demand for ivory, there would be no reason for poaching elephants. All reasonable humans realize that. The …
Artist: Addison Size: 2.5 X 3.5 ACEO Medium: Watercolor Colors: light & dark brown teddy bear, with black nose & eyes, red heart, blue green shadow Featuring: Teddy bear with heart on foot! Title: Heart Bear, Original Watercolor by Addison: ACEO Original Watercolor Teddy Bear Painting About the artist: “Hello, my name is Addison Quirk. I like to place …
In the southeast Asian country of Myanmar, formally called Burma, the birth (in July 2022) of a white elephant is being celebrated. With eyes the color of pearls, and the characteristic ‘big ears, plantain branch-shaped back, white hair, distinctive tail, auspicious plot signs on the skin’ and the unique number of ‘claws, five …
In the port town (3) of Dikson, the ‘northernmost settlement’ in Russia, lived a little polar bear named Monetochka. She found herself in serious trouble when an empty tin of condensed milk became stuck in her mouth as the ‘lid clamped down on her tongue’. She had become emaciated as she was unable to eat …
The male elephant was able to tolerate his time in captivity as long as he had his female companion, Saheli. But suddenly one day Saheli died and Kaavan was never the same again. They had spent 22 years together in the Islamabad Zoo and at that age elephants are in the prime of their lives. …
As Elephant Spoken Here turns five today,12 August 2020, our passion for elephant conservation has not abated. For our elephants need us, even more. Over the past several years poignant demonstrations have taken place across the globe in cities like Toronto (Canada), Sao Paulo (Brazil), Johannesburg (South Africa) Nairobi, (Kenya, Africa) and in NYC (USA). …
With less than two days to go until World Elephant Day on 12 August 2019 Elephant Spoken Here anticipates a number of “Elevents” taking place worldwide. But Canada, as far as our elephants are concerned, continues to lag behind. Canada has yet to join the world in banning the “domestic trade of elephant … Continue reading »
One day at the market we had an opportunity to take home honeydew melon at bargain prices. Having experience choosing the sweetest watermelon using the “bee sting” method we decided to apply that logic to picking the best honeydew melon as well. So we set out selecting the melons, not by size, but by how … Continue reading »
In the past six years close to seventy Indian elephants have suffered and died after wandering onto railway tracks in areas where these pachyderms once roamed free and undisturbed from the modern encroachments of mankind. Now recognized as “elephant corridors” vulnerable elephants still instinctively follow these paths they have traveled for decades, centuries even, but … Continue reading »
Ongoing Medical Treatment: This baby bull elephant will have a long road of rehabilitation ahead of him. (“How he was going to heal from such severe injuries remained unknown, as any possibility of pinning the leg was not possible given the extent of override of the bone and contraction of the muscles.“) Luggard will continue … Continue reading »
Name: LUGGARD Not to be confused with Lugard, Lissa the elephant’s “third born wild baby“. Date of Birth*: 1 November 2015, a Sunday *DSWT orphaned elephants are assigned approximate birth dates as there is no way of knowing the actual day they were born. Age When Rescued: four months Gender: Male Where Now: The David … Continue reading »
Paying their last respects to one of their own, a herd of Indian elephants was captured on video making their way through a forested area and across a road. As a family, at one point, the elephants all cluster together on the road, giving the mother elephant time to rest as she lays the body … Continue reading »
For six weeks kind humans in the village of Hirnan in Odisha, India tried in vain to treat a mother elephant for injuries ( a broken leg included) apparently associated with a dreadful fall into “a pit”. Left with “wounds on her right leg and forehead” the mama elephant limped her way into the village … Continue reading »
Location of abused elephants: Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh, India Indian Elephants Abused by: “Whippings… and beatings### with 5 foot bamboo canes” leaving the pachyderms ‘screaming in agony’. Starvation & Confinement: Skeletal* baby elephants either chained or placed in cages to detain them. Elephants being forced to give rides** to humans. Mahouts allowing as … Continue reading »
Name: MOO Affectionately Known As: Mr. Moo Gender: Male Age: “in his 50s” Personality: ” A gentle giant” “a bit more laid back” than other elephants Formerly: Logging elephant Former home: Baan Tuek, Thailand Where Now: Boon Lott’s Elephant Sanctuary Location: near the village of Baan Tuek in Sukhothai, North Thailand Mr. MOO : For … Continue reading »
What We Learned: Baby Elephant’s Name: multiple names: nicknamed Dumbo by animal activist charity Moving Animals; known as Jumbo at the Phuket Zoo; had also been called Dodo & Ping Pong. Gender: Male Date of Birth: 8 December 2015 Birthplace: “originally from Hua Hin” Thailand Date of Baby Elephant’s Death: Saturday 20 April 2019 … Continue reading »