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). …
This bull elephant, Karnan, who had once worked as a temple elephant in Thrissur, Kerala, Indiais safe now thanks to the elephant charity Voice For Asian Elephants Society (VFAES). But the suffering he has endured at the hands of humans (mahouts) that domination, will, for Karnan or any Asian elephant, never be forgotten. To watch … Continue reading »
How can you measure the value of an experience that very few humans will or could ever hope to witness? Just ask a group of tourists on safari at the Sabi Sands Game Reserve in South Africa. Parked in a safari truck, on the side of a sandy road, they watched in awe as a … Continue reading »
Dr. Poole, in her letter of support, reflects on the angst experienced by captive elephants and how Billy’s “stereotypic head bobbing … not a behavior observed in the wild … is a coping mechanism for the loneliness, boredom and frustration that characterizes his life in the zoo. His behavior is symptomatic of the enormous frustration … Continue reading »
Since the age of four, when he was dragged away from his mother and elephant family in Malaysia, Billy has been held in captivity at the Los Angeles Zoo. That he has been able to survive, for endless years of his life, both physically and emotionally, is beyond what any elephant should have to endure. … Continue reading »
Dear Elephants: Whew! World Wildlife Day, 3 March 2019, slipped up on us yet again! Yes, we promised to do better, didn’t we? But here we are just in the nick of time. 🙂 Though this year’s WWD theme may be “Life Below Water : For People and Planet,” as always our focus, here at … Continue reading »
It might be cold outside in Fargo, ND where this exuberant two-year-old chocolate Labrador Retriever lives. But this pup named Piper doesn’t let the weather dampen her spirits, especially when a ride in the car means taking along her newest best friend. It seems that Piper is especially taken by this “giant $12 cuddly elephant” … Continue reading »
Chained and tethered, for apparently her entire life, the female Asian elephant affectionately known as Granny, has recently died. (Her official name was Dakshayani; when she entered into her senior elephant years she was honored with the “Gaja Muthassi,” meaning “elephant granny,” designation.) They say, at the age of 88, she was “the oldest elephant … Continue reading »
The young African elephant looks almost angelic as if peacefully asleep until one is jarred into reality by the small bullet hole, trickling blood, in a direct center hit on her face. Almost immediately one’s attention is focused on the awkward position of her body, front legs tucked under and head butted up against a … Continue reading »
Just looking at baby elephant Khun-Seuk’s sweet contented face as he lays on his side napping (at an unnamed elephant orphanage in Chiang Mai, Thailand) one would not expect such human emotions to shine through. Perhaps in his dreams, his little elephant body & trunk “twitches” and stirs but not enough to interrupt his blissful … Continue reading »
Name: ORWA Name Origin: named to honor “members of the Orwa community” who first alerted KWS of a little elephant in need of rescue Date of Birth: 3 December 2010, a Friday Age When Rescued: About twelve months Gender: Male This baby elephant is growing up! ORWA is an adolescent now! Where Now: The … Continue reading »