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). …
Packy is a beloved elephant who has spent his entire life in the Oregon Zoo (he was hailed as the “first elephant born in the Western hemisphere in 44 years”; that truth humans can agree on. What we fail to agree upon, however, is just why humans are allowed to profit off of the backs of our elephants holding them to … Continue reading »
Name: SUSWA Date of Birth: Thursday 9 February 2012 Age on Arrival: 18 months old Gender: Female Where: The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Now at Voi with the Partially Independent Orphans This baby elephant is growing up! See Suswa: Growing Up Ele : her Orphan Profile, Photos & a video at: The David Sheldrick Wildlife … Continue reading »
It’s the only life she has ever known and it looks to be the only life she will ever have. The consolation is that Hanako, “the oldest Asian elephant in Japan” who has recently become the center of attention in a world-wide plea for her release from the Inokashira Park Zoo near Tokyo, will … Continue reading »
Having observed the discomfort of two newly orphaned elephants struggling to sleep through the chill of an Indian night, Dr. Panjit Basumatary, a veterinarian at the WTI/IFAW, set out to find a way to bring relief to 3 month old Rupa and 11 month old Aashi. Thinking that there had to be a better way for the Indian … Continue reading »
Dear Elephants: This year Elephant Spoken Here forgot World Wildlife Day. (Yes, I know, how could we?) But we will never forget you as a species or forget your struggle to survive. Not a day goes by that we are not haunted by your plight (the threat of extinction), devising ways to implore the … Continue reading »
“Against the odds this little elephant is still with us.” Karen Trendler recently spoke on behalf of The Thula Thula Rhino Orphanage in Zululand, South Africa near the area where a deathly ill baby elephant was found. The “rehabilitation and crisis response expert” provided the stark details after discovering the sickly bull calf. He was … Continue reading »
It all started with a letter from a boy of 9 to a wildlife photographer in an appeal to “raise money for the elephant I am going to save”. For some children that may have been a daunting task. But for the likes of a Te Awamutu New Zealand boy anything was possible if you set your … Continue reading »
Loxodonta Africana For photos and information on how to Adopt Lulu see: PAWS Part 2 : PAWS to the Rescue, Lulu Here We Come A hand was extended in 2005 and a trunk reached out. That hand was from the late Pat Derby (along with PAW’s Ed Stewart). But at that point our Lulu had … Continue reading »
Name: Lulu Date of Birth: 1966 Place of Birth: Swaziland, Africa Gender: Female Where Now: PAWS Wildlife Sanctuary Loxodonta Africana For photos and more information on how to Adopt Lulu see: PAWS If ever an elephant was bound to be affected by a life constrained in captivity it is our elephant Lulu. From the time … Continue reading »
It’s called “Touching an Elephant”. And who wouldn’t find joy just being in the presence of these wonders of the animal kingdom? But it’s the second caption of their program placard that says it all: “another way of seeing” and for these students this is what “Touching an Elephant” is all about. They are normal teenagers who … Continue reading »