Tag

Elephants

All articles tagged with #elephants

science15 days ago•3 min saved

Kenyan Elephants Use 35 Plants for Self-Medication, Study Finds

A new study published in Scientific Reports reveals that African elephants in Kenya's Mount Elgon region use at least 35 plant species for medicinal purposes. Researchers, including Dr. Elodie Freymann from Brown University, collaborated with the Mount Elgon Foundation to interview local wildlife scouts and elders. These accounts describe elephants selecting specific plants when unwell and mothers preparing remedies for their calves. The findings suggest that forest habitats act as natural pharmacies, highlighting the importance of preserving biodiversity for potential human medical discoveries.

via BBC|

#conservation #elephants #ethnobotany

world1 month ago•1 min saved

Kenya probes cyanide-linked elephant deaths as four suspects are arrested

Four people (three Kenyans and one Tanzanian) were arrested as investigators probe the deaths of at least 18 elephants in Amboseli National Park, potentially caused by cyanide poisoning from tomatoes sprayed with illegal pesticides; preliminary tests detected cyanide in crops from the elephants' stomachs, and most victims were adult females and calves, with authorities noting cross-border pesticide smuggling near the Kimana corridor between Amboseli and Tsavo.

via BBC|

#amboseli #elephants #kenya

world1 month ago

Kenya's Elephant Die-Off: Experts Cast Doubt on Pesticide Link

A wave of elephant deaths in Kenya has been blamed on pesticides, but experts cited by the BBC remain doubtful about the pesticide link, leaving investigation into the cause ongoing.

via bbc.com|

#elephants #experts #kenya

world-news2 months ago•127 min saved

Kenyan farmers dispute cyanide link to 16 elephants

Farmers in Kenya are disputing claims that cyanide poisoning killed 16 elephants, arguing the evidence is inconclusive and suggesting other possible causes, reflecting ongoing tension between wildlife conservation and agricultural livelihoods.

via AP News|

#africa #elephants #kenya

environment2 months ago•1 min saved

Kenya hunts for toxin link after 15 Amboseli elephant deaths

Kenya’s wildlife service is investigating the deaths of 15 elephants in Amboseli National Park, with 10 showing partial paralysis before dying within two days and five carcasses too decomposed for cause assessment. The victims were mostly females and calves, and the deaths occurred in the Kimana sanctuary and Kuku ranch areas. Preliminary tests found a potential toxic substance, while other analyses were negative; further environmental and water-source investigations are underway. Officials say there is no evidence the illness could affect humans, and Amboseli hosts roughly 2,000 elephants amid ongoing conservation concerns.

via The Guardian|

#amboseli #elephants #environment

world2 months ago•1 min saved

Kenya probes 14-elephant death mystery near Amboseli

Kenya's wildlife authorities launched an urgent inquiry after 14 elephants were found dead in the Amboseli ecosystem near Amboseli National Park. Tissue samples have been sent to laboratories to determine whether the deaths were caused by disease, poisoning, or another factor, and officials stressed there is no evidence yet of a single cause; the carcasses span different ages and sexes, indicating it isn't limited to one family. The incident marks a rare mass elephant mortality in decades in the area, which is home to more than 2,000 elephants as of 2025.

via BBC|

#amboseli #elephants #investigation

science2 months ago•13 min saved

Elephants mimic play signals in sub-second timing to coordinate games

A study of 15 captive African savannah elephants found that when one elephant performed a distinctive trunk or head movement during play, a partner was more likely to reproduce that exact movement within one second. This rapid motor mimicry indicates a sub-second form of behavioral matching that may help coordinate vigorous play, distinct from slower contagion that spreads through a group. The effect was observed in a limited sample (eight elephants exposed to target movements) and did not establish broader emotional states like laughter; age, sex, and affiliation did not predict mimicry, and replication in more groups and wild populations is needed.

via Space Daily|

#animal-behavior #contagion #elephants

science3 months ago•7 min saved

The Elephant-Mouse Myth: Not Fear, But Physics and Caution

The enduring belief that elephants fear mice is a myth. Elephants aren’t terrified by small rodents; instead, their cautious behavior comes from poor eyesight and a need to avoid harming small animals, aided by the trunk’s control and an epiglottis that keeps intruders out. The myth traces to ancient Greek fables and has been popularized in media, but observations show elephants move with purpose and restraint, not fear, when encountering mice.

via A-Z Animals|

#anatomy #behavior #elephants

science3 months ago•50 min saved

Myth-Busting: Elephants Don’t Fear Mice—They’re Just Cautious

Elephants aren’t afraid of mice. The popular fear stems from Ancient Greek fables and cartoons, but in reality elephants typically avoid small animals out of caution to avoid harming them, aided by poor eyesight and a trunk that acts with care. Their anatomy, including a protective epiglottis in the trunk, helps prevent small creatures from entering their airways, debunking the myth with biology rather than fear.

via Yahoo|

#anatomy #behavior #elephants

world4 months ago•185 min saved

Elephant dung seeds ebony’s future for guitars

In the Congo Basin, African forest elephants disperse ebony seeds via their dung; a UCLA-led study found regions without elephants have 68% fewer ebony saplings, linking elephant decline to ebony’s survival. The Ebony Project—backed by Taylor Guitars and involving Indigenous Baka communities—has planted tens of thousands of ebony and fruit trees and aims to reach about a million ebony trees in 10 years, blending wildlife conservation with sustainable livelihoods to protect a wood long prized for guitar fretboards.

via CNN|

#congo-basin #conservation #ebony

science5 months ago•2 min saved

Gabonese Elephants Likely Self-Medicate with Farm Crops

Researchers in Gabon found elephants with gut parasites more likely to feed on banana leaves and papaya stems during crop raids, suggesting these plants help heal parasites and that such knowledge could be passed within groups. The finding points to potential coexistence strategies by providing alternative plants and was published in Ecological Solutions and Evidence in 2025.

via DOGO News|

#crop-raiding #elephants #gabon

world5 months ago•2 min saved

California hunter dies after elephants crush him during Gabon safari

An American 75-year-old hunter, Ernie Dosio, died in Gabon after being crushed by a group of elephants during a hunting expedition; his guide was seriously injured. Dosio, a Modesto, California vineyard owner with a long history of trophy hunting, was killed in the Lope-Okanda rainforest. US officials are assisting with repatriation of his remains. The incident underscores the dangers associated with trophy hunting and safari adventures in Africa.

via The Guardian|

#death #elephants #gabon

world5 months ago•28 min saved

South African safari park owner killed by elephant he once feared

Gary Freeman, 65, co-owner of Klaserie Private Nature Reserve in South Africa, was killed by a charging elephant while leading a walking safari. Freeman had previously said he’d rather be killed by an elephant than shoot one, and he brandished a revolver but did not fire. The attack occurred along the Klaserie River near Kruger National Park; he was taken to safety by his group but died from his injuries. Police have opened an inquest, and there is no evidence the firearm was used. Freeman was well-regarded as a guide and a longtime part of the reserve’s community.

via Daily Mail|

#elephants #inquest #safari

world-news5 months ago•23 min saved

Park Founder Who Said He'd Die by Elephant Is Fatally Trampled

Gary Freeman, 65, a long-time safari operator who co-founded Klaserie Private Nature Reserve in Limpopo, South Africa, was fatally trampled on April 9 when an elephant charged a small tour group he was leading. Freeman reportedly said he would rather be killed by an elephant than shoot one; despite attempts to intervene, he died from his injuries. Police have opened an inquest into the incident, with experts assessing the elephant as a potential threat. The attack highlights the risks of wildlife tourism, though elephant assaults remain relatively rare compared with the animals’ broader global toll.

via New York Post|

#deaths #elephants #safari

science5 months ago•89 min saved

Genome reveals forest ancestry hidden in Africa’s savanna elephants, guiding conservation

A continent-wide genomic analysis of 232 African elephants (savanna Loxodonta africana and forest L. cyclotis) shows a deep species split with forest elephants more genetically diverse and historically larger effective population sizes, while savanna elephants display more inbreeding and higher genetic load. The study also uncovers widespread forest-into-savanna introgression, including recent hybrids at the DRC–Uganda and Garamba zones, plus trace forest ancestry across savanna populations in west-central Africa. Despite high within-species connectivity, human-driven habitat fragmentation has produced isolated peripheral populations with elevated runs of homozygosity, underscoring the need to maintain habitat connectivity and protected-area networks to preserve genetic diversity and potential fitness. These findings highlight gene flow as a key evolutionary force and provide genomic guidance for conservation of Africa’s keystone elephants.

via Nature|

#conservation #elephants #genomics