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An elephant reaches for higher branches. Credit Ruth Smith Elephants Alive Oct 26, 2023   Read the original scientific article by Robin Cook here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/wlb3.01170 A unique solution to a unique problem? The conservation successes of the Greater Kruger Region has meant that its resident elephant population is doing so well, that their abundance is…

An elephant pushing down a large tree to reach the canopy leaves. By Michael Lorentz Elephants Alive July 27, 2023   South Africans have a peculiar affinity for large, iconic trees. The country’s Limpopo province is home to Africa’s tallest tree and the second thickest tree in the world. South Africa even boasts its own Champion Trees Projects since…

Human-elephant conflict: farmers violently chase away elephant from their crops. Photo by © Maurice Schutgens Press Release 7 February 2023 New research identifies innovative ways to help elephants and people co-exist African elephants are being forced to move outside protected spaces or cross borders due to a lack of space. As a result, they are…

On the evening of the 1st of March, the first batch of 60 buzzing beehives were delivered to our HQ at Ekuthuleni. In partnership with the Black Mambas Anti-Poaching Unit, the boxes were carefully placed on our repurposed steel stands. Two weeks later, the last 40 beehives were delivered to complete our 100-beehive apiary –…

As a potential Kruger National Park (KNP) tourist, you may self-drive into an elephant sighting. Depending on your view and the type of sighting, they may keep your attention for an hour. If it is only a group of young bulls and not a family unit with all the intricacies of family life and the…

A physician once said: “The best medicine for humans is love.” Someone asked, “What if it doesn’t work?” He smiled and said: ”Increase the dose.” We walked silently in single file, not like stalking predators but with purpose. Why? We came to meet a Gardening Giant, a Gentle Giant, a Gracious Giant, reminding us why…

The circle of woven green grass dotted with flowers hangs gently from your textured ivory. We placed it there because we felt a need to leave something beautiful in your memory. Our 17-year journey can only be described as a journey of friendship. Once I captured your ear pattern, you were on our records like…

On a warm summer’s night in December 2015, Elephants Alive, in conjunction with Jejane Private Nature Reserve, initiated the ambitious operation of hanging fifty active beehives in fifty marula trees in order to test whether African honeybees could be used to protect trees against elephant impact. Five years down the line, Elephants Alive’s researchers have…

By Dr Michelle Henley Elephants Alive achieved a world first during lockdown – a live virtual collaring, with more than 250 viewers tuning in from around the world to watch the collaring of two majestic bulls. Elephants Alive knows the drill when it comes to collaring elephants. With trusted vets like Drs. Joel Alves and…

  By Dr. Michelle Henley Twenty five years ago I got drawn into the world of the close-knit social structure of elephants when my Mother (an artist) and I started drawing elephant ear patterns in the Associated Private Nature Reserves (APNR) to the west of Kruger.  I had just completed my MSc on elephants and…