ID
Increasing the dose – at the foot of giants
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…
Read MoreA quarter of a century and for the love of elephants
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…
Read MoreWho is Who?
WHO IS WHO? by Dr. Julie Kern How many large-tusked bulls remain in the APNR? How socially connected are different population members? How successful are human-elephant conflict mitigation methods? These questions are all examples of key research objectives for Elephants Alive. If at first glance you think these questions have little in common, look again…
Read MoreHomage to Wayne Lotter – bringing your namesakes to safety, with farmers’ help.
By Harriet Nimmo Three young bull elephants broke out of a local reserve a few months ago. Up until now, they had not caused too much damage, staying hidden in the bush. However this all changed when the elephants discovered mango orchards. Elephants Alive got a call from Farm Watch to say the young pachyderms…
Read MoreDung and Rumbles – a day in the life of an Elephants Alive researcher
By Harriet Nimmo Trying to stuff a large, steaming lump of elephant dung into a small glass test tube was not quite what I’d expected, when I spent a day in the field with the Elephants Alive research team. The dung samples are preserved in saline, and the tubes taken back to the UK for analysis…
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