Elephant legs are much bendier than Shakespeare thought Aug 22, 2008
Hutchinson also compared his Asian elephant data with Delf Schwerda and Martin Fischer's data from African elephants: the two species were indistinguishable. Most surprisingly, when Heather Paxton investigated the maximum swing range of each joint, she found that elephants were using almost all of their mobility range. (EurekAlert!)
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo removing, restoring sculptures Aug 21, 2008
Sometime after Labor Day, the zoo's three female African elephants will be moved to the Columbus Zoo for the duration of the renovations. It will cost about $1 million and take several weeks to move the sculptures to the Intermuseum Conservation Association in Cleveland, where they will be cleaned, repaired and stored. (Cleveland.com)
Lonely elephant won't be moved to Mexico Aug 21, 2008
African elephants become unhappy when left alone. But activists ripped the plan, saying Jenny is nervous and fears cars, and would be miserable at the drive-through park in Mexico where the Dallas Zoo planned to send her. (MSNBC -- Environment)
* Traumatized elephant stirs debate Aug 16, 2008
The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee, has 120 hectares just for African elephants, and Jenny, who is 32, would be the fourth to arrive, said the founder, Carol Buckley ... The Mexican park, which was recently accredited, was seeking African elephants to strengthen its collection, and the Dallas Zoo had a troubled elephant. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
What to do with a traumatized elephant stirs debate in U.S. Aug 15, 2008
The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee, has 300 acres just for African elephants, and Jenny, who is 32, would be the fourth to arrive, said the founder, Carol Buckley. No one except the staff visits the animals, who range freely. (International Herald Tribune)
Pittsburgh Zoo trip draws 4,500 residents Aug 7, 2008
The zoo has two female African elephants babies: Angelina was born July 9 and Zuri (her name means beautiful in Swahili) was born on July 25. The male Amur tiger cub, more commonly known as a Siberian tiger, was born on May 11. (Somerset Daily American, PA)
Elephant poaching reaching record levels. Aug 6, 2008
African elephants are being killed for their ivory at the highest rate since an international ban on the ivory trade took effect in 1989 according to a new report. But the public outcry that resulted in that ban is absent today, and a University of Washington conservation biologist contends it is because the public seems to be unaware of the elephant's plight. (Wildlife Extra)
Ivory hunters could wipe out elephants Aug 5, 2008
African elephants are being killed for their ivory at such a rate that most large groups could be extinct by 2020, researchers say. Samuel Wasser, of the University of Washington, said the elephant death rate from poaching was 8. (The Herald)
Plans to send elephant to Mexico stirs debate Aug 3, 2008
Zoo officials plan to send Jenny, who became the zoo's lone elephant when her companion died in May, to a drive-through wildlife park in Mexico because African elephants become unhappy when left alone ... Jenny would share a 300-acre enclosure with three other African elephants. (AZCentral -- News)
Ivory Poaching At Critical Levels: Elephants On Path To Extinction By 2020? Aug 2, 2008
1, 2008) African elephants are being slaughtered for their ivory at a pace unseen since an international ban on the ivory trade took effect in 1989 ... 27, 2007) New research shows African elephants are being slaughtered for their ivory at a rate unprecedented since an international convention banning ivory trade took effect in ... 13, 2004) Despite a long-standing international ban on ivory trade, African elephants continue to be killed in large numbers for their prized tusks. (Science Daily)
2020: No elephants in Africa Aug 2, 2008
African elephants may be extinct in 12 yrs-Flora & Fauna-Earth-The Times of India ... African elephants may be extinct in 12 yrs1 Aug 2008, 1113 hrs IST,IANS ... WASHINGTON: The pace at which African elephants are being slaughtered for ivory in spite of the 1989 ban is likely to make them extinct by 2020. (India Times, India)
Adopting a Baby Elephant or Rhino Jul 31, 2008
Since the death of David Sheldrick in 1977, Daphne and the rest of the staff at the Trust have dedicated their lives to providing a brighter future for African Elephants and Black Rhinos in need. How the Baby Elephants and Rhinos are Rescued. (Suite101.com)
Putting the squeeze on produce to kill germs Jul 29, 2008
Its been known for decades that massive pressure the equivalent of two African elephants standing on a dime is how Tech microbiologist Robert Williams puts it can destroy certain pathogens. The question is how to kill the bugs without smushing the food theyre in. (MSNBC -- Health)
At long last, a baby girl elephant Jul 26, 2008
Because of technological and care advances at zoos, the mortality rate for African elephants in the United States has decreased over the last decade from 40 percent to 15 percent. Don Hopey can be reached at or 412-263-1983. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)
Uncertain future for elephants of Thailand Jul 26, 2008
" However, the picture is not all bad: mistreatment of elephants was far more prevalent in the logging industry than in tourism. According to Professor Duffy and Dr Moore, many of the elephant camps in Thailand treat their animals well. And the 2000 elephants employed in today' s Thai tourism industry may be used to add the declining elephant gene pool of 1000 wild elephants. A scheme which trains captive elephants to survive in the wild is undertaken at the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre... (EurekAlert!)
ANIMAL PHOTOS WEEKLY: Albino Eagle, Cloned Pups, More Jul 24, 2008
Full grown, African elephants are the largest land animals on Earth, some reaching 14,000 pounds (6,350 kilograms) and eating 300 pounds (136 kilograms) of food a day. are threatened by poachers seeking the mammals' ivory tusks. (National Geographic)
UPS Airlines president: 'A game plan for just about any situation' Jul 15, 2008
That's the equivalent of 17 male African elephants. UPS' air hub is operated out of Louisville, Ky. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Business)
Five of the Magazine's best Jul 8, 2008
"The simple matter of converting units of Routemasters into units of elephants (metaphorically of course) has been further complicated by meddling academics in Cardiff. The new subspecies of Bornean elephant now requires a conversion factor of x1.5 to be applied to align it with Indian elephants and x2.1 to align it with African elephants. For information, two and a half African elephants equate to approximately one Routemaster." Chris, London. "Is there an indeterminate unit of time between a... (BBC News -- UK)
Moorhead center features 'Capturing Memories' exhibit Jun 30, 2008
"We have several large, framed photographs of African elephants, rhinos, black bear cubs, polar bears and even a mountain goat.". Themes for the individual literary entries include summer's heat, winter's snow autumn's falling leaves, a Century Farm and memories of an old family home. (Sioux City Journal, IO)
Book roundup: Kids love to flock to their animals Jun 26, 2008
"This seems cruel, but it helps guarantee that only the most aggressive hyenas survive and grow up, keeping the pack tough and strong." Better role models are African elephants, whose babies are taken care of by their big sisters, or wild turkeys, who form a lifelong band of brothers. With colorful paper-torn illustrations, it's a book for young naturalists who appreciate reality mixed with humor. (USA Today -- Life)
Woolly Mammoth Genes Change Extinction Theory Jun 12, 2008
Our study suggests a genetic divergence of the two woolly-mammoth groups more than 1-million years ago, which is one quarter the genetic distance that separates Indian and African elephants and woolly mammoths," Miller said. The research indicates that the diversity of the two woolly-mammoth populations was as low centuries ago as it is now in the very small populations of Asian elephants living in southern India. "The low genetic divergence of the elephants in southern Indian has been suggested... (Science Daily)
Zoo baby-proofing elephant habitat Jun 12, 2008
All three of the zoo's African elephants are stuck inside while their yard is made safe for the little bundle of joy, due in April 2009. JAMIE GUMBRECHT/AJC. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Andrew Baker Jun 11, 2008
Called Petal, the elephant was one of three African elephants scheduled to be moved to a new preserve outside Pittsburgh. The death will not affect the transfer of the two remaining elephants to the Pittsburgh Zoo's International Conservation Center, which should take place by late summer or early fall, a Philadelphia Zoo spokeswoman said. (Philadelphia Business Journal, PA)
Letters to the editor (6/9/08) Jun 9, 2008
Maggie now lives with four other African elephants, and they have formed loving bonds and a natural social structure, which can never happen when elephants are alone, as in Maggie's case at the Anchorage Zoo, or in Ruby's case at the Los Angeles Zoo. Both elephants lived in inadequate and small zoo pens in solitary confinement, which is unthinkable for such social animals who in the wild, can roam up to 50 miles per day. (Anchorage Daily News)
Versatile African elephants Jun 7, 2008
Zoo keepers watch African elephant "Sweni", as she paints a picture during a presentation for photographers at Wuppertal zoo June 6, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo). (Xinhuanet, China)
Is EBay Doing Enough to Stop Illegal Ivory Sales on its Site? Jun 6, 2008
A 2007 estimates that as many as 23,000 African elephants were slaughtered in 2006 alone and that Asian demand for ivory is undermining the 1989 ban. IFAW is hoping that eBay will ban all ivory sales and send a message to potential sellers and to other online marketplaces. (Scientific American)
Chemists Measure Chilli Sauce Hotness With Nanotubes May 9, 2008
29, 2005) What do hot sauce aficionados and African elephants have in common. They both feel the burn of chilli peppers, the key ingredient for resolving human-elephant conflicts in Africa while raising money. (Science Daily)
Media Alert/Photo Op - Devonshire Mall Paints the Town Green With citywide e-Waste Recycling Effort Apr 19, 2008
Building on a one-day event that saw more than 12,000 lbs of electronic waste diverted from landfills last year, Devonshire Mall announces it's pledge to the planet by extending the 2008 initiative to span the course of one year, with a goal of diverting 25 tonnes of e-waste, (the equivalent of 5 male African elephants. from Canadian landfills. (Canada Newswire)
Zoo stages mating game for elephants Apr 14, 2008
Moki (above) and Chana, both African elephants, were brought to the Jacksonville Zoo to breed with Ali, a bull African elephant ... This particular love triangle is between three African elephants at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, whose relationships will hopefully yield offspring to help sustain their species ... In October 2006, the Jacksonville Zoo exchanged two female African elephants with Lee Richardson Zoo in Kansas to bring in new females to mate with a bull African elephant, Ali. (Florida Times-Union)
261 tires, 47 appliances and 50 tons of garbage: That's how much a contractor hired by the city to clean up other people's messes hauled away last year Apr 12, 2008
MUSCATINE, Iowa Muscatine neighborhoods have a problem and it weights as much as 12 African elephants. A contractor hired by city officials to handle nuisance abatement hauled more than 50 tons to the Muscatine Transfer Station in 2007. (Muscatine Journal, IO)
Elephants Without Borders: Scientists Track African Elephants By Satellite Mar 28, 2008
30, 2007) A study of African elephants finds that dominant elephants will trek significantly fewer miles in search of food during the dry season compared with their less dominant counterparts ... 29, 2005) What do hot sauce aficionados and African elephants have in common. (Science Daily)
Where Are Asia's Endangered Wild Elephants? Mar 17, 2008
By contrast, there are only about 500 captive African elephants, mostly in western zoos, and a wild population of 400,000-660,000 animals ... China is also a large illegal manufacturer and trader of ivory, mostly from African elephants. (Planet Ark, United States)
Elephants: too many to live Feb 28, 2008
In most of the continent, elephants are still in danger from poachers (and it may even be getting worse: ) South Africa's elephants are just a small fragment of the total number of African elephants, which is very likely more than 500,000 (, with cool ). When I went to South Africa last year, I heard representatives of the parks department express a lot of frustration at the condemnation of elephant culling that rains in from around the world. (Nature News Service)
Your history is printed in your hair Feb 26, 2008
The long hairs on the tails of African elephants, Cerling says, may contain up to two years of history. References. (Nature News Service)
Rain keeps Maggie the elephant from her new friends Feb 6, 2008
Mud is the only thing keeping the fence up between Maggie and the four other African elephants at the Performing Animal Welfare Society sanctuary in Northern California. Pat Derby, founder of the sanctuary, said near-record rainfall in San Andreas has soaked the grounds where Maggie and the other elephants hang out during the day. (Scripps Howard News Wire)
Zoos take measures to prevent extinction Feb 5, 2008
Twenty-five years ago, there were 2 million African elephants in the wild. Today there are fewer than 600,000. (Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier)
Forty-year-old elephant dies while giving birth Jan 26, 2008
According to a 2004 study, the average life expectancy of Asian and African elephants in captivity in North America is 45 years and 33 years, respectively ... African elephants, which are threatened in the wild, weigh 4 tons to 7 tons and are up to 14 feet tall. (KHOU.com, TX)
For these students, the classroom's a zoo Jan 7, 2008
But the creatures housed here are African elephants, and this barn is part of the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. A huge elephant and a noticeably smaller one peer out of a gated door, waving their trunks at the youthful visitors. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)
John Edwards: Channeling Ideas Jan 7, 2008
Reader Comments: (3)Here are all of comments submitted by Human Events readers: Martha, my Death Star II crew wants to know who has bigger ears: Obama, Yoda, Mr. Spock or African Elephants. darthcrUSAderworldtour2007, Death Star II FL 250 New HampshireJan 07, 2008 @ 03:58 AMAwesome analysis. (Human Events Online)
28 comments Jan 4, 2008
Whom has bigger ears: Barack HUSSEIN Obama, Yoda, Spock or African elephants. - Q Tips 2008. (Human Events Online)
Fun is Serious for Asian Elephants' Struggle to Survive Dec 27, 2007
Unlike larger African elephants, which have never been domesticated in large numbers, Asian elephants have worked closely with humans for millennia. But this proximity has not helped protect Asia's pachyderms, who are endangered throughout their 13 range states, and ten times less numerous than their African cousins. (Planet Ark, United States)
FACTBOX-How do you domesticate an elephant? Dec 24, 2007
Dec 24 (Reuters) -- Unlie African elephants, wild Asian elephants have been hunted, captured, and trained for use in war, commerce and transport for around 4,000 years in countries such as Thailand. Today about a thousand tamed Thai elephants work in the modern tourist trade, while three thousand endangered wild elephants remain in the country's forests. (AlertNet)
Wildlife Corridor Gives Endangered Elephants In India Passage Between Reserves Dec 21, 2007
(May 27, 1999) Habitat loss is a bigger threat to African elephants than the ivory trade and the conventional wisdom is that declines in elephant populations mirror increases in human populations. But this is not. (Science Daily)
Young backs wildlife funding Dec 14, 2007
Just last week, President Bush signed into law Young's "Multinational Species Conservation Funds Act" to support conservation programs for African elephants, rhinoceros and tigers, Hansen said. The Wildlife Without Borders bill, co-sponsored with Rep. (Anchorage Daily News)
Meet Cameron Park Zoos New Elephant Dec 14, 2007
Cameron Park Zoo, in conjunction with the Elephant Species Survival Program (SSP), sent one of the zoos African elephants, Zoe, to the Kansas City zoo. The Kansas City zoo has the largest herd of African elephants within the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. (KWTX.com, TX)
* Elephants use urine to track family members DwHlU Dec 12, 2007
African elephants are able to keep tabs on at least 17 females and as many as 30 individuals, both male and female, at any given time, the study says. The lead elephant displayed especially heightened interest if the smell belonged to an elephant that was, at the moment the fresh urine sample was encountered, trailing behind with the family. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
SCIENCE & HEALTH NOTES Pee keeps elephants connected with family Dec 8, 2007
The researchers at the University of St Andrews came to the conclusion after conducting an experiment on African elephants in Kenya. The researchers presented samples of urine from female members of the family to other group members and found the elephants showed surprise reaching out with their trunks to investigate when they encountered urine from an individual, who could not possibly have urinated there. (Indian Express)
An elephant never forgets where to find its nearest and dearest Dec 6, 2007
Researchers tested the ability of African elephants to remember where each family member had got to by watching their behaviour while sniffing urine. Elephants have poor eyesight but an excellent sense of smell and are able to identify one another from traces of urine on the ground. (Times Online)
Elephant news triple bill Dec 6, 2007
A study published in Biology Letters shows that African elephants can recognize up to 17 females and possibly up to 30 family members from cues present in the urineearth mix. They can even keep track of where these individuals are in relation to themselves (). (Nature News Service)
Maggie joins California culture with sunshine workouts Nov 28, 2007
" But the 25-year-old remains separated by a fence from PAWS' four other African elephants. Though Maggie's over-the-fence behavior has been encouraging -- she touches, sniffs and trumpets at Ruby, Lulu, Mara and 71 -- she can't join them until caretakers are convinced she's strong enough to hang out with the others. "Our girls have been climbing mountains for years. They're sturdy," PAWS founder Pat Derby said of Maggie's new companions. "There's a lot of pushing and shoving that goes into... (Anchorage Daily News)
Zoo Atlanta elephant expecting -- in '09 Nov 20, 2007
Dottie, one of the zoo's three African elephants, is pregnant ... A baby pachyderm, they say, means a wider gene pool for the African elephants on display at American zoos ... Of that number, 151 are African elephants. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Maggie fans overwhelm webcam Nov 8, 2007
The Web site includes frequent updates on Maggie's adjustment to her new home in San Andreas and her new neighbors -- four other female African elephants who so far are separated from Maggie by a fence. But the big draw is the elephant cam, which is pointed at the elephants from sunrise to sunset. (Anchorage Daily News)
Maggie viewing in demand Nov 7, 2007
Maggie, who had resided at the Alaska Zoo since 1983, is one of five African elephants at the habitat, the others being Lulu, Ruby, 71 and Mara. KTVA says in that long-distance watching of Maggie has become practically an obsession for many Alaskans. (Anchorage Daily News)
Maggie arrives in California Nov 4, 2007
Also watching Maggie's every move were Ruby, Seventy-One, Mara and Lulu, four African elephants living at PAWS that everyone hopes Maggie will eventually bond with. Maggie seems standoffish at first, the charged the quartet. (KTUU)
Sick Elephant Moves To NorCal In 'Operation Maggie Migration' Nov 4, 2007
"Maggie has been in a really cold climate for several years. African elephants live in dry, hot climates so that climate for her is very foreign and she doesn't do so well. So they decided to move her to Northern California where the temperatures are warmer," said Tamara Wilder of the Performing Animal Welfare Society. Maggie was put in a tanker truck Friday morning and sent to San Andreas in Calaveras County, where she will spend the rest of her life at the 100-acre elephant sanctuary PAWS.. (NBC4.tv, CA)
Operation Maggie Migration: a mammoth mission Nov 3, 2007
" The large scope of the operation was evident in the size of the specially constructed 10,000-pound crate designed just for her safe transportation. "She was kept restrained enough to keep her from trying to turn around in the cage, but she is still able to move and sway a bit," said Margaret Whittaker, animal behavior consultant to PAWS. Once Maggie arrives at her new home, which is only a two-hour drive from Travis, she will be living with four other African elephants. "She is interacting... (Air Force Link)
Maggie takes in sanctuary sights, sounds Nov 3, 2007
Derby said the other four African elephants will likely be introduced to Maggie by this evening. Shes also eating a lot of peanuts, Derby said. (Anchorage Daily News)
Maggie ours no more Nov 3, 2007
Maggie should arrive at PAWS this morning, where she will be placed in a barn separated by steel bars from four other female African elephants. It's for her protection. (Anchorage Daily News)
Phila. lawyer opposes elephants’ move Nov 2, 2007
The first three African elephants to be brought to Somerset County will be the three females from the Philadelphia Zoo Pedal, 53, and Kallie and Bette, both 24. The Philadelphia Zoo is closing its elephant exhibit. (Somerset Daily American, PA)
Alaskan elephant finds her place in the sun Oct 30, 2007
African elephants have been known to live for 70 years. Special report. (Guardian Unlimited -- World)
Social standing influences elephant movement Oct 30, 2007
At least that's the case with African elephants, according to a study led by ecologists at the University of California, Berkeley, who collaborated with researchers at Save the Elephants, a non-profit research organization based in Kenya, and at the University of Oxford in England. An analysis of social dominance relationships and roaming patterns of free-ranging elephants in the Samburu and Buffalo Springs National Reserves in northern Kenya found that elephants led by older, more dominant... (EurekAlert!)
Luxury At 35,000 Feet Oct 27, 2007
-- About the weight of 80 adult male African elephants. Source: Airbus, Chronicle research. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Elephants Tell Human Friends From Foes By Scent And Clothing Color Oct 23, 2007
22, 2007) Elephants are remarkably perceptive when it comes to recognizing specific ethnic groups of people that vary in the degree of danger they are likely to pose, reveals a new study published online on October 18th by Current Biology, a Cell Press publication. Elephants in Kenya reacted with greater fear when they detected the scent of garments previously worn by Maasai warriors than by Kamba men, the researchers reported. (Science Daily)
Zoo groundbreaking held Oct 20, 2007
Dr. Barbara Baker, zoo president and chief executive officer, said the first three African elephants will be brought to the site in April ... It will be wonderful for Petal, one of the oldest African elephants in America, to live out her life in Somerset County, Baker said. (Somerset Daily American, PA)
How clothes help elephants distinguish friend from foe Oct 19, 2007
The study found African elephants reacted with fear when they detected the scent of garments previously worn by men of the Maasai tribe. Maasai men are known to demonstrate their virility by spearing elephants. (BBC News -- UK)
