 | Page (1) [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]   | | | | 03.09.2008 10:44:11 | | | | Starting new elephant conservation project in Sri Lanka | Back in 2003 Joyce and I visited Sri Lanka for a conference and to look into work carried out by Lalith Seneviratne and his team on human-elephant conflicts which was being sponsored by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. While we were there we had the good fortune to be taken on a two week safari by Lalith to visit five different national parks with elephants. Our favourite place was Minneriya NP where, during the dry season, several hundred elephants gather to feed upon the new grass exposed by the receding waters of a reservoir.
During the short time we were there we saw incredible behavior – a musth male, greetings, contact calling, a newly born infant brought to the car, a defensive wall of curious elephants and a female with all the personality you could ask for - like a good Amboseli experience. The female mentioned tried to chase tourists away, and for some reason didn't seem to realize that we were difference from normal visitors...! Check out a short video clip showing how she kicks our car in quite a clever manner (and breaks the light).
Joyce on left recording in Minneriya with Lalith in the driver's seat.
While we were in Sri Lanka we also met an unusual woman named Manori Gunawardena, who told us that she would like to study Asian elephant social behavior with us. She has many years of experience working in Yala with the elephant research group there as well as doing conservation work in both India and Sri Lanka - moving elephants and looking into landscape and corridor issues - but her true love is social behavior and she has wanted to start a project along the lines of Amboseli for many years.
Group of elephants enjoying the tank in Minneriya NP built by elephants centuries ago.
Ever since then we have had the urge to do a study of Asian elephants, holding back both because of commitments in Kenya and the unrest on Sri Lanka. But now we're starting - in Minneriya-Kaudulla in North Central Sri Lanka - we believe it is urgent and are willing to go for it. Together with Manori we will develop and maintain a long-term study of social behavior and demography of the Minneriya-Kaudulla elephant population along the lines of the Amboseli study - naturally with a special focus on communication. We think that such a study - that uses the individual recognition approach - will benefit conservation and welfare of Asian elephants and is long overdue. And our involvement in this project will allow us to speak with more authority for both species. We will spend about a month a year in Minneriya and we are very excited about it! We'll continue our Amboseli work as well.
We are currently rebuilding ElephantVoices to include our new outlook and so that we can finally host more of our vocalization-related work (audio) – which will now include both species!
 Although human elephant conflict is significantly worse in Asia than it is in Africa, elephants in Asia benefit from the historic and cultural identity its people have with them. Visitors to Sri Lankan national parks are predominantly country nationals. Our Minneriya-Kaudulla Elephant Project will capitalise on this cultural identity with elephants by encouraging the public to participate in the study and by contributing educational material toward a special elephant program being developed for area schools. Making the project’s elephant ID database accessible online and stimulating local people and national park visitors to become familiar with individual elephants, to photograph them and to send in behavioral and geographical information, we aim to give people a sense of ownership and a connection with individual wild elephants. This exchange of information will provide the project with vital information about associations, behavior, habitat use and areas of conflict, while simultaneously inspiring wonder in the behavior and voices of elephants thus increasing understanding and decreasing conflict.
Lots of tourists visit the elephant "gathering" in beautiful Minneriya every year, a majority are Sri Lankans.
Manori has secured local funding for the start up of the project - more fund raising efforts will have to be on our agenda in the months to come. All contributions are highly welcome! We hope you will follow our new project closely. Joyce is joining Manori for a kick-off field-trip during second half of September. | | poster: Petter, webmaster ElephantVoices | | |
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| | | 24.07.2008 17:28:50 | | Elephant welfare - how much do we care? | Every day we receive messages about how captive elephants are being treated, often with disturbing photos or video footage. A mission of ElephantVoices is to promote responsibility for securing a kinder future for elephants. Our aim is to do this is primarily through education - by inspiring wonder in the intelligence, complexity and voices of elephants - rather than jumping on one campaign after another. We are a small team and we are not able to take on individual battles for each and every elephant. But sometimes we feel compelled to make our opinions known and below is an example. It's a letter to journalist, Robert Wilonsky in The Dallas Observer e-mailed today, as a response to his request for Joyce to comment on video footage
Dear Robert
The music is hauntingly beautiful and put to the swaying of confined elephants brought tears to my eyes. Why do we humans feel such a need to confine and control other animals? Is our pleasure in seeing them worth the cruelty that we inflict on them? Elephants are intelligent socially complex individuals who have the same basic needs that we have: Freedom and autonomy, companionship and affection, just to name a few.
The first elephant in the video looks very unhealthy; she is too thin; all of the elephants in the video are swaying - a behavior only seen in confined elephants. Like so many captive elephants they are bored and frustrated with nowhere to go and no one to see, no new smells to investigate and nothing to strive for. The result is standing in one place and rocking, slowly losing their minds. Well, wouldn't we do the same given similar circumstances? I often try to put myself in the elephants' shoes, so to speak. Ever had to stand for hours and hours alone waiting for that bus that never comes? Feet and back aching? I, too, start to step from one foot to the other. I, too, rock back and forth, I sway. But I don't wait for a bus for days, for weeks, for months, for years. I have the freedom to choose to go.
We need to wake up to the reality of what we are doing to other creatures and stop hiding behind a lot of constructed arguments for keeping elephants in this way.
Jenny should go to a sanctuary.
Regards, Joyce Poole | | poster: Petter, webmaster ElephantVoices | | |
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| | | 10.07.2008 07:06:18 | | Dear ElephantVoices News Subscribers | You have probably noticed that we have been rather quiet over the last few months - more quiet than we intended to be. But we have been extremely busy and are pleased to say that we will soon have some exciting achievements behind us. Some of you may visit our blog on WildlifeDirect and may follow part of our work through that channel. If you do you will know that one of our big tasks has been the preparations for a major overhaul of ElephantVoices which will offer a more flexible and user-friendly CMS-based website. The expansion will also include a long-awaited Vocal Signals Database and a broader presentation of elephants and their communication.
We do not dare to promise when "the new" ElephantVoices is on air, but in a couple of months most of the work should be done. We'll keep you informed.
Have a great summer - and take care!
Greetings, Petter | | poster: Petter, webmaster ElephantVoices | | |
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| | | 10.06.2008 13:50:59 | | New book - Elephants and Ethics | Some of you may want to read the book Elephants and Ethics: Toward a Morality of Coexistence . Together with Cynthia Moss Joyce has authored a chapter called "Elephant sociality and complexity: The scientific evidence."
Best wishes, Petter | | poster: Petter, webmaster ElephantVoices | | |
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| | | 26.05.2008 12:04:27 | | FUNDRAISING FOR ELEPHANTS - CALIFORNIA VISIT IN NOVEMBER | We would like to inform all ElephantVoices visitors that we will be in California on a fundraising trip later this year. We plan to be in the San Francisco from 7 to 14 November and in Los Angeles 14 - 20 November. We are already busy planning various events. If you are from California we would certainly be grateful for ideas or input regarding our visit - and you can also send an email to us if you want to be invited to any of the events being arranged.
Our research on elephant cognition and communication, our scientific and popular publications, our advocacy work for elephants, our website updates are all dependent on individuals around the world. To continue to protect elephants we need your support.
Best wishes, Petter and Joyce | | poster: Petter, webmaster ElephantVoices | | |
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| | | 17.04.2008 17:02:59 | | A world of contrasts - from Spitsbergen with polar bears to Kenya with elephants | Early morning on Wednesday last week I started on a long journey - ending up in Longyearbyen at Svalbard in late afternoon. The occasion was a trip for suppliers and customers of the company BK Gisholt Finne where I am a board member. Being one of the founders of Basecamp Explorer (winner in the Maasai Mara of a prestigious ecotourism award), and having visited these arctic islands under Norwegian sovereignty several times before, I had taken the job as guide for 20 men on tour. I was certainly looking forward to exploring more of Svalbard's amazing nature.
After one night in Longyearbyen we took off on our snow scooters, aiming for Isfjord Radio at Kapp Linne 120 kilometres away. The station was established in 1933 to act as an intermediary for traffic between Svalbard Radio and ships in the waters around Svalbard. During the second world war, Isfjord Radio was destroyed by German occupying forces. The station was rebuilt and set back into operation in 1946. Most of Isfjord Radio's functions were moved to Longyearbyen a long time ago, and the station is today operated as a tourist destination by Basecamp Spitsbergen.
During hours taking in Svalbard's spectacular nature, with temperatures of 15 below (Centigrade), I also contemplated my upcoming trip to Kenya. You may say that a job not far from the north pole, in polar bear country, brings in money we use toward our work for elephants on the other side of the globe. This is also my excuse for posting this on WildlifeDirect... Some of the challenges facing polar bears and elephants are partly connected. Global warming may lead to disastrous loss of habitat for both species. The headlines are melt-down of ice and snow - and more drought.
It's fair to tell you that I arranged the photo above just for fun. I couldn't resist getting my guys to pretend that they were waiting for their turn in front of this toilet-like construction on the very edge of Kapp Linne. The tiny house has obviously been used at one point as a look-out towards the often very rough Isfjorden.
We didn't see polar bears during our stay, but on Svalbard one is always prepared to meet them. Our trip was nonetheless fantastic, with spectacular views in all directions. After two sunny and clear days we ended up in a snow storm on the way back. My group was lucky enough to see the real arctic - in which the weather changes in minutes from crystal clear to almost zero visibility.
Our world is full of contrasts, and Svalbard and Kenya are obvious examples. While preparing for my morning flight tomorrow Friday 18th I feel privileged to be able to experience both!
Best wishes, Petter
P.S. Do follow our blog on WildlifeDirect! | | poster: Petter, webmaster ElephantVoices | | |
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| | | 29.02.2008 16:14:27 | | GOOD NEWS FOR THE KENYAN PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE | Around the world people watched yesterday as Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga finally reached an agreement. Kenyans are celebrating - and those of us who love Kenya hope that a foundation for a new and constructive era has been put in place. While the price has been high, we have been reminded about the value of democracy, fair play and long term stability.
We urge Kenya's leaders to maintain good spirit during the hard work and reconciliation efforts that lie ahead - the current enthusiasm and the desire of the Kenyan people for peace should be of inspiration. Poverty and desperation do not make a viable environment for engendering harmony between people and animals. Agreement between the political camps means that we can all get back to working for a more prosperous future for all.
And what about wildlife conservation in general? In a comment on our blog on WildlifeDirect Ann asks what the accurate situation is. In truth it is highly variable, species to species, country to country, and place to place. From our perspective the future is dependent on how people deal with the fact that resources are in limited supply and are dwindling. Are we individually and collectively willing to put enough aside for other creatures, like elephants, gorillas, and chimpanzees as well as the myriad of less charismatic species that share our planet? It is as simple and as difficult as that.
Despite the recent spearings, Amboseli is a success story. The work of Amboseli Elephant Research Project (AERP) over 35 years has contributed substantially to the conservation of the ecosystem's elephants, which today number around 1,500 individuals. The challenges are many for those in Kenya Wildlife Service, the local community and AERP who work tirelessly to achieve this success. While poaching for ivory is not a problem, confrontations between people and elephants can be. It is more than fair that local people feel that a share of the money generated by wildlife tourism helps to improve their lives - which is one reason why AERP and the Amboseli Trust for Elephants has initiated numerous community projects.
For the lives of Amboseli's elephants and the many other species, including people, who inhabit the ecosystem, the conservation struggle is certainly worth the effort. The benefits don't stop there, however, for millions of people from around the world have visited Amboseli and have benefited from the joy of seeing these magnificent animals - and millions more have watched and learned from Amboseli's elephants on TV documentaries.
Studying elephants and being in their presence is a continuous reminder of why elephants deserve our attention and support. Experiencing their affection, compassion and loyality for one another and witnessing their extraordinary teamwork is a humbling lesson in the meaning of humanity - or perhaps a better term would be "elephanity".
'It is not possible for a free man to catch a glimpse of the great elephant herds roaming the vast spaces of Africa without taking an oath to do whatever is necessary to preserve for ever this living splendour.'
Romain Gary, Roots of Heaven, 1958
Best wishes, Petter and Joyce
 | | poster: Petter, webmaster ElephantVoices | | |
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| | | 26.02.2008 09:54:53 | | THE SAD DEATH OF A GENTLE ELEPHANT | On 30 January we posted a message entitled
“Troubled times for people and wildlife” on ElephantVoices' blog on
WildlifeDirect in which we worried about the cost to wildlife from the fallout of political unrest in Kenya. Well, trouble may already be brewing for the elephants of Amboseli. The number of elephants speared in the last month has soared. It is hard to say what the specific causes are, but it is tempting to speculate that the increase is related to the general climate of political unrest and lawlessness.
Over the years increases in spearing have been related to dry conditions and it has been extremely dry in Amboseli. During droughts elephants and people compete for the same resources – food in the vicinity of water and shade during the heat of the day – and therefore come into closer contact, sometimes with negative consequences. The long rains last March and April failed as did the short rains in November and December, and so there is reason to blame the dry conditions, but rarely have we seen such a spate of spearing. ATE project manager Soila sent a message yesterday saying that spearing in the last month alone has resulted in the death or injury of 11 elephants: affecting 3 adult females, five calves and three adult males. In addition, two more adult males were speared in December.
One of our very favourite elephants, Tulip, is among the elephants killed and her youngest calf has died as a consequence of her death, and another of her calves is injured. This family has already experienced so much suffering as a result of human intervention Tuskless, Tulips’ mother and previous matriarch of the TA’s, was killed in 1997. Tulip, herself, was speared in her trunk in January 2004; treatment by KWS veterinarians saved her life. With all of the suffering one would have expected Tulip to be aggressive. Instead she was extraordinarily gentle. She often came to camp and wandered in between the tents. We will all miss her tremendously.
 
Captions, from top:
- Petter works in camp while Tulip and calf feed in the swamp beyond.
- Tulip and her visiting camp.
- An always peaceful Tulip feeding between our tent and research vehicle.
- Tulip bleeds profusely from a new spear wound in her trunk in January 2004.
- Tulip is treated by Kenya Wildlife Service Veterinarians for the spear wound.
- Tulip (far left), Tonie and their calves respond to a playback of hyenas squabbling over a kill.
Sad rumblings, Petter and Joyce | | poster: Petter, webmaster ElephantVoices | | |
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| | | 07.02.2008 17:01:48 | | COMMUNICATION AND THE INTERESTS OF ELEPHANTS | We invite you to visit the elephant welfare section of ElephantVoices, which has Been reorganized and improved over the last couple of weeks; new expansions will be uploaded over the course of the next few months. We have also integrated our blog on WildlifeDirect.
Some people may wonder what our elephant welfare work has to do with elephant communication or with elephant conservation, for that matter. We see this part of our work as an important application of our many years of study of elephant behavior. Decades of knowledge is useful for the advancement of science, yes, but we also want to ensure a better future for elephants, as individuals and as a species. To do that we need to educate people, to translate all the reams of data into something that the public can digest, be moved by and put into action. As acknowledged experts in the field we feel a need to speak out on their behalf.
Joyce returned from a five day trip to California on Tuesday, where she was meeting with donors and discussing a range of captive and wild elephant welfare issues. Over the next few days she will be finalising her expert witness testimony for a legal case against Ringling Brothers for the mistreatment of elephants.
Further analysis of the material collected during our playback experiments in Amboseli in December/January is also high on our to-do list. You will find several posts regarding our playback experiments on our WildlifeDirect blog, the first one from 17. December.
Trumpets, Petter and Joyce | | poster: Petter, webmaster ElephantVoices | | |
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