Tusk USA is generously organizing a reception for ElephantVoices at the Explorer's Club in New York City on Wednesday 15th May, where Joyce will be holding a lecture: An Elephant Network: Conservation and the Power of the Crowd in the Maasai Mara. The funds raised will go toward Elephant Partners, ElephantVoices' citizen science-based conservation initiative for the Maasai Mara ecosystem. You'll find more details about the venue on the invitation card - click on it to enlarge - and visit Eventbrite to secure your attendance.

To reach our ambitious goals for this project we are looking at a three-year horizon (to end 2015), with our own time, the running of our old Toyota Land Cruiser, equipment, lodging and material for educational outreach in the Mara, as primary cost components. We will be spending six months of each year in Kenya. Elephant Partners engages guides, scouts, researchers, photographers, tourists, and people of the Maasai Mara ecosystem in the monitoring and protection of elephants through the use of unique cellphone- and web-solutions developed by ElephantVoices. Using the Internet and social and educational media, and hands-on training, we are developing a community of Elephant Partners who are sharing their knowledge of the Mara elephants and working together to protect them. Come and hear what we have learned about the elephants through the eyes and ears of many.

Please RSVP through http://tuskusa-joycepoole.eventbrite.com - and share this page (upper right corner) with others who may be interested in attending! If you cannot attend, but want to support, please check out our dedicated page on Crowdrise or visit our donation page on ElephantVoices.

We look forward to seeing you at the Explorer's Club!

Trumpets, Joyce and Petter

ElephantVoices' Joyce and Petter will be "on the road" in the US for three weeks during March 2012, with a premiere screening of an upcoming National Geographic Wild documentary, and lectures and other events promoting elephants and the work of ElephantVoices, on the agenda. You will find more details about each open event and how to attend below. We hope to see many of you during our short 10th Anniversary Tour!

Premiere screening of "War Elephants", Washington DC, 14 March

National Geographic LIVE! invites for a premiere screening of "War Elephants" in Washington DC on Wednesday 14 March, an upcoming documentary featuring the elephants of Gorongosa, Mozambique, Joyce Poole and her brother, cinematographer Bob Poole. The screening in Grosvenor Auditorium (at 7:30 p.m.) will be followed by a discussion with the Pooles, NGTV Sr. Producer David Hamlin, and Mateus Mutemba, Gorongosa National Park Administrator. You can buy tickets via this page.

Benefit for ElephantVoices in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, Sunday 18 March

On Sunday 18 March Patty Shenker and Doug Stoll will very generously host a reception at their home once again. We invite you to a VIP Reception at 2:00 p.m., and an Event Reception & Presentation from 3:00 to 5:30 p.m. You will find an invitation with all necessary information on how to attend here.

ElephantVoices lecture in Sausalito, Sunday 25 March

Our enormously generous board member Coco Hall will host another event at her home in Sausalito on Sunday 25 March, 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. You will find an invitation with all necessary information here.

Lectures during PAWS Summit for the elephants, Oakland Zoo, 28 to 30 March

Oakland Zoo will host PAWS SUMMIT FOR THE ELEPHANTS 2012 from 28 to 30 March. Joyce Poole and Petter Granli will hold 3 lectures during the Summit - all 3 on the last day 30 March. You can go through the conference schedule here.

Lecture Colorado College, Wednesday March 28

On 28 March, 6:30 p.m, Joyce Poole will give a lecture at Colorado College, Armstrong Hall Theater. The title is: Nature's great masterpiece: Stories of elephants.

You can open a poster with further details by clicking on the image to the left.

ElephantVoices' Joyce and Petter will be at several events in California during October 2009. You will find more details about each event and how to attend below. We wish you warmly welcome!

If you like to bid on items auctioned out to the benefit of ElephantVoices during October 2009 look at the bottom of this page and check out our Celebrity Endorsements page.

Wildlife Conservation Network Expo Day 3 October

ElephantVoices was represented by ElephantVoices board member, Coco Hall, at the Wildlife Conservation Network's Expo Day. The event took place Saturday, October 3rd, 10am - 6pm, at Mission Bay Conference Center, 1675 Owens St, San Francisco. You can also read about the event in this flyer.

Fundraiser for ElephantVoices in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, 18 October

Patty Shenker and Doug Stoll will host a reception at their home, on Sunday 18th October, 3 to 6 pm. You will find an invite with all necessary information on how to attend here.

Lecture: The Living Desert, near Palm Springs, 19 October

Cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.

Lecture: Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, Santa Barbara, 21 October

The lecture at Santa Barbara Maritime Museum starts at 7:00 pm.

Fundraiser for ElephantVoices in Sausalito, 25 October

Coco Hall will host an event at her home in Sausalito on 25 October, 5 to 7 pm. You will find an invitation with all necessary information here.

Lecture/event Oakland Zoo, 28 October

Oakland Zoo will host a Joyce Poole lecture as part of their Conservation Speaker Series on 28 October, at 6.30 pm. Check event flyer here.

We're getting very close to Christmas and the end of the year, and want to use this opportunity to send warm wishes and a heart felt thank you to all of you around the world who support elephants and our work financially or in other ways. Our best wishes and thanks also go to all those who work so hard to protect the many species in need - keep up the good work!

We had a good time during our hectic lecture and fundraising trip in California in November - and we are extremely grateful for all the warm hospitality, good friendship and generosity we experienced during our two week visit. The global financial crisis does not create the best atmosphere in which to raise funds, but the new American President (elect) and a newborn Obama in Amboseli keep us optimistic!

Vegetarian cooking party at our friend Coco's house in Sausalito 8 November, a lively event to promote the interests of elephants and the work of ElephantVoices. (Photo: PartiesThatCook)

For a second year in a row we enjoyed the warm hospitality of Patty and Doug (and their 6 dogs) during a vegan reception at their home in Pacific Palisades, 16 November. (Photo: Tim Stahl)

It's been a very busy year, as usual, which you can read more about in our End Year letter. In 2009 we intend to spend about half of our time on our new Sri Lankan project, a quarter on our Amboseli work and the remainder on advocacy. Petter and/or I will be in the field in Kenya in January, and part of February and March, and in Sri Lanka in June and again in September. Manori Gunawardena will be in Minneriya-Kaudulla throughout the year and Blake Murray will be helping us to collect and analyze data in Amboseli. Public awareness and education are elements that runs through all of our work, so you will continue to hear from us whether we are in the field or not.

As advancements in science contribute to our growing understanding of elephants we continue to put substantial time and effort into influencing welfare policy so that elephant interests are met. The elephant Watoto (Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle) in the photo is blurred due to stereotypical swaying - a behavior that expresses the massive frustration caused by confinement. (Photo: Alyne Fortgang)

During 2009 we look forward to being with our long-term elephant friends in Amboseli, Kenya, and with our new acquaintences in Minneriya-Kaudulla, Sri Lanka. And, of course, to working with our colleagues in Amboseli and with Manori and our many new colleagues in Sri Lanka. The survival of wild elephants depends on finding a balance between the needs of people and elephants - a task that requires the collaborative work of people all over the world. In order to find ways for people and elephants to co-exist in Minneriya-Kaudulla we must start by defining the basic needs of an elephant population that seems to number over 1,000 individuals rather than the previous estimate of 450 - we have our work for 2009 cut out for us!

We wish you all a festive holiday season and a peaceful 2009 for all creatures!

Warm Greetings, Joyce and Petter