Welcome to ElephantVoices

Visit The Elephant Ethogram - with over 3000 video clips, sounds and photos
Join ElephantVoices on a Day in Amboseli
Join 345,000 elephant friends on ElephantVoices on Facebook!
Learn more about why elephants are extraordinary
Watch why we should #behavemoreelephants
Help us make a difference for elephants - click on image to Donate Now!
Learn about the intricacies of the social life of elephants
Meet Dr. Joyce Poole, Co-Founder of ElephantVoices
How do elephants communicate? Sight, sound, scent, touch and vibration…
Visit the fascinating elephants in Gorongosa, Mozambique
Learn how to sex and identify African elephants
Meet Petter Granli, Co-Founder of ElephantVoices
Elephant needing your help? Find sound arguments in "Statements & Testimonies"

CHECK OUT ELEPHANTVOICES ON INSTAGRAM

Our research paper, ‘A culture of aggression: The Gorongosa elephants' enduring legacy of war’ was recently published in the journal, Pachyderm. It offers a deeper understanding of the very long-term consequences that human behavior can have on populations of elephants, and the role that cultural acquisition of behavior plays in shaping an elephant society. Given rapid environmental change, increasing contact between elephants and people, and the extreme losses caused by poaching and armed conflict, conservation strategies must acknowledge the fundamental role that culture plays in the behavior of elephants. You can read 'A culture of aggression: The Gorongosa elephants' enduring legacy of war' via the link in our bio. #ElephantVoices #conservation #elephants #elephantbehavior #gorongosanationalpark #conservationscience #pachyderm

This example shows an aggregation of elephants coming in from Amboseli’s Olodare area toward the swamp. As they approached water, they became more excited and broke into a Floppy-Run. Several engage in Pulsated-Play-Trumpets. The behavior illustrated in this video is Floppy-Running: Elephant(s) ‘running’ with a loose, floppy gait, shaking a lowered head from side-to-side, letting ears flap against the neck (Head-Waggling) and curling the tail up in Tail-Raising. Floppy-Running is often associated with trumpeting - in particular the Pulsated-Trumpet and Nasal-Trumpet. If you would like to learn more about elephant behavior then please visit The Elephant Ethogram via the link in our bio. #theelephantethogram #elephantvoices #conservation #elephants

Elephant skin is made up of a network of intricate wrinkles and crevices arranged in magnificent patterns. Like most things in nature, elephant skin has a purpose - elephants lack sweat glands and, therefore, they need other ways to stay cool and keep their skin moist. After bathing, the unique texture of their skin allows them to absorb water, retain the moisture and facilitate its movement over the surface of their body. #FunFact the skin of African savanna elephants is sculptured more deeply and retains significantly more water than Asian elephants, this is because African savanna elephants are adapted to drier habitats. This photograph was kindly donated to us by @marcuswestbergphotography If you would like to learn more about elephant behavior then please visit The Elephant Ethogram: https://www.elephantvoices.org/elephant-ethogram/ #theelephantethogram #elephantvoices #conservation #elephants

Members of the I family engaged in Thermoregulatory-Ear-Flapping on a hot afternoon. The behavior illustrated in this video is Thermoregulatory-Ear-Flapping: Slow, rhythmic, sustained flapping of the ears as the elephant continues with normal feeding, resting or other activity. This form of ear-flapping is used to help regulate the body temperature. The warmer it is the more consistent and sustained the ear flapping becomes. If you would like to learn more about elephant behavior then please visit The Elephant Ethogram via the link in our bio. #theelephantethogram #elephantvoices #conservation #elephants

Today is #GivingTuesday: a global movement aimed to inspire you to give back by supporting your favorite cause. ElephantVoices is known for our decades long, ground-breaking behavior studies, successful conservation projects and our educational outreach and advocacy. We study the voices, behavior and cultures of elephants and act as a voice for them in the face of human exploitation and a rapidly changing world. We use our knowledge and our data to help to shape conservation policy, to educate, and to advocate. ElephantVoices is a small organisation with science at our core and we punch far above our weight. Your support helps us be a voice for elephants. Please visit the link in our bio to make a donation - Thank you! #beavoiceforelephants #elephantvoices #conservation #elephants #givingtuesday2023 #nonprofit #giveaway

Individuals are the building blocks of a society. Wherever we work we study elephants by observing them and getting to know them as individuals. Each elephant in a population is important, and we identify and register elephants, one by one, documenting each with photographs, their physical characteristics, life history information and behavior. You can learn more about the research we carried out in Gorongosa via the link in our bio. #theelephantethogram #elephantvoices #conservation #saveelephants #elephants

Amparo is at the end of estrus. The day before she Mated with musth male Pascal. She has just Mated with a medium sized male whom she is standing beside. She is approached by a young male who has been threatening and harassing her and she has sought protection from the slightly larger male. She Advances-Toward the young male Chin-Out and he Orients-Toward her. She Touches-Self and then adopts Periscope-Trunk. Both Ear-Fold at each other. The male reaches toward her Trunk-to-Mouth and she reciprocates. As she does he Lunges at her and they Tusk-Clank, still Ear-Folding. They both Back-Away from one another. The behavior illustrated in this video is Lunge: A sudden forward thrust of the body and tusks, often with the trunk outstretched, to attack another. May be observed in Social Play, Aggressive and Attacking and Mobbing contexts. In the two former contexts all age/sex groups may be observed to Lunge at another elephant. In Attacking and Mobbing such behavior in the wild is likely limited to adult male and female elephants. Elephant ID: @amboseli_trust If you would like to learn more about elephant behavior then please visit The Elephant Ethogram: via the link in our bio. #theelephantethogram #elephantvoices #conservation #elephants

Happy Thanksgiving to all our American followers. We are thankful for the joy elephants bring to us and grateful for your love and support for them. 🐘

print