One of the primary goals of ElephantVoices is to use our knowledge to speak up on behalf of elephants. We act as a voice for elephants via this website, social media, scientific and popular articles, lectures, TV documentaries, interviews, radio broadcasts, expert statement and testimony, appearing in court, where necessary.

A multitude of human practices threaten the survival and well-being of wild elephants. From 2008-2009 the killing of elephants for their tusks spiralled out of control once again, accounting for as many as 30,000 to 40,000 elephant mortalities each year. This new, destructive wave was first reported in Scientific American in July 2009 (2.59 MB), but it took time before the world started to face the brutal truth. To this figure add the thousands of calves who die as a result of their mother's deaths, and the trauma and devastation caused by the slaughter.

The wanton destruction of habitat and the killing of elephants due to conflict over diminishing resources adds many thousands more deaths to the overall figure. And then comes the individual elephants who are killed for sport, those who are killed in the name of management, and the commercial capture and export of wild calves for human entertainment.

The conservation and ethical treatment of wild elephants is of paramount importance, yet the individual distress and misery suffered by many captive elephants is also appalling and, given that many live in the zoos and circuses of wealthy countries, is totally unacceptable.

With four decades of groundbreaking research on wild elephants, we are in a position to speak with confidence on the interests of elephants, wherever they may be. These scientific discoveries indicate that we need to improve the way we care for elephants, and demand that we err on the side of caution when the interests of elephants are being considered. A range of statements and testimonies by ElephantVoices and by the Amboseli Trust for Elephants are available in the Multimedia Resources section of ElephantVoices.

Our individual and collective voices are vital to influence and direct this growing, contentious and often contradictory public debate about the future of elephants. You can add your voice by signing The Elephant Charter, and by speaking out for elephants and their interest whenever and wherever you can. You may also want to go through our Sanctuary for Elephants - Overall Principles document - a basis for our work in inspiring the creation of more sanctuaries around the world.