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Elephant Conservation

© Vickie Ferguson

Over the next few months I would like to do a series on the numerous wildlife conservation groups found in the U.S., Canada and internationally. These groups do so much good in the field of research which in turn helps educate us on how to find ways to preserve species and find ways to share this planet and its resources with all living creatures.

There are so many worthwhile groups to choose from with stories to be told and information to share but because of the very happy news from the Amboseli Trust for Elephants in Kenya, I chose to start with them. The trust is dedicated to the welfare of African elephants.

On January 12th of this year, Echo, one of the oldest females at Amboseli and estimated to be between 55 and 60 years of age, gave birth to her eighth calf. A little girl. Click this link to see a picture of the baby and one of her and her mom. http://www.elephanttrust.org/. This link has a beautiful picture of Echo - http://www.elephanttrust.org/trust.htm

The elephants at Amboseli have been the center for elephant research for over 30 years and is headed by Cynthia Moss.

Ms. Moss started the Amboseli Elephant Research Project in 1972 and in her time working with the trust, she and her research assistants have observed and logged more than 1500 elephants.

The elephants live in a natural environment at Amboseli in a 150-square mile protected area where they live relatively undisturbed. Over the years, Ms. Moss and her assistants have been able to observe, track, and record the daily lives and family structure of the resident elephants. Their findings has attributed to significant information concerning elephant behavior, family interaction, births, deaths and their life cycle.

With the birth of Echo's newest edition, the number of elephants at Amboseli has increased to 29 ranging in age from new calf's to several females over 60. They also have several bulls over 40 years old. Echo's mate and father of her new baby died in 2003 but with her birth, his genes live on. One of Echo's daughter's, Enid, recently gave birth to her own little girl, thus adding to the core family.

With researchers like Cynthia Moss and the people who work with her dedicating their time and talent to finding ways to protect and learn about this magnificent species, along with all the others who are working so tirelessly in their efforts for wildlife conservation, future generations will benefit from the sacrifice these folks are making today and will be able to continue their work and ensure these animals will be on this planet well into the future.

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