November 23, 2011

Latest Save the African elephants and the Asian elephants

African Elephants and Asian Elephants: The Marvels of Nature






Endangered African Elephant and the Asian Elephant



Do we need to save the African elephant?  How long have people been helping to save the elephants. Are there any fruits in saving the elephants or its just part of the world politics which everyone is trying to play and make headlines in the news as well.



 On the other hand Why do elephants attack people? Is it genetic or a revenge from the elephant’s fore fathers who were parched to extinction during the slave trade and the ivory trade centuries ago? Did the African Elephants deserve what they got. These are just part of the rules of the jungle which  nature has to offer in the elephant world. While a lot of animal and elephant studies have taken place, the questions do we really know anything about elephants? Do we know what goes on in the minds of the elephants. 



Had people been able to understand  or to know about the elephants mind, this would have been a stepping stone in helping solve the feelings of many of the animals we have IN their natural world and in captivity as well.


All animals big or small are as wise as they can be. With their own natural animal instincts, animals have some qualities which we humans do not have or have not been able to tap into it.  As far as elephants are concerned, Elephants just like humans are some of the most intelligent animals in the world.


Elephant loving students and researchers who have spent many years with these beautiful elephants with an aim of saving the elephants have some insight about how elephants need to be saved and as a matter of fact saving all the elephants of the world wherever they are; in zoos, animal sanctuaries or just in captivity or as pets in circuses or elephants who have been tamed ad are considered part of the farm animals with many of the Asian elephants. 


What don’t we know about the elephant's  habitat and their breeding grounds?  With many of the worlds elephants residing in the African Savannah and in the national parks of Kenya Uganda Tanzania and South Africa, some of these elephants which need to be saved have seen the worst as far as elephants poaching is concerned and there is a hue and cry to save the elephants not from within but from outside as well.

Despite the fact that the global ban on international trade in ivory imposed in 1989 remains and is being adhered to, many of the different African governments are yet to understand the implications of reading between the lines as the same goes to those countries which allow such elephants ivory enter in their countries. 


As far as the utility value of the elephant tusks remains high, the elephant ivory lucrative market will still lure more to venture into this illicit trade and thereby exposing the elephants to even staggering low numbers as is the casein many of the West African countries.

Have we reached a stage where we can say no to the killing and poaching of elephants while at the same time we keep on buying expensive ornaments and artifacts made from the endangered elephant ivory and other tusks from animals such as the endangered beautiful white rhino and the black which is also on the verge of extinction?  When is the demand of the elegant elephant accessories, goods and expensive jewelry going to stop so that the killings of these beautiful God given African and Asian elephants can stop too?


How many more elephants to we need to save
Can the world  help save the elephant by bolstering anti-poaching patrols, by providing the relevant different elephant neighboring villages/communities and organizations  the needed tools and  equipment needed to help save the endangered African and Asian elephants? 


While still water runs deep some subjects which cross national boundaries become too complex  which renders helpless exotic animals of the wild without any spokesman to dare vocalize the plight of the elephants and the dire need to save them. Has a lot been done to save the African elephant and the Asian elephants?  Is something being done to save these elephants in different parts of the continent? 


Many elephants and animal activist have gone miles and to create elephant awareness, elephant education, the different elephant behavior and two thumbs up for those who have been able to put the elephants into better use as far as farming and helping the community in the Asian region is concerned.



The elephant tusks belong to the elephants just as our teeth in us. Well on the other hand, with the demand of timber on the rise and degradation of the fauna of the Asian region, the elephant has played much of the role in bringing the trees to our homes in terms of furniture, construction and all the fitting which comes up from the logs where the elephant is used as a beast of burden. Should people be optimistic in saving the worlds climate or saving the elephants on a need come basis?





With vast open lands poachers hunt elephants and  day in day out




With so many vehicles which are deemed un road worth saving the elephants with such an asset with these vehicles  being impounded in bonded warehouses and underground parking just because they were not cleared or didn't have enough papers would these vehicles serve as a helping had to speed up the patrols in such elephant risk prone areas if the vehicles are repaired or  purchased and given to the needy organizations so that they can be able to stand on their feed with all the economic crunch. I guess the economics and laws of the land have to be tabulated and be considered as well. But with little bargaining power saving the elephants or such endangered animals not forgetting the near extinct flora and fauna of the elephant habitat will just perish just within our blinking eyelids spectrum.



For the protection of all endangered animals, the great African elephants, the Rhino, the lions, the cheetahs and the leopard just to mention a few  in most third world countries where there is an abundant of wild life and animals which need to be protected, vehicles to patrol are some of the simplest ways to be used to pave way in apprehending the culprits. On the other hand, two way radios or effective communication to enhance  surveillance saves all the time and energy in saving the elephants and the other wild animals which might also fall prey in the hands of poachers as well equipment.




Is that just enough to save the elephants and the story just ends with a happy ending? With proper elephant protection legislation being implemented and ratified, that just a mile stone in saving the elephants which are remaining in the wild. Do we have any success stories about elephants in the different parts of the wild. The yard stick for the protection, conservation and breeding of the elephants is way complicated as part of the data is not forth coming. 




Despite the fact that Google maps help locate most of the elephants which have been flitted with collar tracking devices, the protection and saving of the elephants though still on its hay stages some people have been made proud in seeing many more active role in terms of active elephant research being carried out and people with the elephant passion getting involved and understanding the minds of the elephants the way they associate with other elephants, the way elephants migrate and the way they respond to natural calamities seconds before disasters as well.



If people managed to save the Serengeti animal migration highway, what would it cost to save the rest of the worlds elephants. On the other hand the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) has played a very big role in creating awareness in terms of the elephant numbers where by  the number of  the Africa's elephant population was 1,300,000 in the 1980. Just a few years later the number plunged to around  625,000 in African countries. Kenya and Mali were the only countries which had refused to sell their stock pile of the ivory captured in different parts of the world in the illegal ivory trade. 



While most of the elephants still become endangered its through proper involvement of the general masses through education of the elephants, sharing of  elephant information and above all imparting or giving information about elephants to those who need it and those it might be intended for.
This painstaking episode of saving the  elephant and all the wild elephants at large started almost 20 years ago when the ban on the sale of Ivory was brought about but has the sailing been easy?  With all the deep waters which cover the vast area of the Savannah and the worlds great oceans and seas, mankind has played part in bringing the elephants to a grinding halt  just because of the glamour and fashion. 




With the little awareness which ensued, most of the countries against the illegal trade of ivory had no better way of ending the elephants onslaught just because of its elephant utility it provides while female elephants and the young elephants are left without any hopes of their forefathers being there to trace back their elephant train from the tip of Africa way down to the Kruger plains in South Africa.



With less animal migration corridors being on the verge of near extinction due to the population boom, many families living within the elephant natural breeding grounds have had problems with elephants. Many of the elephants end up dead as a result of DDT and some other chemicals easily available in many of the local shops in the villages or cities which is thrown in many of the animal water holes or ponds while some are just killed with poisonous arrows and are left to die as a result of their movement which meanderings to people farms and residential areas.



 That being part of nature, many of the victims of animal and elephant attacks have well been compensated in terms of animal being injured as a result of the elephant attacks, people being killed or wounded as a result of the elephants and property as well which is way well in place.  and renovate ranger housing. 


With your help, we partner with local governments on projects that educate local communities on the value of protected areas and parks, defuse human-elephant conflicts and improve the infrastructure needed to better protect these magnificent ecosystems.
















African baby Elephants and Asian Baby Elephants: The Marvels of Nature



Introduction



African and Asian elephants are two of the most magnificent creatures on earth. Known for their size, intelligence, and gentle nature, these majestic animals have captured the hearts of people all over the world. In this blog post, we will be discussing the challenges faced by baby elephants, the difficulties of raising them, the dangers they encounter, the conservation efforts to protect them, interesting facts about them, their cultural significance, and the latest research on these magnificent animals.

The Life of a Baby Elephant


Baby elephants are born weighing around 200-300 pounds and are about 3 feet tall at the shoulder. They are born with tiny trunks, which they use to suckle milk from their mothers. For the first few months of their lives, baby elephants are entirely dependent on their mothers for food and protection. They stay close to their mothers, who provide them with milk and teach them how to survive in the wild.

The Challenges Faced by Baby Elephants


  • Baby elephants face several challenges in their early life. One of the most significant challenges is learning how to use their trunks properly. Elephants use their trunks for everything, from drinking water to picking up objects. It takes several months for a baby elephant to master the use of its trunk fully.
  • Another challenge is learning to walk. Baby elephants are not born with strong legs, and it takes them a few weeks to learn to walk properly. During this time, they often stumble and fall, but with practice, they eventually learn to walk steadily.

Challenges of Raising Baby Elephants

  • Raising a baby elephant is no easy task. In captivity, it requires round-the-clock care, including feeding, cleaning, and medical attention. It is a massive responsibility, and it takes a dedicated team to ensure that the baby elephant grows up healthy and strong.
  • In the wild, raising a baby elephant is also challenging. Elephants live in matriarchal societies, and the responsibility of raising the young falls on the entire herd. The herd must protect the baby elephant from predators and teach it how to find food and water.

The Dangers of Baby Elephants

Baby elephants face several dangers in the wild. One of the most significant dangers is predators. Lions, hyenas, and crocodiles are all known to prey on baby elephants. Another danger is dehydration. Baby elephants require a lot of water, and in areas where water is scarce, they may not get enough to drink, which can lead to dehydration and even death.

Conservation Efforts to Protect Baby Elephants


Conservation efforts are critical to protecting baby elephants. Elephants are threatened by habitat loss, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict. Many organizations are working to protect elephant habitats, stop poaching, and reduce human-wildlife conflict. The efforts are paying off, and elephant populations are slowly increasing in some areas.

Interesting Facts About Baby Elephants

  • Baby elephants can weigh up to 120 kilograms at birth
  • They can stand up within an hour of being born
  • Elephants are social animals and often play together
  • Elephants can communicate with each other through sounds that are below the range of human hearing

In Culture


Elephants have played an important role in many cultures throughout history. In some cultures, they are revered as sacred animals, while in others, they are seen as symbols of strength and power. In many Asian cultures, elephants are used in religious festivals and are considered auspicious animals.

Latest Research


Researchers are continually studying elephants to learn more about their behavior, biology, and ecology. Some recent research has focused on the social behavior of elephants, their communication methods, and their migration patterns. The research is critical to



Interesting Facts


  • African elephants are the largest land animals on earth, while Asian elephants are slightly smaller in size.
  • Elephants have a complex social structure, and live in large herds led by a matriarch.
  • Elephants are known for their strong memory, and can remember other elephants they have met before, as well as specific locations, for decades.
  • Both African and Asian elephants have a prehensile trunk that can pick up objects as small as a peanut or as large as a tree trunk.
  • Elephants are herbivores and can consume up to 300 pounds of vegetation per day.
  • Elephants communicate with each other using a variety of sounds, including low-frequency rumbling, trumpeting, and snorting.
  • Elephants can live up to 70 years in the wild.


In Culture


Elephants play an important role in the cultures of many countries, including India and Thailand, where they are seen as symbols of strength, intelligence, and good luck.
The Hindu god Ganesha, often depicted with an elephant's head, is considered the god of wisdom and remover of obstacles in Hinduism.
In Africa, elephants are revered by many indigenous cultures as symbols of power, wisdom, and the connection between the physical and spiritual world.
In ancient Rome, elephants were used in military campaigns and gladiator games.


Latest Research

Scientists continue to study the behavior, intelligence, and communication of elephants to better understand these magnificent creatures.
Recent research has shown that elephants can distinguish between different human languages and respond differently to the sound of danger.
Scientists are also exploring the use of elephant vocalizations and other cues to track their movements and populations in the wild.


Conclusion


Despite facing numerous challenges and dangers as babies, both African and Asian elephants have adapted and evolved to survive and thrive in their respective habitats. Through conservation efforts and increased awareness, we can help protect these incredible animals and ensure their continued existence for generations to come.

Further Reading and Resources


"Elephant Memories: Thirteen Years in the Life of an Elephant Family" by Cynthia Moss
"The Elephant Whisperer" by Lawrence Anthony
"Elephants: A Cultural and Natural History" by Karl Gröning and Bernd Brunner
"Ivory's Ghosts: The White Gold of History and the Fate of Elephants" by John Frederick Walker
World Wildlife Fund (WWF): https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/elephant






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