#elephant habitats

[wild-wow-facts]

The Secret Language of Elephants

Did you know elephants can communicate over miles? Discover their fascinating infrasound and its implications!

Check out my other videos here: Animal Kingdom Animal Facts Animal Education

[dandelionsresilience]

Good News - July 15-21

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1. Thai tiger numbers swell as prey populations stabilize in western forests

“The tiger population density in a series of protected areas in western Thailand has more than doubled over the past two decades, according to new survey data. […] The most recent year of surveys, which concluded in November 2023, photographed 94 individual tigers, up from 75 individuals in the previous year, and from fewer than 40 in 2007. […] A total of 291 individual tigers older than 1 year were recorded, as well as 67 cubs younger than 1 year.”

2. Work starts to rewild former cattle farm

“Ecologists have started work to turn a former livestock farm into a nature reserve [… which] will become a "mosaic of habitats" for insects, birds and mammals. [… R]ewilding farmland could benefit food security locally by encouraging pollinators, improving soil health and soaking up flood water. [… “N]ature restoration doesn't preclude food production. We want to address [food security] by using nature-based solutions."”

3. Harnessing ‘invisible forests in plain view’ to reforest the world

“[… T]he degraded land contained numerous such stumps with intact root systems capable of regenerating themselves, plus millions of tree seeds hidden in the soil, which farmers could simply encourage to grow and reforest the landscape[….] Today, the technique of letting trees resprout and protecting their growth from livestock and wildlife [… has] massive potential to help tackle biodiversity loss and food insecurity through resilient agroforestry systems. [… The UN’s] reported solution includes investing in land restoration, “nature-positive” food production, and rewilding, which could return between $7 and $30 for every dollar spent.”

4. California bars school districts from outing LGBTQ+ kids to their parents

“Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the SAFETY Act today – a bill that prohibits the forced outing of transgender and gay students, making California the first state to explicitly prohibit school districts from doing so. […] Matt Adams, a head of department at a West London state school, told PinkNews at the time: “Teachers and schools do not have all the information about every child’s home environment and instead of supporting a pupil to be themselves in school, we could be putting them at risk of harm.””

5. 85% of new electricity built in 2023 came from renewables

“Electricity supplied by renewables, like hydropower, solar, and wind, has increased gradually over the past few decades — but rapidly in recent years. [… C]lean energy now makes up around 43 percent of global electricity capacity. In terms of generation — the actual power produced by energy sources — renewables were responsible for 30 percent of electricity production last year. […] Along with the rise of renewable sources has come a slowdown in construction of non-renewable power plants as well as a move to decommission more fossil fuel facilities.”

6. Deadly cobra bites to "drastically reduce" as scientists discover new antivenom

“After successful human trials, the snake venom antidote could be rolled out relatively quickly to become a "cheap, safe and effective drug for treating cobra bites" and saving lives around the globe, say scientists. Scientists have found that a commonly used blood thinner known as heparin can be repurposed as an inexpensive antidote for cobra venom. […] Using CRISPR gene-editing technology […] they successfully repurposed heparin, proving that the common blood thinner can stop the necrosis caused by cobra bites.”

7. FruitFlow: a new citizen science initiative unlocks orchard secrets

“"FruitWatch" has significantly refined phenological models by integrating extensive citizen-sourced data, which spans a wider geographical area than traditional methods. These enhanced models offer growers precise, location-specific predictions, essential for optimizing agricultural planning and interventions. […] By improving the accuracy of phenological models, farmers can better align their operations with natural biological cycles, enhancing both yield and quality.”

8. July 4th Means Freedom for Humpback Whale Near Valdez, Alaska

“The NOAA Fisheries Alaska Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline received numerous reports late afternoon on July 3. A young humpback whale was entangled in the middle of the Port of Valdez[….] “The success of this mission was due to the support of the community, as they were the foundation of the effort,” said Moran. [… Members of the community] were able to fill the critical role of acting as first responders to a marine mammal emergency. “Calling in these reports is extremely valuable as it allows us to respond when safe and appropriate, and also helps us gain information on various threats affecting the animals,” said Lyman.”

9. Elephants Receive First of Its Kind Vaccine

“Elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus is the leading cause of death for Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) born in facilities in North America and also causes calf deaths in the wild in Asia. A 40-year-old female received the new mRNA vaccine, which is expected to help the animal boost immunity[….]”

10. Conservation partners and Indigenous communities working together to restore forests in Guatemala

“The K’iche have successfully managed their natural resources for centuries using their traditional governing body and ancestral knowledge. As a result, Totonicapán is home to Guatemala’s largest remaining stand of conifer forest. […] EcoLogic has spearheaded a large-scale forest restoration project at Totonicapán, where 13 greenhouses now hold about 16,000 plants apiece, including native cypresses, pines, firs, and alders. […] The process begins each November when community members gather seeds. These seeds then go into planters that include upcycled coconut fibers and mycorrhizal fungi, which help kickstart fertilization. When the plantings reach about 12 inches, they’re ready for distribution.”

July 8-14 news here | (all credit for images and written material can be found at the source linked; I don’t claim credit for anything but curating.)

[tilbageidanmark]

An alternative angle of an elephant swimming

[artapir]

Recombinant Kalahari bioshelter with a heavy admixture of baobab and elephant genes. Midjourney 6

[zooreferences]

African Elephant Habitat - Inside

Photo taken at Zoo Dresden

[thepastisalreadywritten]

🩶🐘🩶

[2manyplants]

making berms and drinking coffee. bye 2022 👋🏻

[woodelf68]

Tempted by both the pride snail and the cryptid... surprise me? 👀

I have got NO idea what I was thinking when I drew this; it's not typical at all for me. I've always tried to be as realistic as possible when drawing animals. But here you go, a snake-leopard-elephant hybrid. A sneopardphant, if you will. (Or I suppose it could be a sneetahphant, if you prefer.)

[heyitzjin]

[mapecl-stories]

[milkdongcomics]

On this day in 1916, Mary was hanged. HANGED MARY in "HEY HUMAN, SEE WHAT YOU DO!?" BUY 👈🏻 Instagram 👈🏻 Facebook 👈🏻 Mary was a five-ton Asian elephant, also known as Murderous Mary, who performed in the Sparks circus. After killing a trainer in Kingsport, Tennessee, she was hanged in 1916. Her death is sometimes interpreted as a cautionary tale of circus animal abuse during the early 20th century.

A hobo was hired as an assistant elephant trainer by the Sparks World Famous Shows circus.A drifter who had been with the circus only a day, he had no experience of handling elephants, but the only qualification required was the ability to wield an 'elephant stick' - a rod with a sharp spear at one end. He led the elephant parade riding on the top of Mary's back; Mary was the star of the show, riding at the front.

There have been several accounts of his death. Recounted by someone who claimed to be a witness, is that he prodded her behind the ear with a hook after she reached down to nibble on a watermelon rind. She went into a rage, snatched the trainer with her trunk, threw him against a drink stand, and stepped on his head, crushing it.

As the terrified spectators screamed and fled, a local blacksmith shot Mary with a pistol, unloading five rounds of ammunition into her thick hide to little effect. She stood still, suddenly calm again and seemingly oblivious both to the bullets and the commotion as the townsfolk encircled her with chants of "Kill the elephant, kill the elephant!".

The circus owner, Charlie Sparks, reluctantly decided that the only way to quickly resolve the potentially ruinous situation was to kill the elephant in public. It was decided to hang the elephant by the neck from a railcar-mounted industrial crane.

On the following day, Mary was transported by rail to Unicoi County, Tennessee, where a crowd of over 2,500 people (including most of the town's children) assembled in the Clinchfield Railroad yard.

As she was led to the railway yard, Mary was followed by the circus's other four elephants, each entwining their trunk in the tail of the animal in front just as they had done on countless parades. Charlie Sparks hoped that their presence would keep her compliant but, as a chain was placed around her neck at the "scaffold" , they trumpeted mournfully to her and he feared that she might try to run away.

To stop this from happening, one of her legs was tethered to a rail. No one thought to release it as the derrick whirred into action and, as she was hoisted into the air, there was an awful cracking noise, the sound of her bones and ligaments snapping under the strain. She had been raised no more than five feet when the chain around her neck broke, dropping her to the ground and breaking her hip.

The industrial crane was powered up again and this time Mary was raised high in the air, her thick legs thrashing and her agonized shrieks and grunts audible even over the laughter and cheers of those watching below.

Finally, she fell silent and hung there for half an hour. A local veterinarian examined Mary after the hanging, the vet declared her dead and determined that she had a severely infected tooth in the precise spot where the trainer had prodded her.

Her gruesome end is recorded in a photograph so horrifically surreal that some have suggested it must be a fake, but, all too sadly, its authenticity has been confirmed by other reports and photographs taken at the time.

[tilbageidanmark]

Elephant herds used to be so much larger. Photo by Peter Beard.

[gpstudios]

World Elephant Day: Protecting and Celebrating Earth’s Gentle Giants

Celebrate World Elephant Day on August 12th by honoring these majestic creatures and taking action to protect them. Learn about the challenges elephants face and how you can make a difference. #WorldElephantDay #Conservation #SaveTheElephants

World Elephant Day, celebrated every year on August 12th, is a global event dedicated to the preservation and protection of elephants. These majestic creatures, known for their intelligence, social bonds, and critical role in ecosystems, are under threat from habitat loss, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict. World Elephant Day brings attention to the challenges elephants face and encourages…

[parwatisingari]

World Elephant Day

World Elephant Day: Honoring the Giants of the Biosphere 🐘 Elephants are often referred to as the “gardeners of the forest.” Their movements and feeding habits help maintain the biodiversity of ecosystems. As they travel, elephants disperse seeds through their dung, which helps regenerate forests. Their ability to knock down trees and clear vegetation also creates open spaces in dense forests,…