Save The Elephants
​Save The Elephants (STE), founded by Dr. Iain Douglas-Hamilton, stands at the forefront of elephant research and conservation in Africa. Leveraging cutting-edge science, STE gives elephants a voice in our rapidly changing world.
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Through innovative collaborations, STE played a pivotal role in combating the illegal ivory trade. A decade ago, poaching threatened to wipe out Africa's elephant population within a generation. Today, thanks in part to STE's efforts culminating in China's 2018 domestic trade ban, elephant populations are rebounding.​
​​Since 1998, STE has conducted daily monitoring of the elephants in Samburu National Reserve, one of Africa's most studied populations. Leading international institutions and expert Samburu field researchers partner to investigate the world of elephants, revealing them as highly intelligent, self-aware creatures capable of complex emotions and social bonds, challenging us to reconsider our understanding of consciousness.
The unique relationship between elephants and the local Samburu people allows for groundbreaking research. In 2024, STE made a landmark discovery: elephants use names for one another, it's a first among non-human animals. And there is so much more to learn from them.​
The unfolding frontier of north Kenya represents one of the last great unfenced wilderness areas where elephants roam freely. STE leads the field in tracking and analyzing elephant movements, offering unprecedented insights into their decision-making processes and perception of their environment.​
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As human encroachment shrinks elephant habitats, conflict has become the leading cause of elephant mortality. STE now focuses on developing science-driven solutions to ensure harmonious coexistence between elephants and humans, safeguarding the future of these magnificent creatures in a changing world.
We are proud to work closely with Save the Elephants, helping inspire people from around the world to get involved in elephant conservation. Champions like the famous NBA sports hero Yao Ming, or Chinese superstar Li Bingbing, whom we showed the beauty of elephant lives in Samburu as well as the brutality of the blood ivory trade. On returning home, both worked tirelessly to bring about the ban on domestic ivory trade in China, which eventually came to fruition.
For more information on Save The Elephants & how to support them, please visit:
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