We will embark on this journey of removing the collars from the 30^th of May until the 14^th of June, so stay tuned to follow the last events of this special story with us.

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​The conference provided an opportunity to highlight some valuable findings that we have noted over the last 5 years of studying these elephants. Some key observations including that all stereotypic behaviours ceased, once the elephants were released into a wild system. We also observed lower frequencies of frustrated behaviour after the elephants were released. ​

​This was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to debunk the beliefs that elephants can thrive in captivity and that they can’t adapt to a novel environment.

Photo credit: Clive Curtis

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​Key findings include:​

• Reduced frustrated behaviours
• Increased Social interactions post-reintegration – all strong indicators of improved welfare once rewilded​

Photo credit: Clive Curtis

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​This study underpins the potential of captive elephants to successfully adapt to a free-living environment, emphasizing the promising implications of reintegration initiatives.​

​A huge thank you to Humane World for Animals  for funding the Open Access fee to have this article immediately available to everyone and for the funds that enabled us to write up this paper.

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​Freya Bellew and Imogen Vieten, filled with passion and skill, travelled from the UK to lend their support as volunteers to our field research collection. Their dedication shines through as they diligently gather data on elephant behaviour for our Greater Welfare Research Project, spanning various sites throughout South Africa. ​

​Beyond their adeptness in research, they also excel in disseminating their knowledge and experiences to guides, guests, and fellow volunteer coordinators during game drives and reserve programs. Their efforts in raising awareness about elephant welfare within fenced reserves is great to see.​

We take immense pride in showcasing our breathtaking landscapes and elephant populations residing across wildlife reserves we’re privileged to research on. We eagerly look forward to promising developments the future will bring.​

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​The data we are collecting here will contribute greatly towards our Greater Welfare Research Project, supported by Humane World for Animals.

​Within our first week, we were discovering, at first glance, never-before-seen behaviours and are looking forward to starting to decipher the unique behavioural culture of this population. Since commencing our Greater Welfare Research Project in 2019, each of our research elephant populations we’re studying have displayed different behaviours as a way of communicating with one another and the humans they encounter.

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Epigenetics is the study of how gene activity is regulated without changing the DNA sequence itself. Epigenetic changes affect when, where, and how strongly genes are expressed. These changes can be temporary or long-lasting, and some can even be passed down to offspring.

Currently direct evidence of epigenetic changes in African elephants due to major life events is lacking and existing research underscores the significant impact of environmental and social stressors on their physiology.

Stress Detection
Chronic stress (e.g., from poaching, captivity, or habitat disruption) may lead to epigenetic changes in genes linked to immune function, growth, and reproduction. If we can detect these changes we can monitor how environmental stress impacts health and it may help identify individuals or populations at risk before physical symptoms appear.

Understanding Long-Term Effects of Trauma
Events like losing a matriarch or being orphaned may leave epigenetic “scars” that influence behaviour, stress levels, or even fertility. Understanding this helps improve management in fenced systems (e.g., better social structures) as well as informing strategies to rehabilitate traumatized wild elephants.

Adaptation & Resilience
Epigenetic studies may reveal how elephants adapt (or fail to adapt) to changing environments. This can guide translocation efforts (moving elephants to new areas) and even climate resilience strategies (e.g., how heat or drought impacts long-term health).

​The first aim of this project is to develop a cost-effective method of DNA extraction from three sample types (i.e., blood, skin and dung) to obtain DNA of the highest quantity and quality for Oxford Nanopore (ONT) long-read sequencing.​

​The second aim is to develop a non-invasive method where dung samples could be utilized as a substitute for invasive blood samples.

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Movement patterns of elephants on fenced reserves forms an essential part of our long-term research projects. This insight will help us understand reserve utilization patterns, home range sizes, seasonal changes in movement, the effect of the diurnal cycle, the impact of reserve expansion, and the social interactions among different members of the population. ​

Stay tuned to see what our research will show. ​

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