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The post Publication: Fence Removal Enhances Elephant Movement and Promotes Behavioural, Physiological and Ecological Functioning appeared first on Elephant Reintegration Trust.

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There is increasing evidence of compromised welfare for captive African savannah elephants managed in confined spaces. With the trend for zoos and captive facilities to close due to public pressure, reflecting ethical concerns,  and thier limited capacity to manage ‘difficult’  behaviours, elephants will continue to require rehabilitation into free-ranging areas or living in the wild. During reintegration from captivity into a free-roaming system, conservation management methods need to be carefully considered to ensure the individual’s welfare. Elephants,  have a sophisticated social life and exhibit complex body language employing a multitude of behavioural signals and gestures to demonstrate thier needs and feelings. These detailed signals could be valuable when assessing the welfare status of elephants as any large deviation in behaviour could indicate changes in elephant wellbeing. In this study,  a group of African elephants (Loxodonta africana) were monitored as they transitioned from captivity to a free-roaming system. To track the impact of reintegration on elephant welfare, we recorded  frequencies of behaviours categorized as Ambivalent, Assessing, Frustrated, and Social, and ofspecific  behaviours within each category, across four phases of reintegration into the wild (Stables, Boma, Release and Free). Significant differences in rates between reintegration phases were observed for several categories of behaviour and specific behaviours. Decreased  frequencies of Frustrated behaviours and an increase in social behaviours when the elephants were Free were potentially indicative of improved welfare in wild settings. We conclude that monitoring of  behaviours is important when assessing elephant welfare, and to establish the success of reintegration operations.

The post Publication: African elephant reintegration from captivity to wild living: quantifying the detailed behavioural changes. appeared first on Elephant Reintegration Trust.

​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

The post ERT presents at the PAWS (Performing Animal Welfare Society) conference in Los Angeles appeared first on Elephant Reintegration Trust.

The post Publication: Movement patterns of two reintegrated African elephant herds: transitioning from captivity to free-living appeared first on Elephant Reintegration Trust.

​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.

The post Sibuya Game Reserve Joins our GWRP appeared first on Elephant Reintegration Trust.

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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The post Publication: Twisting collars on male elephants in shrub terrain: animal welfare considerations for researchers, managers and manufacturers appeared first on Elephant Reintegration Trust.

The post Publication: Identifying potential measures of stress and disturbance during a captive to wild African elephant reintegration appeared first on Elephant Reintegration Trust.