ELEPHANT TRAILS

ELEPHANT TRAILS

Elephant Trails is an extensive conservation program built on decades of Zoo science, which will help us understand human-elephant conflict, stabilize existing habitats and populations, and improve conditions for captive populations in Asia.

The Zoo understands that saving Asian elephants cannot be accomplished by a single organization. The great undertaking requires strong and effective partnerships among key players. Because of its existing relations with U.S. and foreign governments, non-governmental organizations, and major academic and zoological institutions in elephant range countries, the Zoo is uniquely positioned to spearhead efforts that improve life for Asian elephants in zoos and save them in the wild.

NATIONAL ZOO ELEPHANT RESEARCH PROGRAMS

ELEPHANT ENDOTHELIOTROPIC HERPESVIRUS (EEHV)

EEHV is the greatest threat to the Asian elephant today with a fatality rate of 80 percent. First identified by the National Zoo, scientists have identified more than 60 cases of EEHV in the global captive elephant population since it was first documented. But EEHV not only affects captive Asian elephants—it has been the cause of death of more than 20 orphan and wild elephant calves within Asia. The National Zoo has conducted ground-breaking research on EEHV and our Herpes-virus Laboratory is the primary worldwide resource of information, testing and research for the elephant community.

REPRODUCTION AND HEALTH

The Endocrine Research Lab is the only facility in the United States providing extensive monitoring services for tracking the reproductive health of zoo elephants. Janine Brown and her staff work with dozens of zoos to conduct hormone evaluations to assess the reproductive status of hundreds of female elephants.

BEHAVIORAL RESEARCH

Although scientists are very familiar with the interaction and communication of African elephants, they know almost nothing about Asian elephant sociality. Elephant Trails will provide scientists with unparalleled opportunities to study elephant behavior, including female interactions, cow/calf relationships, bull behavior, cognition, mate choice.

GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM (GIS)

While much research attention has been focused on African elephants, very little is known about their Asian cousins. Being forest dwellers, Asian elephants are extremely difficult to study. Asian elephant habitat has declined by 70 percent during the past 30 years, and presently fewer than 40,000 Asian elephants remain in the wild. Scientists at the National Zoo’s Geographic Information Systems (GIS) lab use satellite imagery and ground studies to track and study Asian elephants and their habitat.

MITIGATING HUMAN-ELEPHANT CONFLICT

People and elephants have co-existed in Asia for thousands of years. However, dramatic changes in how people interact with land and elephants have caused a significant increase in people-elephant conflicts. To help solve this problem, we are: Working with Asian leaders to implement land-use strategies that will reduce conflict between wild elephants and farmers; and developing tools for managing and protecting Asian elephants in areas that are threatened by agricultural conversion. 

ELEPHANT GENETICS

Scientists know little about the size and structure of wild elephant populations and the genes that are necessary for survival. Combining non-invasive genetic techniques with satellite tracking and other methods, we are working with our local partners to conduct vital research about Asian elephant population biology and genetics. 

TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION

Training and mentoring future scientists and conservationists is one of the National Zoo’s greatest strengths. Species are not saved by individuals, but by groups of scientists, managers and the general public.

Training future leaders in science and conservation is one of our most effective conservation tools. The National Zoo has training and mentorship programs that provide support for aspiring elephant experts from the U.S. and Asia, including pre- and post-graduate fellowships; elephant veterinary training workshops; and Asian elephant professional internships in Zoo research departments.

ELEPHANT SCIENCE

The Zoo’s rich history of caring for and studying Asian elephants spans more than a century. Home to the National Elephant Herpesvirus Lab and the Endocrine Research Lab, we are leaders in a collaborative national study to understand and improve elephant welfare in zoos and are part of a cognitive research program to prove just how smart elephants are. With multiple projects in elephant-range countries, we have been at the forefront of studying and helping to conserve this species in the wild for more than 50 years.

With the world’s largest concentration of zoo-based scientists, the National Zoo creates the knowledge and strategies to save species. The Zoo’s research has increased our knowledge of elephants and their environments , which has led to protection of habitats and better care for captive elephants in range countries.

The three pillars of our conservation and science program are:

• Advancing conservation of wild Asian elephants through scientific excellence
• Improving care and management of elephants via zoo-based research
• Training and mentoring the next generation of elephant experts.

WHY ELEPHANTS?

Elephants may be huge in size, but that’s not the only reason they are also a big priority at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, which is a leader in elephant conservation and science. These majestic animals are an important part of the ecosystems in the wild and African elephants are a threatened species, while Asian elephants are endangered.

That’s why the National Zoo has a dedicated team of scientists working to understand the biology, reproductive physiology and genetics of these majestic animals, using the four elephants at the National Zoo—Ambika, Shanthi, Bozie, and Kandula—but also animals at other zoos and elephants in the field in their native homes.

What the Zoo’s researchers learn is applied to conservation efforts in elephant-range countries and to the captive management of elephants in zoos, which inspires the public to care about the future of these giants.

Bull Elephant Stands His Ground

Bull Elephant Stands His Ground

Male African elephants usually travel alone and are significantly larger than females.

Baby Asian Elephant in Tall Grass

Baby Asian Elephant in Tall Grass

Baby elephants are born big, standing approximately three feet (one meter) tall and weighing 200 pounds (91 kilograms) at birth. They nurse for two to three years, and are fully mature at 9 (females) to 15 (males) years of age.

African Forest Elephant

African Forest Elephant

Forest elephants were reclassified as an entirely different species of elephant from their African savanna counterparts.

African Elephant With Her Calf

African Elephant With Her Calf

A female elephant walks with her calf on the Masai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya. Females and their young live in herds, while males tend to be solitary.

Asian Elephant Eating

Asian Elephant Eating

Asian elephants, smaller than their African cousins, are highly endangered. The subspecies shown here is found only on Borneo and faces threats from the conversion of their forest habitat to agricultural use.

African Elephant

African Elephant

African elephants are the largest of Earth's land mammals. Their enormous ears help them to keep cool in the hot African climate.

Female lions

Female lions are the pride's primary hunters. They often work together to prey upon antelopes, zebras, wildebeest, and other large animals. Many of these animals are faster than lions, so teamwork pays off for them.

Lions Family

Lions are the only cats that live in groups, which are called prides. Prides are family units that may include up to three males, a dozen or so females, and their young. All of a pride's lionesses are related, and female cubs typically stay with the group as they age.

Only Male Lion

Only male lions boast manes, the impressive fringe of long hair that encircles their heads. Males defend the pride's territory, which may include some 100 square miles (259 square kilometers) of grasslands, scrub, or open woodlands.

Loins

Two young male lions lie in the grass of Botswana's Okavango Delta.

Around 2,000 years ago, more than a million lions roamed the Earth. Now, there are as few as 20,000 animals. The Big Cats Initiative, made up of conservationists led by National Geographic Explorers-in-Residence Dereck and Beverly Joubert, hope to stop this decline and to restore the population.

Abbie

Abbie, 13, who will have her birthday during the expedition in Australia, captured this photo of a mule deer at dusk near her home in Idaho.

Alex Snake

Alex, 14, who lives in Virginia, has a passion for both photography and snakes. He photographed this juvenile black snake while exploring his favorite creek.

Collared Lemming

Collared Lemming—Winter
As snow starts to fall, lemmings grow oversize claws on the third and fourth toes of their front feet. This allows them to dig tunnels in the snow all winter. Staying below the surface helps them avoid predators while they shovel in search of food. By spring, their intense burrowing wears down their claws to a normal size again.

Ermine Black Tail Tip

Ermine Black Tail Tip—Winter
This weasel wears black on the very top of its tail year-round. Why? This black blotch is a valuable decoy during attacks by flying predators.

Ermine

Ermine—Summer
Some animals don't turn completely white, even in the heart of winter. The ermine is one of them.

Ptarmigan

Ptarmigan—Summer
The ptarmigan (TAR-mih-guhn) is a bird with feathers that change from brown to white, providing camouflage in the snow.

Snowshoe Hare

Snowshoe Hare—Summer
Snowshoe hares are well known for their patchy-colored camouflage.

Fox

Arctic Fox—Summer
Foxes change from brown fur to white when the season changes from fall to winter and days become shorter.