Plus, View New Elephant PSA!

IDA’s Elephant and Cetacean Scientist, Dr. Toni Frohoff, just returned from three pachyderm-packed days at the Elephant Summit in Wyoming, September 27-29. This year, the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival began with a laser-sharp focus on elephant conservation and brought out some of the best and brightest elephant specialists from around the world. While there, some participants were able to jointly create a PSA that we hope you will watch, “like” (if inclined) and share. It starts with Dr. Joyce Poole and ends with Dr. Cynthia Moss. You can view it here.

Fortunately, this Summit was more than a forum for experts to show off their latest tricks and projects. From beginning to end, this event was “no-nonsense, roll-up-your-sleeves and come up with solutions because time is running out for the elephants” endeavor. Those sleeves remained appropriately furled the entire time as specialists in science, conservation, policy, advocacy, government, film, media, artists … you name it, worked together to find common ground for collaboration on the most hazardous issues facing elephants globally. And the issues, and each level and manner in which they need to be addressed, are truly serious and we will be sharing them with you.

In the midst, much-appreciated warmth and camaraderie was exchanged with old and new connections and collaborators. Awards were given to the “matriarchs” of our herd, Drs. Cynthia Moss and Joyce Poole, for their inimitable contributions to knowing not only what, but WHO elephants are, in a conversation with author and ecologist, Dr. Carl Safina (whose book, Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel, is a must-read for anyone interested in other animals).

The eminent E.O. Wilson topped off the last night of the event with a powerful presentation. Dr. Wilson shared, with his uncommon humor, an evidence-based, yet optimistic and ambitious scenario about the choices that we humans have now to save not only elephants, but the remaining 10 billion or so species with whom they – and we – share the planet, and rely on, through our ecological interconnectedness.

While driving to Jackson Hole Airport to fly home, Toni and her colleagues noticed a very large herd of wild buffalo on both sides of the narrow road. She said, “While watching the buffalo after the meeting, I felt as if they were our continent’s version of elephants, representative of our nation’s wild heritage yet also brutally exploited.“ Eyes filled with beautiful buffalo then focused on another welcome sight – this one of a human and familiar face – that of Dr. Iain Douglas-Hamilton – who is sometimes affectionately referred to as the “Godfather of Elephant Research” (see photo). His car had also pulled over to watch the buffalo on the opposite side of the road. He just arriving to Jackson Hole as we were leaving. Toni’s colleagues were delighted that somehow – in the midst of the wilderness between the two destinations and a two-lane highway – that the buffalo had united them. So the two separate but connected human herds came together, surrounded by a much larger and grander herd of buffalo, the hominids sharing elephant information (who knows what the buffalo were saying about us) , then all three herds went their separate ways, albeit working towards the same goal of surviving and thriving – all species – all one.

The many diverse and incredible individuals, who amassed with a shared goal are too many, and too informative, to detail here. But new info, “homework”, skills, ideas and new collaborators that the participants will return home with, are vast. And IDA’s elephant campaign was invigorated and informed with both inspiration and much-needed insights and information – and we will be sharing all of that with each of you – so please keep a close eye on our upcoming communications and projects.

When it comes to elephants, there truly is no time to waste, so they need to be protected today – not tomorrow. Additionally, zoos need to acknowledge that captive elephants do not help conservation efforts – if anything, they only compromise them. We simply cannot live in a world without elephants – they are among our true wild elders. As E.O. Wilson pointed out, this entire planet is an incredible organism. We are all in this together. We human animals need to do better and elephants are calling us to be our best animal selves. So let’s work together to ensure that elephants and other animals not only continue to exist – but exist in peace.

For more information about the Elephant Summit you can visit:

http://www.jhfestival.org/summit-programming1.html

Matriarchs Extraordinaire, Joyce Pool and Cynthia Moss, in discussion with Carl Safina.	Cynthia Moss, who has lived with one community of elephants longer than any other scientist with IDA’s Elephant Scientist, Toni Frohoff
The inimitable EO Wilson speaking here was transcendent … from ants to elephants
Our inspiring view of the Tetons from the conference lobby	Dr. Iain Douglas Hamilton and IDA’s Toni Frohoff talk elephants while surrounded by bison