tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9373001928622514492024-03-15T01:18:41.463-07:00Think Elephants InternationalThink Elephants International (TEI)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04985373656968566662noreply@blogger.comBlogger108125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-937300192862251449.post-51333183989773736742014-12-23T00:06:00.002-08:002014-12-23T00:06:59.262-08:00The Documentary is Certified Fresh!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As a medium, the documentary film is rising to compete and
contribute to media as a hub of popular attention. Viewers are becoming more
interested in learning while they watch television, which in my opinion, is one
of the more positive developments the tube has gone through. Films are stirring
up topics in fields like political science, sociology, psychology, biology, and
history! The list goes on! They are rich, refreshing, and allow the viewer to develop
opinions about current events. I want to explore this media format and discuss
how it is being utilized to influence scientific literacy. <o:p></o:p></div>
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By definition, the documentary is a non-fiction motion
picture used to document reality, often for archival purposes. Historically, the
term documentary has been around since 1926. But decades before its birth,
filmmakers were using the medium to document human behavior. Once it was known
as a tool for spreading information, films ranged from government propaganda to
nature footage.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Documentaries are now ubiquitous on the web and are growing
to represent a more significant chunk of screen time. Within seconds I am able
to learn about colony collapse disorder in honeybees, the history of jazz with
Ken Burns, or how the dam/hydroelectric power model in the US has reached its
culmination. The viewer can connect with still images, beautifully crafted
shots, and listen to listen to expert interview from both sides of a story.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Personally, I enjoy the documentary because it’s likely to
tell a tale that isn’t fit for the box office. Filmmakers are doing their
research to document aspects of society and our planet that aren’t as sexy as <i>Transformers 4.</i> Because
its purpose is to disperse information and not solely to be produced for profit,
filmmakers have more freedom in what they can and can’t do. Documentaries are
also overall cheaper to produce, thus leaving more room for creativity and
improvisation.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But why all of a sudden is it “cool” to watch something
educational? I think the jump in interest is a tag team performance: being
environmentally and culturally aware is more critical to society now, and that
change is being tapped by artists looking to be creative with content. It
surely has roots in the improvement of quality seen in environmental
documentaries, but one of the strongest candidates for being most influential
would be the Nobel Peace Prize winning doc <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">An
Inconvenient Truth</i> (2006) inspiring a new wave of activists. I think we’re
learning how important it is to take care of the planet, but just as important,
we need to learn how. And through visual media, it all makes sense!<o:p></o:p></div>
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We primates are visual learners. We use our eyes to
communicate with other humans to gather and process information. Every body
posture, facial movement, change in tone of voice is processed in your personal
computer (brain). Humans have evolved with this capacity because we’re social
beings. We began to evolve in an arboreal landscape where our eyes judge
distances of tree branches, ripeness of fruit, and the facial and body signals
from friends and foes. We learn so much from data collected though our eyeballs,
so I’d say it’s possible that learning through a screen could be another
effective method. </div>
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Maybe my favorite side effect, the documentary allows us to
take the perspective of another individual. To see how other humans, animals,
and environments change instantly, is special. Looking at wildlife
conservation, it’s difficult to connect someone with elephants, tigers, or
mangrove forests when they contently reside in a city on another continent. The people we see in these films could be our neighbors or
citizens of the most remote regions on earth. But we come to learn that our
cultures share similar themes and stories only with different characters and
settings.</div>
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Cinema can connect the viewer to those lessons deemed unnecessary
by curricula. A quite solid collection of material, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The National Parks: America’s Best Idea</i> (2009) by PBS and Ken Burns
delves into how the idea of the national park was first introduced. It’s a
story I don’t recollect from my early days in social studies class; however, it’s
very possible the ideas just didn’t form memories. But having an extra visual
component showcasing the wildlife found in Yellowstone could have solidified
that memory. And look at how crisp and stunning HD wildlife footage can be with a series like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Planet Earth</i> by the BBC. Images and creatively
selective content teach the viewer how to appreciate ecosystems and animal
behavior strictly through observation. Less admired animals have some screen time, contributing
to the idea that all members of the animal kingdom deserve your attention. That
connection, no matter how small, can form bonds that change behavior. Below is
why that’s vital. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Today, half of earth’s population lives in another jungle: the
concrete kind. The natural world exists, but it might as well be as far as Mars
for the billions of people who don’t have the time, urge, or travel funds to
experience them first-hand. The doc could be utilized to connect and spark an
interest in those who never would have thought to travel to Yosemite instead of
Disneyland, or the park down the street instead of <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the shopping mall. Keeping people connected to
nature through smart phones and TV is better than nothing at all. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Here at TEI, we want to contribute to the educational video
content on the web and provide the viewer with yet another possible source of
info. Over the next few months, we’re working to create fresh, segmented
YouTube videos (short documentaries) dedicated to animal behavior and cognition.
Our aim is to introduce and expose the viewer to a new perspective about how
our neighbors (animals) behave. We hope some of you enjoy the content and gain
a higher appreciation for how other animals perceive their world. And maybe
you’ll step away with an itch to familiarize yourself with any number of the
credible information mediums from print and digital media.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p><span style="text-align: center;">Filming the new YouTube series Oh, Behave! Starring Elise Gilchrist </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00494273791983899002noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-937300192862251449.post-45338852903083900522014-12-13T21:38:00.001-08:002015-01-27T20:32:57.461-08:00Science Via Creative Writing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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valid movement in education?</b></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times;">By Hunter Doughty</span></i><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">hdwallpaperia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Books-Bokeh.jpg</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">The
campaign to increase and maintain the amount of art that is taught in schools
is a cause for which art supporters the world over have long been petitioning. And
many of these supporters believe that art should not only be a stand-alone
subject, but that it should be integrated in to other subjects such as science.
As a scientist and a writer myself, the idea of using arts as a means of
teaching ‘the facts’ is pretty enticing, but is this cry for integrated
learning simply a fad, or is it in fact a valid claim? It seems that as far as
the fine arts or even the theater arts go, the jury is still out. Some say
activities such as painting or role-playing can effectively teach science
course material, but others disagree <span style="font-size: x-small;">(</span></span><span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Braund 2014; Cross 2014; </span></span><span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Carrera and Arroio
2011; Davis 2007; Evans 2008; Gazzanig 2008; Hosson et al. 2014; Merten 2011;
Odegaard 2014; Pomeroy 2012; Steele 2013)</span>. Interestingly though, what does
appear to be gaining more attention is the use of creative writing.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Ronnie Kaufman/Corbis (Evans 2008)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">In
a study by Ganea in 2011, she found that “</span><span style="font-family: Times;">by 4 years of age, children can learn new biological facts
from a picture book.” This finding was based on kindergarten students answering
questions about camouflage after reading a picture book that described
camouflage in the animal kingdom and its purpose. Additionally, Ganea found
that her students then related this information to real animals in their
experience. This transfer to reality shows the significance of these stories in
shaping the student’s perception of the world. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">Though there are many implications of
this work <span style="font-size: x-small;">(Ballouard et al. 2011)</span>, Jason Derry, a PhD candidate at
University of Denver, believes that one of these implications is that fiction
should be used as a key tool in future teaching of sustainability science.
Derry assessed the views that children aged kindergarten through 4<sup>th</sup>
grade had of various exotic and domestic animal species by having them
write/draw their own stories and pictures about each animal. He found that most
of his students had inaccurate understandings of both species types, and that
elephants (of particular importance to us here are TEI) were the most
characterized. This means that students’ perception of elephants was largely
based on fictional representations of the animal, such as cartoons or books.
Derry believes that these findings further prove that children are shaping
their understanding of nature, and science, using fictional stories, and
therefore we should present children with more realistic fiction. In response
to these findings, Derry has started a publishing house called Oakenday
Press that will publish children’s books specifically aimed at teaching environmental
and ecological lessons. Their first book, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">My
Backyard Elephant</i>, will be available March of 2015.</span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oakenday Press</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">Using narration to
teach sustainability science is important, but in regards to the broader field
of science education, Ganea’s findings still beg the question: how applicable
is this method to teaching more complex concepts? For topics like protein
production in a cell, covalent hydrogen bonding, population density
calculations, or even parallel lighting circuits, can a fictional piece really
teach all of the key components involved so that the student fully grasps the
topic, and is this a time efficient method? It seems to me it would require a
detail-dense novel worthy of the great author Tolkien in order to cover all of
the necessary material in some of these topics. And at that point, I wonder if
the student would even take away the inlaid information or just the
surface-level characters and plot twists. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">To my knowledge, this <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lord of the Cells</i> has yet to be
published, but I would definitely be interested in testing it out if it does
happen to exist. And though I don’t know the practicality of solely using
narration to teach these particularly complex subjects, I do very much see the
validity in using narration to augment traditional methods. In recalling my own
science education, the lessons that I can remember the most are the topics that
were taught to me using some sort of story, or were described in a clear
step-wise (narrative) fashion. For example, I aced my exam on the endocrine
(hormone) system because our teacher seamlessly wove in the cause and effects
of hormone release into stories that started with Sally drinking caffeine,
progressed through the many catalyzed reactions that then occurred in her body,
and then ended with her now feeling more awake and having to pee.</span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">In addition, this use
of fiction to help teach science also applies to students creating their <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">own</i> fictional pieces. There is growing
evidence that writing, and possibly creative writing, can help students learn
scientific concepts <span style="font-size: x-small;">(Keys 1999)</span>. These findings are supported by other research
that demonstrates creating visual art is linked to an increase in a student’s
ability to overcome studious mistakes and persist</span><span style="font-family: Times;">, to envision,
and to empathize <span style="font-size: x-small;">(Hetland et al. 2007; Davis 2007)</span>. If we apply these qualities
to the artistic process of creating fiction it seems likely to me that by
having a student develop a story related to the science they are learning, it
could encourage them to think more critically about the material, develop
innovative approaches to the concepts, and evoke in them an emotional connection
to the topic. All of which could support the student in further understanding
the concepts and better remembering the material.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">As the discussion of art-science integration wages on, it
seems all sides agree that we need more effective means of engaging students in
the sciences, and a greater understanding of how art actually effects young
minds. I believe that based on currently published research, and my own
experiences in learning and teaching science, the use of narration in science
education is a logical and possibly highly effective method for teachers to
employ. Creative verse allows both the author and reader to delve into a story
and become enveloped in its meaning. And if this meaning ties to a scientific
concept, then we may better impassion the next generation to see the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">almost</i> fictional magic of the scientific
world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">www.freewallsource.com/books-wallpaper-10626.html</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">Ballouard,
Jean-Marie; Brischoux, François; Bonnet, Xavier (2011). Children Prioritize
Virtual Exotic Biodiversity over Local Biodiversity. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">PLOS ONE</i>. August.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">Braund, M. (2014). Drama and learning
science: an empty space? <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">British
Educational Research Journal</i>.</span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">Cross,
Chrissy (2014). <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Connections between
inquiry and art, incorporating art into an inquiry based science curriculum</i>.
PhD Dissertation, </span><span style="font-family: Times;">Texas
Tech University. May.</span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">Carrera,
Vanessa; Arroio, Agnaldo (2011). Movies in Natural Science Education. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">New Trends. Natural Science Education</i>.
Volume 3:32, pages 36-43.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">Davis,
Jessica (2007). <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Why Our Schools Need the
Arts</i>. Teachers College Press. New York.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">Derry, Jason (2014). <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Animal
narratives: a case study in how children perceive local and exotic animals,
including animal eating habits and animal placement in human culture</i>. MSc
Thesis. University of Denver. May.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">Evans,
Karin (2008). <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Arts and Smarts</i>.
Greater Good Science Center, University of California Berkeley. December 1.
Accessed December 13, 2014.
http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/arts_smarts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">Ganea,
Patricia (2011). <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Young Children’s
Learning and Transfer of Biological Information From Picture Books to Real
Animals</i>. Child Development, 82 (5), 1421-1433.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">Gazzanig,
Michael (2008).<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Learning, Arts, and the
Brain</i>. The Dana Consortium Report on Arts and Cognition. </span><span style="font-family: Times;">Dana Press. New York</span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">Hetland,
Lois; Winner, Ellen; Veenema, Shirley; Sheridan, Kimberly; Perkins, David
(2007). <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Studio Thinking: The Real
Benefits of Visual Arts Education</i>. Teachers College Press. New York.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">Hosson,
C. De; Bordenave, Laurence; Decamp, Nicolas; Hache, Christophe (2014). <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Learning Science through the Conception of
Comics: the SARABANDES Research Project</i>. France. March.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">Keys,
Carolyn (1999). Revitalizing Instruction in Scientific Genres: Connecting
Knowledge Production with Writing to Learn in Science. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Science Education</i>. Volume 83. Pages 115– 130.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">Merten,
Susan (2011). Enhancing Science Education Through Art. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Science Scope: National Science Teachers Association</i>. October.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">Oakenday
Press. Accessed December 13, 2014. http://www.oakenday.org/<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">Odegaard,
Marianne (2014). Science Theater/Drama. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Encyclopedia
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<span style="font-family: Times;">Pomeroy,
Steven (2012). <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">From STEM to STEAM:
Science and Art Go Hand-in-Hand</i>. Guest Blog. Scientific America. August 22.
Accessed December 13, 2014.
http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/2012/08/22/from-stem-to-steam-science-and-the-arts-go-hand-in-hand/<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18099112345134913258noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-937300192862251449.post-10972679827077714822014-12-04T21:27:00.001-08:002014-12-04T21:27:29.824-08:00Pachyderm Personas!<span style="text-align: center;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Recently
the Instagram blog featured a piece about me (Elise, one of the TEI research
assistants). A couple of weeks ago, a community manager from Instagram sent me
a message saying he had seen my Instagram account and liked my photographs.
After learning more about me he thought my story would be interesting to tell.
It was a fantastic opportunity for me so I accepted and soon after received a
series of interview questions in an email. The questions were great! I talked a
lot about the elephants, living in Thailand as well as my art. I sent it back
and waited to see what sort of story he wrote up about me. The result was a great
piece that you can view here: <a href="http://bit.ly/1y4dqMU">http://bit.ly/1y4dqMU</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I thought
it was interesting that he chose to feature a quote by me as the start to the
blog where I talk about elephant personality. I discuss that one of my favorite
parts about the research we do is getting to see a range of temperaments
between different individuals that come to the site. People respond well to
this idea of elephants being similar to humans in that they have a range of
different ‘personas.’ I thought I would expand on that idea here and showcase
some different examples of the characters we study in Thailand.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When I talk
about personality I mean it in the anthropomorphic sense, as in I am
attributing human-like behaviors and definitions onto a non-human animal. This
is not a valid scientific analysis, but it does allow the reader to understand
these elephants in a relatable way. For example, let me talk about an elephant
we work with named Lynchee. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jKC4CwlPQXw/VIFBvMiJy4I/AAAAAAAAApU/Tbkpfobnrh8/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2014-12-05%2Bat%2B12.08.26%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jKC4CwlPQXw/VIFBvMiJy4I/AAAAAAAAApU/Tbkpfobnrh8/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2014-12-05%2Bat%2B12.08.26%2BPM.png" height="320" width="318" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Lynchee is
eight years old, and when you consider that elephants live to be 65-75 years
old, she is very young. When Lynchee comes to research and there is a new task she
tends to be very engaged. She is quick to learn and when she is paying
attention she goes through trials faster than most other elephants. She is
quick, intelligent and gentle. When she is in this mood she is great to have at
research! However, some days Lynchee shows up and she has an off day, just like
anyone could. She will arrive and act very distracted, moving away from the
apparatus to pull down some close reaching bamboo or backing up to meticulously
pick up every last sunflower seed that is laying on the ground. On days like
these, I feel like I am working with a young child who got bored and does not
want to cooperate anymore. When this happens we end our sessions early and let
Lynchee go back to playing in the grass. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Another
cute personality trait I have seen in Lynchee is quite apparent when her normal
mahout, P’Pong is not there. Mahouts have a 24/7 job. The elephants do not take
the weekend off from eating which means the mahouts work all the time with
their elephants. It is fair for them to take time off and let one of their
friends or family takes over their elephant care duties for a short time. This
happened recently where Pong took some time and our friend L’Lord stepped in.
Lord is an experienced mahout, but he is not the mahout that little Lynchee had
gotten used to. There is no animosity between them but it was apparent at
research that she did not feel as comfortable. The days when Lord brought
Lynchee to research she was extremely distracted, slow to respond to our prompts
and overall looked to be uncomfortable. If we think about this situation from
the human perspective it makes a lot of sense. You can imagine a child that is
normally excited and ready to learn becomes shy and closeted when they are
dropped for school on their first day. All of a sudden the safety and comfort
of the constants in their life (namely the presence of parents or guardians) is
gone. Most of us would probably react this way at this age. I think maybe this
is what goes on with Lynchee. (Good news, Pong is back and Lynchee is doing
great!).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s_cjz7h9DvI/VIFB7aeAALI/AAAAAAAAApc/4A8Cv-KVPBs/s1600/_DSC0014%2Bcopy%2B15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s_cjz7h9DvI/VIFB7aeAALI/AAAAAAAAApc/4A8Cv-KVPBs/s1600/_DSC0014%2Bcopy%2B15.jpg" height="233" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Meet
another one of our research personality queens, Lamyai. Lamyai is another young
elephant, being about fourteen years old (so more of a teenager than Lynchee).
Remember when I said that Lynchee was fast and gentle? Lamyai is more like
faster and borderline violent. I do not mean that she hurts herself or us, but
she may be the cause of a number of bucket deaths (we use a lot of plastic
buckets in our apparatus design). She is a bit bigger than Lynchee so that may
play a part in her destructive nature but I think more of it is her more
rambunctious personality. In general she seems to be stronger in her movements,
and more likely to lose patience. In one of our studies the elephant has to smell
two buckets and try to locate the food in one. For most of the elephants we
need to secure the buckets only by placing them into small metal cages. Not for
Lamyai. When Lamyai shows up it requires zip ties, screws and a research
assistant ready to catch any buckets she decides to hurl into the air. All in
the name of science.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I will
finish up this entry by talking about an elephant that I may admit to having a
crush on. His name is Somjai, and am I right or is he a handsome elephant?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--U729EO0q1Y/VIFCMRSj4SI/AAAAAAAAApk/bqPlQMWa-ok/s1600/_DSC0444%2Bcopy%2B8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--U729EO0q1Y/VIFCMRSj4SI/AAAAAAAAApk/bqPlQMWa-ok/s1600/_DSC0444%2Bcopy%2B8.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Somjai is
in his twenties and has become a research superstar. He is a very big male. The
other elephants I described were young, relatively small females, so when
Somjai saunters over to the research site it is a striking difference. Before I
learned about these elephants I would have guessed that the younger, lady
elephants would be gentle with our equipment and that we would need to be
careful around the big males. It turned out to be the opposite. Somjai is
exceedingly gentle with the equipment. He is much slower and more relaxed than
the other two. He seems in control of his movements. He certainly can get
distracted and is not a perfect test subject, but he is one I can always count
on to leave the research site in one piece when he finishes a session. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I think the
research team gets a unique view into the elephant personalities here. We work
with them for short sessions every day where they are exposed to novel puzzles
and different tasks. We are there to observe how the elephant behaves which
enables us to see, right there in front of us, how the elephants think. It is
an incredible experience.<o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-937300192862251449.post-41524321650816453502014-11-26T06:08:00.000-08:002014-11-26T06:08:03.915-08:00Canines in Conservation<div class="MsoNormal">
Dogs have been trained to assist us in so many different
ways; from retrieving game for hunters to acting as eyes for the blind, they
work for our love and affection. They are also companions for many of us,
providing entertainment and comfort in our households. We often think about the
ways that dogs help humans, but their assistance in the conservation of other
species is not as well known. There are many organizations that employ teams of
dogs in conservation efforts to work alongside scientists, park rangers, and
customs officials.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Fido has been man’s chosen hunting partner for centuries due
to their loyalty and keen ability to track scents. This super sense of smell
doesn’t have to end in a dead animal; it can also be applied to the
preservation of other species. Many scientists have found that dogs are more
efficient and effective than other methods in ecological research. Why are dogs
so effective? The main reason they surpass field biologists and ecologists in
population surveys is their superior sense of smell. They can detect scent 100
million times better than humans and can find multiple odors up to a quarter
mile away<sup>1,2</sup>! So when
evidence of an animal is hidden from our vision, a dog can smell it out,
leading to more accurate estimates of a population. They also are able to cover
ground much faster on four legs than a team of humans<sup>3</sup>. <o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqkpVQVj8zVC2LQZdSL3qyxZBBaqJwQOqdKVZF5WeWUZihTG-1VacRANFGov5GyVdd931t2nWRXfcoYplYg8y8ZpCnPAW94y4-uFtB7cOywkVLTEmB0cZzq-LvaoLq_WYVxLWpN7yDwMJ3/s1600/pepin-work-photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqkpVQVj8zVC2LQZdSL3qyxZBBaqJwQOqdKVZF5WeWUZihTG-1VacRANFGov5GyVdd931t2nWRXfcoYplYg8y8ZpCnPAW94y4-uFtB7cOywkVLTEmB0cZzq-LvaoLq_WYVxLWpN7yDwMJ3/s1600/pepin-work-photo.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://workingdogsforconservation.org/" style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">http://workingdogsforconservation.org/</a></td></tr>
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The assessment of population numbers is one important way
that conservation canines assist scientists with ecological research. They can
be trained to locate live wildlife, for example flushing out birds or finding
nests, which allows the researchers to easily count individuals. They can facilitate
the detection of carcasses, allowing scientists to assess potential
environmental impacts of human artifacts such as pesticides or wind mills. Dogs
can also be trained to herd animals of interest in order to capture and mark
them for further tracking. The predatory instinct of a dog can be utilized to
assess the behavior of other species as well. Scientists can study the behavior
of an animal when a dog is present, acting as a faux predator. This assessment
of anti-predator behavior can be more efficient than waiting for an interaction
with the natural predator to occur <sup>4</sup>. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Humans often use dogs to guard property or protect against
other humans, but they can also be used to protect against other species. The presence of
dogs can help manage human-wildlife conflict by deterring wildlife from human
areas <sup>4</sup>. The Anatolian shepherd was bred in Turkey to protect
livestock from wolves, and the breed is now being employed in Namibia by the Cheetah
Conservation Fund. This organization is providing local herders with these dogs
to reduce conflict between people and cheetahs. With the Anatolian shepherds guarding
their livestock, the local people have stopped shooting and poisoning the
cheetahs <sup>5</sup>. <o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1SP1q4y4HZIti99OLIdEnhkSX5YrRXNLNvcirm_IPRTPLAU-yDFsF2pzBkeBh0SP5liKOIoqOoc4IrPHgIPoL0DfOnZIfcA1WzGYAs8u2joVVynO7l3Nl55_JsX3Iujvw7_OXbZ2NUvx/s1600/livestock-dog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1SP1q4y4HZIti99OLIdEnhkSX5YrRXNLNvcirm_IPRTPLAU-yDFsF2pzBkeBh0SP5liKOIoqOoc4IrPHgIPoL0DfOnZIfcA1WzGYAs8u2joVVynO7l3Nl55_JsX3Iujvw7_OXbZ2NUvx/s1600/livestock-dog.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"> </span><a href="http://cheetah.org/what-we-do/human-wildlife-conflict/" style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">http://cheetah.org/what-we-do/human-wildlife-conflict/</a></td></tr>
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The canine ability to detect animal scat is extremely useful
in determining many characteristics of an animal population. The location of
scat can help establish the distribution of a species in an ecosystem and
provide insight into their use of resources. It is an especially useful
research method when studying species living in dense forest or those that are
more elusive for people to detect. Researchers at the University of Washington
used dogs to detect grizzly bear scat in the Canadian Rockies and determine
whether the bears were coming close to areas of high human density. They also
analyzed the scat for hormones and parasites to assess physiological health
and determine whether the bears in close contact to humans were more or less
healthy than those that stayed away. </div>
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The performance of the dogs used in this
study was compared to a variety of other ecological monitoring methods. The
results of the scat detection showed the same distribution of grizzly bears as
radio collaring them, but at 3% of the cost. The dogs were also able to detect
3 times as many individual bears in every square km than did a hair snag
technique <sup>6</sup>. This demonstrates how scat detection dogs are an
excellent low cost and non-invasive alternative to collaring or trapping
animals in order to learn more about their ecology. These feces finding dogs
have been used to monitor many different species including lizards, jaguars, gorillas
and even whales<sup>6, 7</sup>! Human scientist struggle to find whale scat in
the murky water, but a lab named Tucker’s ability is particularly impressive.
He demonstrates his skill in this video: <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/video/us/100000001745109/salty-dog.html?ref=us">http://www.nytimes.com/video/us/100000001745109/salty-dog.html?ref=us</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Dogs are helping to conserve elephants in several different
ways. There are many teams of anti-poaching dogs throughout Africa helping
rangers track down the humans killing elephants for their tusks. One unit in
East Africa working with the organization Big Life, trains dogs to follow the
human scent on materials or even footprints left behind at a poaching site.
Dogs have led rangers to the poacher’s door as long as a day after the elephant
was killed. This impressive ability has added another deterrent to poachers
since many are afraid of the skills of these hounds <sup>8</sup>. Some
anti-poaching dog units are also being trained as attack dogs to help protect
rangers.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBU4yiS3sNsYV6jIigXXQ3AOzFb7d8l0fMA8g4O29jz59ccUjocBQQHzl-mVT5SSz3CJY2Fvaa5OcnNRH0-GluBaC4E1CqJT3wFlsTrqqeBUQSYz3rs-MNRDB4QGoPLiWqX9Mm7rdv_xMq/s1600/antipoachingdogs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBU4yiS3sNsYV6jIigXXQ3AOzFb7d8l0fMA8g4O29jz59ccUjocBQQHzl-mVT5SSz3CJY2Fvaa5OcnNRH0-GluBaC4E1CqJT3wFlsTrqqeBUQSYz3rs-MNRDB4QGoPLiWqX9Mm7rdv_xMq/s1600/antipoachingdogs.jpg" height="265" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">https://biglife.org/on-the-ground/dogs-save-elephants-big-life-s-tracker-dogs</span></td></tr>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Other pooches are working with customs officials to fight
the ivory trade by sniffing out elephant tusks traveling illegally through
airports and shipping ports. The dogs are able to search luggage much more
efficiently than humans and to do so without bias. The addition of two sniffer
dogs, Cooper and Lumi, to the Gabonese government’s detection team has
motivated the other law enforcement agents to work harder in friendly competition with the dogs <sup>9</sup>. Using dogs to combat the trade of illegal wildlife could make it
harder for corrupt officials to allow ivory trinkets or endangered animal skins to pass
through customs. It’s difficult to bribe a canine who knows a play reward
awaits the discovery of these wildlife products. <o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0FYa_q_OheJSPvuCuZxaTvI9yKpK3CJ9x10cy9hC2ZMHJ7_rqOsMTkp3UwkFCl1uj1ngr6_oJCFBem3IV8SkoPQiubk3wOa6EY_4JqtaqNIzZu6cJnQ6PLXgtxuAU6kLJD5lLuLloFx0V/s1600/ivorysniffingdogs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0FYa_q_OheJSPvuCuZxaTvI9yKpK3CJ9x10cy9hC2ZMHJ7_rqOsMTkp3UwkFCl1uj1ngr6_oJCFBem3IV8SkoPQiubk3wOa6EY_4JqtaqNIzZu6cJnQ6PLXgtxuAU6kLJD5lLuLloFx0V/s1600/ivorysniffingdogs.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">http://www.awf.org/projects/canine-detection-unit</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Countless pups are employed to help us and the many other species we are working to conserve. Their abilities far exceed humans in detecting invasive plants,
illegal snares, and evidence of animals. They can travel quickly over large
areas and be used in remote places, as long as a handler can keep up! The dogs' sense of smell is even refined enough to distinguish between scat from two
individuals of the same species. The possibilities are endless for training
dogs for future employment in conservation efforts! Amazingly, the only payment
that these pups require comes in the form of fuzzy tennis ball or a bout of tug
of war with their human partner. Dogs are certainly the best friend of man and through conservation work they can be a
friend of wildlife as well. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Here are a couple of organizations training and implementing
teams of dogs in conservation efforts:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://workingdogsforconservation.org/">http://workingdogsforconservation.org/</a>
& <a href="http://conservationbiology.uw.edu/conservation-canines/">http://conservationbiology.uw.edu/conservation-canines/</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Resources<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><sup>1</sup>Syrotuck, W. G. 2000. Scent and the scenting
dog. Second edition. Arner Publishing, Rome, New York, USA.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><sup>2</sup> Bryson, S. 1991. Search dog training. Howell
Book House, Chicago.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><sup>3</sup> Mecozzi, G.E., & Guthery F.S. 2008.
Behavior of walk-hunters and pointing dogs during northern bobwhite hunts. Journal
of Wildlife Management. 72, 1399-1404.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><sup>4</sup> Dahlgren, D. K. et al. 2012. Use of dogs in wildlife
research and management. Pgs 140-153 in N. Silvy, editor, Wildlife Techniques
Manual, Vol. 1, 7<sup>th</sup> ed. The Wildlife Society Inc. Washington D. C.,
USA.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><sup>5</sup> <a href="http://cheetah.org/what-we-do/human-wildlife-conflict/">http://cheetah.org/what-we-do/human-wildlife-conflict/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><sup>6</sup> <a href="http://www.conservationbiology.uw.edu/">http://www.conservationbiology.uw.edu/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><sup>7 </sup><a href="http://workingdogsforconservation.org/">http://workingdogsforconservation.org/</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><sup><span style="color: windowtext;">8 </span></sup>https://biglife.org/on-the-ground/dogs-save-elephants-big-life-s-tracker-dogs<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><sup>9</sup> http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/25/world/africa/poaching-stinks-dogs-sniffing/</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Sarah Jacobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16687672432339638215noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-937300192862251449.post-83042704222837154932014-11-21T23:00:00.000-08:002014-11-21T23:02:27.285-08:00Helping Eles for the HolidaysTis’ the season for giving, and what better to give to than our cause for elephants!<br />
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Think Elephants International would be grateful to have your support for our elephant research and educational programs. From now until December 31st we’ll send you, a friend, or a family member, a custom holiday card from our research station here in Thailand as a thank you for your donation of $25 or more.<br />
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Card Option #1<br />
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Card Option #2<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVOyg2MZoZ2JLmozFWOSS6UhgXrfQmpXbeqFqCsKiBTj4FOAhoHI395H9_G_d4fWKPFFJfaY4gFy5uvk1Q37_0tPxcnYed-48ZqyvwXG78GAlks0EFuU2-0HmKfweYuJ0XFqYzKzTJT6hi/s1600/elecard2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVOyg2MZoZ2JLmozFWOSS6UhgXrfQmpXbeqFqCsKiBTj4FOAhoHI395H9_G_d4fWKPFFJfaY4gFy5uvk1Q37_0tPxcnYed-48ZqyvwXG78GAlks0EFuU2-0HmKfweYuJ0XFqYzKzTJT6hi/s1600/elecard2.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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Card Option #3<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifF1MFlGPD3BB4Zg-6EtSqxOu-bzY7CUIvh8mpcgTDcCYAxwdPA1SkqmekiY_pzIRfvkL7pZrMjPd9OvmhTFdqufMtECB5b2DfJEW4mgSGV8qqjzXP8ZX4Jx8bDYNIY6yDANf6NbSnDUru/s1600/elecard4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifF1MFlGPD3BB4Zg-6EtSqxOu-bzY7CUIvh8mpcgTDcCYAxwdPA1SkqmekiY_pzIRfvkL7pZrMjPd9OvmhTFdqufMtECB5b2DfJEW4mgSGV8qqjzXP8ZX4Jx8bDYNIY6yDANf6NbSnDUru/s1600/elecard4.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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Giving is easy! Make a donation through our <a href="http://thinkelephants.org/pages/DonationPage.html">Paypal site</a> and we’ll send a follow-up email asking where you would like your holiday card sent, and which of our three custom elephant cards you would like us to use.<br />
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* Donations can be made in the name of the donor or a recipient of your choice.<br />
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* Donations may be tax deductible! Think Elephants International is a 501(c)3 non-profit foundation, and tax receipts can be issued for your contribution.<br />
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* Mail from Thailand can take several weeks to arrive in the United States, and thus a delivery date cannot be guaranteed.<br />
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* Promotion ends December 31st.<br />
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Donate Here: http://thinkelephants.org/pages/DonationPage.html<br />
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<br />Sarah Jacobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16687672432339638215noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-937300192862251449.post-36698873350513096962014-11-20T06:18:00.002-08:002014-11-20T06:18:26.947-08:00Elephants in the Media: 10 Sources to Start<div class="MsoNormal">
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As I sit on an elevated bank beside the Mekong
River, a natural transport system carrying water and debris from as far as Tibet, I begin
reading the early news stories of the day. Fishermen and shipping vessels
cruise with and against the current as they continue their ordinary rituals. With my handy electronic mobile device, I am given the power to swipe my finger
in a few directions, tap away at various concentrated pixels, and access the
inter-webs faster than this sentence reads. A vast plethora of knowledge exists
on that little radiant rectangular screen. I can read stories of the world from
the most credible sources while sipping my early morning cup of joe. How lucky we are and how grateful I am to have such
access!</div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Especially intriguing is when the wrinkly, lumpy,
mammoth sized creatures we study here at TEI make the headlines. Because they
can be so majestic, and equally goofy, media coverage surrounding
elephants exists from corner to corner of the web. But since there are so many writers spreading elephant knowledge, it can be overwhelming to know where to begin your journey. With this
blog entry, I want to facilitate that initial awakening as you learn more about
elephants. Whether this is your first exposure or you’re an elephant guru, I
hope you can enjoy this quick collection of media coverage and allow it to send
you further into the deep end, a place full of information and knowledge of
elephant culture, biology, behavior, intelligence, and conservation.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Links 1-5 featuring work by Dr. Joshua Plotnik,
Founder and CEO of Think Elephants International </span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1. WHYY's program "Radio Times" tunes you
into a conversation with Dr. Plotnik, along with </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dr. George Wittemyer, an
African elephant expert, to address global elephant conservation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://whyy.org/cms/radiotimes/2014/09/04/saving-african-elephants/"><span style="color: blue;">Radio Times: Saving Elephants</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2. At the recent International Primatological
Society Conference in Hanoi, Vietnam, Dr. Plotnik explains the complex
terminology of convergent cognitive evolution and why we study elephants. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(See end of podcast)</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.cicasp.pri.kyoto-u.ac.jp/node/316"><span style="color: blue;">The
Primate Cast</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3. The New York Times "Science Take"
examines our most recent publication on elephant reassurance and empathy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/28/science/elephants-give-a-helping-trunk.html">The New York Times: Elephant Empathy</a></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4. The Science Channel's program "Through the
Wormhole" takes a look at elephant intelligence and self-awareness through
mirror self-recognition...with the soothing voice of Morgan Freeman.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.sciencechannel.com/tv-shows/through-the-wormhole/videos/are-elephants-self-aware.htm"><span style="color: blue;">Through the Wormhole: Are Elephants Self-Aware?</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5. Discovery Magazine covers <a href="http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2011/03/08/elephants-give-each-other-a-helping-trunk/#.VG2llFesUak"><span style="color: blue;">Elephant Cooperation</span></a> and how elephants can work together to complete a task.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And elephants in the news around the globe...</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">6. Learn about the complex situation of elephants in
Myanmar as the country begins to expand its borders to travelers from every corner of the globe.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://thewildlife.wbur.org/2014/11/12/the-half-captive-half-wild-elephants-of-myanmar-a-quirky-road-to-survival/"><span style="color: blue;">The Wild Life: The Half-Captive, Half-Wild Elephants Of
Myanmar</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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7. What does it take to complete a census of every
elephant population in Africa? In order to save something, its important to know how many of them exist. Find out how it's done with graphics, photos, and videos with this interactive magazine. Africa Geographic: Edition 1<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Africa <a href="http://magazine.africageographic.com/weekly/issue-1/"><span style="color: blue;">Geographic: Where The Giants Still Roam</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">8. As gentle as you may think elephants can be, they
can potentially be dangerous in both captivity and the wild. Those who live
next to wild elephant populations are at risk every day. Learn more about how
Indian scientists are combatting the problems of human-elephant conflict with the use of technology as
elephant habitats are destroyed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2014/10/asian-elephant-sms-saving-indian-lives-201410226391849714.html"><span style="color: blue;">Asian Elephant SMS Saving Indian Lives</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">9. Dr. George Wittemyer discusses his recent work
revealing the magnitude of African elephant poaching and the ivory trade. <a href="http://today-archive.colostate.edu/story.aspx?id=10353"><span style="color: blue;">George Wittemyer @ Colorado State University</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">10. From the Smithsonian National Zoological Park,
learn about human-Asian elephant conflict in Sri Lanka from several
perspectives. <a href="http://nationalzoo.si.edu/SCBI/ConservationGIS/projects/asian_elephants/conflict.cfm"><span style="color: blue;">National Zoo</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And of course, check us out at <a href="http://thinkelephants.org/">thinkelephants.org</a> to
learn more about what we do and how to get in touch. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By no means is this a complete list of
elephant information...it will always keep changing and evolving. Surely there
are several credible sources emitted, but I wanted to compile some
of the information I have recently come across to help the reader generate a holistic learning experience with elephants. I hope this aids that process. I also hope that each of these links will send you to ten more links as the Internet tends to do. If you have any suggestions of your favorite elephant articles, be sure to
send them my way at daniel.dixon@thinkelephants.org<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thanks and enjoy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00494273791983899002noreply@blogger.com78tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-937300192862251449.post-59374705024877143872014-11-03T08:12:00.000-08:002014-11-04T04:58:12.466-08:00In The Morning Hours<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">By Hunter Doughty</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The peach-red sky splayed across her doorstep. Infiltrating into
the darkened room, it creeped across her apartment aback the cool a.m. breeze.
She stumbled out of grogginess to pull on khaki shorts and her usual blue
t-shirt. The familiar logo stretched proudly across its front. She braided her
lengthy blond hair and brushed her teeth.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Gathering datasheets, cameras, laptop, and phone, she zipped
up the ever-burdened backpack and slung it over her shoulder. With a final
jingle of her keys, she walked out the door.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Across the landing were two similarly dressed comrades. With
sleepy smiles they exchanged hellos and headed down the stairs. A second pair
of logo-bearing shirts met them at the motorbikes, and they were off. A caravan
of research clothes, backpacks, and scientific minds.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The humidity of rainy season had given way to crisp fall
mist that chilled her bare legs along the curved road. They drove on, passing
shopkeepers opening their stalls for the day, monks collecting alms from the
pious, and town dogs milling sanguinely about their familiar turf.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was an awakening commute. The cold air mixed with fresh
surroundings to bring her into full consciousness of the day ahead. She flicked
on her right blinker and slowed into the gated drive. Passing from asphalt, to
gravel, to dirt, the motorbikes navigated their way down the slim road that wound
along the Ruak River and its surrounding grasslands.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On the final turn she caught sight of them. The grand creatures
that had become a staple in her daily life. With gray wrinkles, rounded backs,
gently flapping ears, and swaying trunks, they could only be elephants.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Parking their bikes, the team filed out to the research
station and began setting up. Buckets of sunflower seeds, objects testing
sensory modality, and tripods for documentation, were all a part of the
proverbial routine.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Glancing down the drive she could see a large bull elephant
and his mahout making their way towards them. Somjai was a handsomely tusked
male whom they worked with often.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With everything in place, and the 4,000 plus kg pachyderm
standing before them, they began their study. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With a content smile she watched the dexterous movements of
Somjai’s impressive trunk, and the methodical way he passed from bucket to
bucket in search of the correct answer. This is my life, she thought. Research
with elephants in the morning hours.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTkxHtJGwpxfcjkUkqhcqkKml17Wt4i8lpuh4ArVAcXlXHCVqmIxUiZo8ohBuK9cobSmBLLEMnvHh3BvxC8SPMS0-X7yMlmOvXbTcQ2pkwhWxkOjWgQ0yvI0xlyWFI-OXAhZU7ZZ1EzUk/s1600/_DSC0622_DxO-1+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTkxHtJGwpxfcjkUkqhcqkKml17Wt4i8lpuh4ArVAcXlXHCVqmIxUiZo8ohBuK9cobSmBLLEMnvHh3BvxC8SPMS0-X7yMlmOvXbTcQ2pkwhWxkOjWgQ0yvI0xlyWFI-OXAhZU7ZZ1EzUk/s1600/_DSC0622_DxO-1+small.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18099112345134913258noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-937300192862251449.post-14270483246163595202014-10-21T01:38:00.002-07:002014-10-21T01:38:58.775-07:00From Idealistic to Idea-Driven: 16 Months and Still Learning<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Hi everyone, this is Elise. I am
one of the research assistants working for Think Elephants International. I
have been living in Thailand for about 16 months now, and have started to
reflect on how my attitudes and perceptions about science, conservation, and my
future have changed over the past year and a half. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I graduated
from a small liberal arts college in the summer of 2013 and two weeks later
hopped on a plane to Southeast Asia. I was excited and nervous and in many ways
idealistic. College, at least the one I attended, was fantastic for a lot of
reasons. It pushed me to think critically and pursue my interests, but it was
also a bubble. A small, unrealistic cocoon where I could get outraged at
deforestation, seethe about climate change, and in total safety and comfort,
imagine how I would change the world. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I will
admit that I am still very idealistic and in some ways more passionate about
conservation than when I left college, but I have also had a number of my ideas
and views change over the past year and a half. I decided to write a short blog
series about a number of these views and the experiences I have had that made
me more realistic about my thoughts and more driven toward my goals. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xSoloRU7g_k/VEYa-hR4agI/AAAAAAAAAng/SXk5Zyg_4xE/s1600/_DSC0197%2Bcopy%2B12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xSoloRU7g_k/VEYa-hR4agI/AAAAAAAAAng/SXk5Zyg_4xE/s1600/_DSC0197%2Bcopy%2B12.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is me (Elise) and my friend Am.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In this
entry I am going to discuss a misperception that I had about the non-profit
world and more specifically about donations. I will start with a quick anecdote
about something that happened when I first arrived in Thailand. I was listening
to Dr. Plotnik talk to a small group of people about elephants. He was
discussing why he started the non-profit, Think Elephants International, and
about the future of the species. I was listening and enjoying when all of a
sudden I heard him say, “If we don’t make changes now, we likely won’t have any
elephants left in the wild in 50 years.” I was shocked. Fifty years? I would
still be alive then! When I had previously thought about the extinction of
large, charismatic species like the elephant, I thought there was no way they
were that close to being lost forever. I thought it would be hundreds or
thousands of years before we got to that point, but no, as Dr. Plotnik
explained Asian elephants only have around 15% of their original habitat left.
I was truly shocked.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Immediately
I thought we have to get this information out there. If people just knew how
dire the situation was they would be sure to support our efforts to save such
an intelligent species. So I started working these facts and statistics into
Facebook posts, presentations I was giving, as well as direct calls to actions
to potential donors. What result did I get? Polite smiles, some questions, an
occasional short-lived upset, but no one jumping out of their seats to help us.
How could this be? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>After that
I started noticing where donations went and how donors chose to use their
charitable gifts. The biggest trend I saw in Thailand was tourists wanting to
sponsor an elephant. There are a number of organizations in Thailand that are
working to protect captive elephants and give them better lives and many of
them have utilized the ‘adopt-an-elephant’ plan. That way someone can come to
this country, interact with an elephant in real life, and pledge money to an
individual they feel a personal connection with. This also gives them a very
tangible product of what their gift went to. I am in no way condemning the
foundations that run programs like this nor the kind people who have had their
hearts melted by an elephant here. I did however become fascinated by this
phenomenon and started researching.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It turns
out what I was witnessing is common across most non-profits. Instead of using
shocking statistics that explain the scope of the problem, these organizations
get much more traction through storytelling. We have probably all experienced
this at some time or another, not necessarily in direct relation to a
charitable cause. When you feel a personal connection to something, you are
much more likely to act or speak out than when you have heard some statistics
that are not directly relatable to your life. An example would be hearing
statistics that funding for arts programs in public schools has decreased over
a given amount of time. This may or may not make you upset but when you hear
about a school that your child or a child you are close with attends is cutting
music and art classes you get more upset and more likely to take action.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It turns
out part of what is at play here is a cognitive bias shared by most, called
scope insensitivity. A study conducted back in 1992, asked participants how
much they would pay to save birds from drowning in uncovered oil ponds. The
subjects of the study were told that 2,000, 20,000, or 200,000 migrating birds
were dying each year from the issue. The results were that subjects were
willing to pay $80, $78, and $88 respectively, which quite obviously does not
reflect the difference in scope between the three initial values. Why does this
happen? Join me quickly for a thought experiment. First, try to imagine one
bird, struggling in an oil spill, with its flight feathers dripping and its
whole body fighting to stay alive. Now try to imagine 2,000 birds doing the
same thing. Now try 200,000 birds. It’s not easy, if possible at all to conjure
up that image, whereas our brains had a much easier time thinking of that one
individual and likely feeling emotional about the one sick bird as opposed to
the 200,000 dying ones.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A lot of
non-profits are tapping in to this aspect of human behavior. Instead of using
statistics and facts, charities are looking for stories about individuals they
are affecting. Telling the story of a young child whose life was changed by a
generous donation is heartwarming, cold statistics are not. So how does Think
Elephants International put this to use? It is something we are working on but
because of the type of work we do here, we have struggled to find the right
narrative. We are working to save the species as a whole by learning more about
Asian elephant intelligence and by educating students about the importance of
protecting wildlife. These are large-scale goals so finding the smaller stories
within them can be difficult. I would love your feedback about what stories you
think we should tell. What do you respond to from our website or Facebook page
or blog? Do you have any ideas for the team here in Thailand? We would love to
hear from you either in the comments to this blog or by sending an email to
info@thinkelephants.org.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Sources<o:p></o:p></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #1c1c1c; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Desvouges,
William F.; Johnson, Reed; Dunford, Richard; Boyle, Kevin; Hudson, Sarah;
Wilson, K. Nicole (1992). <a href="http://rti.org/pubs/bk-0001-1009_web.pdf"><span style="color: #274fad; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">"Measuring
Non-Use Damages Using Contingent Valuation: An Experimental Evaluation of
Accuracy"</span></a>. <i>Research Triangle Institute Monograph</i> <b>92–1</b>.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-937300192862251449.post-55295478933611833732014-10-09T01:45:00.000-07:002014-10-09T01:45:27.421-07:00Social Networking for Animals?<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
When we hear the words “social
network,” most of us think about the worlds of social media on Twitter and
Facebook. An ecologist or animal behaviorist may think of a different type of
social network, a model of the social connections between animals, not
utilizing the internet. A social network is most simply a set of social units
and the relationships between them, represented by nodes and edges respectively<sup>1</sup>.
A human social network could be developed where an individual is the social
unit or node and the ties between each individual or edges are determined by their
association. This association between people could be defined by a number of
different connections, maybe phone calls between them or just being friends on
Facebook. <o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBRfpb5AmcyUE1zj8HAD-tLzRen6XMHVJUomQRbYGn0zXDJ-iXoEX_cux_IEkFhUuuZ6dqo3biCMDSRVUnjKVMbOcLHvdCHfaQI7IdZuQBpfc53rmBA99pmm3dQN-r1tWYJPplMWEuZHZt/s1600/facebook-sample-lg-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBRfpb5AmcyUE1zj8HAD-tLzRen6XMHVJUomQRbYGn0zXDJ-iXoEX_cux_IEkFhUuuZ6dqo3biCMDSRVUnjKVMbOcLHvdCHfaQI7IdZuQBpfc53rmBA99pmm3dQN-r1tWYJPplMWEuZHZt/s1600/facebook-sample-lg-4.jpg" height="207" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An example of a human social network using Facebook connections. <span style="font-size: xx-small;">http://www.touchgraph.com/facebook </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Let’s imagine trying to develop a social network that exists in a typical high school. As a researcher, you would observe teenagers interacting at different times of day, maybe before school begins and during lunch. The network could be determined by interactions and associations. If you were looking at interactions, you could count every high five or hug between individuals. Associations could be determined by people sitting together at lunch. Mapping these relationships would give a picture of the high school students’ cliques and which individuals bridged between these groups. Other factors could also be analyzed to see what determined these groupings. Were the teenagers associating because they had similar hobbies? Would the stereotypical cliques emerge, with the jocks, band kids, and skaters only associating together? Or would the associations be more strongly related by race or social class? This snapshot of a young population of our society brings insight into the structure of human society.</div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">The study of this type of network
is termed Social Network Analysis (SNA). Scientists create graphical
representations of the network called sociograms to visualize the connections
in a social group and determine its structure. Then mathematical modeling can be used to
detect patterns within the networks.</span><sup style="text-indent: 0.5in;">2</sup><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> These patterns can be compared with other characteristics of the individuals to see which factors determine the social connections. For example, are the social units associating together because they are genetically related or they are a similar age? The network sociograms can convey a lot of
information that would be difficult to graph in other ways, such as the
strength and directionality of the social connections. The strength of the whole social network is determined by the number of connections between individuals relative to the total possible connections. A network can also be analyzed to determine the importance of an individual in the group through the number of connections they have to others.</span><sup style="text-indent: 0.5in;">1 </sup><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">By determining these key players in a network, predictions can be made about the social group. For example, social learning can be predicted using this type of analysis. If an individual who is very central to the network learns a task, it may be predicted that the others in the group will learn that task faster than if an individual on the outside of the group learns the task. Disease transmission can also be predicted by looking at social networks. </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><sup style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAWRoGnJ3jQJAb464UaDXhBVqXiTUkrkkxeKgxYf_5ixb1lSOjjY5f12MfZ94Kj0dFVh7FKhLGgwQHV49dXuNfAkHCQ2Wa9LtJRJsnigWOMHiUn5yp7fkZxVSkhhYMtjtElnge1GlSx-U7/s1600/sociogram.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAWRoGnJ3jQJAb464UaDXhBVqXiTUkrkkxeKgxYf_5ixb1lSOjjY5f12MfZ94Kj0dFVh7FKhLGgwQHV49dXuNfAkHCQ2Wa9LtJRJsnigWOMHiUn5yp7fkZxVSkhhYMtjtElnge1GlSx-U7/s1600/sociogram.gif" height="129" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A human social network within a company, demonstrating that Alan is a central individual.<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">http://hbr.org/2002/06/the-people-who-make-organizations-go-or-stop/ar/1</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</sup></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Analysis of the networks of other species can give us
insight into how their societies are structured differently than ours and the
factors affecting relationships. These factors may be genetic relatedness, age,
or endocrine levels of the individuals. The relationships could also be
controlled by outside factors, such as season or availability of food in the
environment. The insights into social dynamics of an animal population gained
from these analyses are useful for wildlife management strategies and
conservation. It is important to maintain the strength of the social structure
and protect the key individuals crucial for the cohesion of a network. </span><sup style="text-indent: 0.5in;">4</sup><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
Monitoring the social network of a population can determine any effects human activities are having on the well-being of the population.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Social network analysis has helped to clarify the social
organization of both African and Asian elephants and allowed for comparison
between the two species. The analysis of African elephant society has
demonstrated that their society is made up of hierarchical tiers. The most
basic level of association is between the mother and calf, who sometimes group
with other closely related females, and then sometimes with multiple groups of
families, and finally with multiple herds. The elephants grouped into these
different tiers sometimes depending on ecological factors such as food
availability or season.<sup>7</sup> In a study of Asian elephants inhabiting a
national park in Sri Lanka, social network analysis helped determine that most
ties between individuals are weaker than in African elephants. The Asian
elephant network is less interconnected and therefore they cannot have the same
hierarchical structure as African elephants.<sup>6</sup> Another study demonstrated
that there was greater association between Asian elephants in the dry season,
which is very different from African elephants who associate more in the wet
season. It is possible that Asian elephants aggregate in the dry season in
order to access and protect scarce resources. <sup>5</sup></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOCvj0O6nU0UAKW5qNnbEAxlNHj30Gul8D9zVmgZ8Zgb8Mv6_SLYP_4-ZUIhUARiLrugTWn_fvMR03GpjIYrzeE9PUvg5NPVta-2EzzfmVdJf3rNk74kdflQ_AnkrpRoxYP8wz0tensg9n/s1600/elephant+network.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOCvj0O6nU0UAKW5qNnbEAxlNHj30Gul8D9zVmgZ8Zgb8Mv6_SLYP_4-ZUIhUARiLrugTWn_fvMR03GpjIYrzeE9PUvg5NPVta-2EzzfmVdJf3rNk74kdflQ_AnkrpRoxYP8wz0tensg9n/s1600/elephant+network.png" height="203" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: start; text-indent: 48px;">
Social networks of Asian (E. maximus) and African (L. africana) elephants. The strength of the African elephant network is demonstrated by the dense connections between individuals and greater fragmentation when weak ties are removed. <span style="font-size: xx-small;">de Silva & Wittemyer,2012</span> </div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Using a network approach, the social interactions of male
elephants have been further investigated. It was previously thought that male elephants
had very weak social ties, but a recent study has shown that their sociality is
affected by sexual state. When looking at a network of only African males that
were not sexually active, the network appears to be much denser and the
associations between males stronger. SNA allows for these patterns to emerge
and the ability to visualize these male elephant relationships. It was also shown
that sexually inactive males were associating with other males based on age. <sup>8</sup><br />
Social network analysis is an exciting tool for the investigation
of the social structure of many different populations, including our own. Further
research on elephant societies in the wild may show that there are more factors
influencing their society than we currently understand. It will also be an
important tool as we continue to investigate the impact of poaching on elephant
societies. Think about your own social network and the factors influencing the
people who you are connected with. Although our societies are very different,
we form relationships in some of the same ways. Maybe our social groups don't change based on season, but humans do tend to associate with relatives.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicAJwKhU5YyTorwMfZY81-zRYNgYmuyyz0v49wH5zRbWbVLZYnceh9xfbFroL_VnJaCndWgOqdVQ_z1aK4xvgs2Xq4fPtkGPdnIDSAdB8S8uBVHoICoTPtLUat8jBp4Zn0w9XJHgMXx7GT/s1600/IMG_4136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicAJwKhU5YyTorwMfZY81-zRYNgYmuyyz0v49wH5zRbWbVLZYnceh9xfbFroL_VnJaCndWgOqdVQ_z1aK4xvgs2Xq4fPtkGPdnIDSAdB8S8uBVHoICoTPtLUat8jBp4Zn0w9XJHgMXx7GT/s1600/IMG_4136.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two African elephant families hanging out in a river together.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<h1 style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">1</span></sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal;">Wasserman S. & Faust K. 1994. Social network analysis: </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal;">methods and applications. In: Granovetter M, editor. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal;">Structural analysis in the social sciences. Cambridge: </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal;">Cambridge University Press. 825.</span></h1>
<h1 style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">2 </span></sup><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal;">Freeman LC. 2004. The development of social network </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal;">analysis. Vancouver, BC: Empirical Press.</span></h1>
<h1 style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">3 </span></sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Brent L., Lehmann J., & Ramos-Fernandez G. 2011. Social network analysis in the study of non-human primates: a historical perspective. American Journal of Primatology. 73, 720-730.<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<h1 style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">4</span></sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> <o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal;">Lusseau D, NewmanMEJ. 2004. Identifying the role that animals </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal;">play in their social networks. Biology Letters. 271:S477–S481.</span></h1>
<h1 style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">5</span></sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> de Silva S.,
Ranjeewa A., & Kryazhimskiy S. 2011. The dynamics of social networks among female
Asian elephants. BMC Ecology. 11:17.<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<h1 style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">6</span></sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> de Silva S. & Wittemyer G. 2012. A comparison of social organization in Asian elephants and African Savannah elephants. International Journal of Primatology. <o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<h1 style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">7 </span></sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Wittemyer G., Douglas-Hamilton I., & Getz W. M. 2005. <o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal;">The socioecology of elephants: analysis of the processes </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal;">creating multitiered social structures. Animal Behaviour. 69, 1357-1371.</span></h1>
<br />
<h1 style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">8 </span></sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Goldenberg S., de Silva S., Rasmussen H., Douglas-Hamilton I., & Wittemyer G. 2014. <o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal;">Controlling for behavioural state reveals social dynamics among male </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal;">African elephants, Loxodonta africana. Animal Behaviour. 95, 111-119.</span></h1>
Sarah Jacobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16687672432339638215noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-937300192862251449.post-27568040345773182292014-10-03T18:35:00.001-07:002014-10-03T18:35:51.137-07:00Chemical Communication: The Language of Love<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><i>By: Dan Dixon</i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">This
is a story about smelling your friends. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Friday
night is on the horizon. You can’t see it, hear it, or touch it, but you can
smell it. You’ve had a hectic week burdened with traveling to and fro, paired
with the daily stresses of being a nomad. It’s finally time to relax and share
some quality communication with individuals of your own species. You’re
mid-stride, maybe ten minutes from the local watering hole, when you begin
picking up some low frequency vibrations. It sounds like a fiesta of sorts and
the DJ is playing your favorite tunes. You naturally get excited and return a
signal or two back towards the party to let them know you’re on the way.
Fortunate for some, and unfortunate for others, you’ve been experiencing a
constant, concentrated urine drip, similar to a leaky faucet, dispersing
odorous compounds every which way. Even more flattering, a dense liquid is
oozing from your face. The ooze source is an almost unnoticeable crater above
the eye, coming from an area known as the temporal gland, symmetrically located
on both sides. For you, it’s just that time of the year when your urine, dung,
breath and parts of your face constantly emit chemical signals for a period of
time ranging from a few weeks up to a few months. Chances are, and luckily for
you, some females at the party will find you irresistible for reasons they
can’t explain. And more often than not, they already got the cue that you’re in
town for the night. This sounds like a typical Friday evening spent searching
for potential mates, does it not? Did I mention you are a teenage male elephant
in musth? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">In
this segment, I want to use this casual scenario as a model to introduce the
ways in which Asian elephants rely on the signaling and reception of chemicals
in reproductive settings. Take a step away from your computer screen and delve into
the wrinkly skin of the teenage male so we can address some of the smells
you’ve been emitting, and also those you’ve been receiving from potential
companions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Science
has been working to empirically support the claims that Asian elephants depend
on their ability to recognize, distinguish, process, and react to different
chemicals signals. We’ve learned that the main uses of chemical signals have
roots in reproduction and societal integration. To communicate from
male-to-female, female-to-male, male-to-male, and female-to-female, both
directly and indirectly, pheromones are emitted to reach the senses of another
individual. Coming from the Greek words pherein (to carry) and hormone (to stimulate),
pheromones are an extremely efficient way to communicate without the potential ambiguity
seen in vocal, or body communication. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Not
only seen in the elephant, pheromones are utilized throughout the animal
kingdom. First appearing in 1959, bombykol was discovered in silkworms to act
as a female-to-male attractive chemosignal. Since then, scientists have been
discovering several different compounds used for different messages. It’s also
not only used for sexual memos. Did you ever wonder how ants travel in synchrony
to and from their home? Hint: They are not watching the feet of the guy in
front. With scent producing glands all over their body, ants emit from 10 to 20
chemical odors with high hopes of reaching their fellow comrades. Their method
of chemical detection is just as important to receive and process that information.
That’s where antennae play a role. They are super sensitive and can distinguish
direction from the concentration of chemicals in the air. The processing of
these signals is almost instant, thus providing an extremely efficient method
of communication. When thinking about writing this piece, I naively assumed
that chemical signaling was a strictly terrestrial feat only utilized by land
animals. Can marine wildlife also utilize the chemical sense to talk the love
talk?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">According
to a paper on chemical signals in the marine environment, a variety of
organisms rely on smells emitted from others to make conversation. For example,
lobster urine carries important information for courtship, dominance, and
individual recognition. Lobsters have been shown to locate odor sources by
controlling three different water currents up to one meter in front of their crunchy
self, then detecting minuscule variations of scents. The authors also discuss
various methods used by fishes, marine mammals, mollusks and crustaceans. It is
quite amazing how widely adapted these animals can be at communicating in their
own distinct way. In elephants, we’ve observed their ability to use olfactory
cues (smells), as their primary sense. So it would be totally reasonable for
elephants to have adapted some sort of chemical language as well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Let’s
return to the party scenario. Remember, you’re a young, bull elephant secreting
chemicals through liquid that vaporizes and disseminates into the air. As a
male, you are sending signals to both males and females of your current status.
Without saying a word, your signals are saying to the females, “I am ready to
court you” and to the males, “Watch out, avoid me.” Your urine and dung are being
dispersed and absorbed by the earth and plants. According to some elephant pee
experts, in multiple increments your urine volume can reach up to 160 liters throughout
the day. These secretions are being left behind for elephants traveling behind
you, but also for individuals in the proximate area.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Just
like the ant and the antennae, the receiving conspecific needs a way to detect
and process the chemical signal. The signal passes through the vomeronasal
organ (VNO) at the roof of the elephant mouth. By carrying the signal from its
origin and placing the tip of their trunk to the VNO, the elephant can process
the levels of different chemicals. This behavior, coined the flehmen response,
can be used to measure the level of interest an elephant may have for that
individual. The VNO then sends signals to the olfactory bulb and ultimately to
the neocortex (for processing and motor purposes) and to the limbic system (for
memory purposes). For more on the flehmen response and VNO organ, scope previous
research assistant Dan’s blog here </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">bit.ly/<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">1E6EFcn. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">So the party is going smoothly. You think you’ve found your mate, but as
soon as you make your move, another mature, much-more-macho bull elephant
enters the scene. Since you’re still young, your period of musth, maybe around
a month, is much shorter than his, reaching up to three months. He’s been
perfecting his style for years, if not decades. Your urine and secretions have
a sweeter honey-like smell, but are still odorous and full of metabolites
representing your heightened arousal and testosterone levels. However, his
scent is obnoxious. It is dense and it reeks; he is producing 60x more testosterone
than normal. Time and genetics are also on his side. Researchers have shown
that older elephants, like him have a more attractive scent. His behavior is
also more erratic and dangerous. That odor contains a much higher degree of a
pheromone called frontalin; it’s attracting the most readily available females
and keeping other males out of the way. As he approaches, you also retreat,
knowing your power is no match. Unfortunately, your luck strikes out for the
night and you hit the road riding solo once again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">I’m sorry to tell a story without a happy ending, but it’s realistic. The
young male will prevail as future encounters change for the better. He is
learning. It’s the same type of learning that the other large bull went through,
completely necessary for social, complex creatures like elephants. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is just a quick tale of how chemical
signals are used though. I would have to write a seven volume novel series, and
then adapt it into a screenplay to tell the full story of elephants and
chemical communication. The vast spectrum of the </span><span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">chemical language still holds many questions, so future
research will hopefully address some of those inquiries to really learn how
these animals are connecting. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Below is a photo of Pepsi (currently in musth) with Buathong speaking their language.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><u>Sources</u></span></div>
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signals in the marine environment: dispersal, detection, and temporal signal <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>analysis. PNAS. 1995 (1) 62-66<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Daniel JC. 1998.
The Asian elephant: a natural history. Dehra Dun, India: Natraj Publishers. <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>306p.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00494273791983899002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-937300192862251449.post-4560892934610979252014-09-24T09:35:00.001-07:002014-09-25T22:38:03.745-07:00Honey I Forgot The Kids<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Parent investment strategies across the animal kingdom
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By Hunter Doughty</div>
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It is not uncommon for potential parents to think about the
amount of time, money, or attention, they could provide to their future
children. We all want the best for our kids, right? But is this desire to give
our offspring the greatest chances for success, or even survival, limited to
human beings? Most definitely not. In fact, all animals have strategies for
reproducing. And each one of them is attempting to optimize the survival rate
of their offspring given their particular circumstances. In ecology, we refer
to these evolutionarily refined tactics as ‘parent investment strategies’.</div>
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In general, all animals can be placed along a spectrum
spanning two opposing approaches to reproduction. These two approaches are
known as R strategists, and K strategists. In essence, an R strategist values
quantity over quality. They are animals that use sheer numbers of offspring to
increase their overall chance of having successful progeny. K strategists, on
the other hand, value quality over quantity. These animals invest more energy
into fewer offspring to increase each individual offspring’s chance of success.
The letters R and K are derived from the mathematical formulas that show
biological population trends, but we won’t go into all of that today.<sup>1</sup></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMObt1B3LtkMn9YqQEqkdyfoXGkptajSi-VfikcA2stelsalPPW7GB_h4q9p4sPXpmCL1F633QxcvajR51GOyJbHDpkLo3kL71SGT-5ouYfvgt0mq_Hb2XuE6wZfKuyEIUM3L2iKCc0n8/s1600/RvsK+Strategists.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMObt1B3LtkMn9YqQEqkdyfoXGkptajSi-VfikcA2stelsalPPW7GB_h4q9p4sPXpmCL1F633QxcvajR51GOyJbHDpkLo3kL71SGT-5ouYfvgt0mq_Hb2XuE6wZfKuyEIUM3L2iKCc0n8/s1600/RvsK+Strategists.tiff" height="81" width="640" /></a> </div>
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Let’s first start with a true R strategist to understand
some of the factors at play. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Musca
domestica</i>, better known as the common housefly, is an insect found across
every inhabited continent. Its life cycle includes the following stages: egg,
larva, pupa, and adult. On average, a female will lay between 75 to 150 eggs in
a single batch, and will lay multiple batches throughout her adult life, totaling
an approximate 500 eggs. Each egg contains a single offspring that can go from
egg to adult in 6.5 days, and at most, in 58 days. Once an adult, it will reach
sexual maturity in as little as 36 hours, and will survive between 15 to 60 days.
Astonishingly, this means that in theory “a pair of flies beginning reproduction
in April, may be progenitors, under optimal conditions and if all were to live,
of 191,010,000,000,000,000,000 flies by August.” <sup>2, 3, 4</sup></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXduA9P_zkIEaFhaRW8KvW0wz4nAZErI3fmYx15zSjkQ4VM099ptpXV5yUxdw52KMOOJsF5COtoOKFRYuCoEq2qIpm31O0z0jL52Mgo_YVv2bpfzByWwX69IyxUos7IMq4QBsDnkFB1T0/s1600/wp-House-fly-1680x1050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXduA9P_zkIEaFhaRW8KvW0wz4nAZErI3fmYx15zSjkQ4VM099ptpXV5yUxdw52KMOOJsF5COtoOKFRYuCoEq2qIpm31O0z0jL52Mgo_YVv2bpfzByWwX69IyxUos7IMq4QBsDnkFB1T0/s1600/wp-House-fly-1680x1050.jpg" height="250" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Musca domestica</i> (Ref 10)</td></tr>
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The common housefly illustrates a number of key traits
associated with R strategists: extremely fast maturation time, large number of
offspring produced, precocial offspring (meaning they do not need to learn
behavior from their parents in order to survive), high mortality rate of
offspring, almost no parental care, and a very short life span. This
combination of traits makes for a species that is highly adaptable due to their
fast generational turnover. And this fact is why R strategists are usually extremely
successful in disturbed habitats such as cleared forests, or temporary habitats
such as a pile of trash. As shown by the ubiquitous housefly, many invasive
pest species fall under the category of R strategists. <sup>1, 5, 6</sup></div>
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On the complete opposite end of the spectrum, we find our K
strategists. A prime K strategist example is our very own <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Elephas maximus</i>, a.k.a. the Asian elephant. A female Asian elephant
carries her calf for 18 to 22 months before giving birth (that’s almost <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">two years</i>, and its the longest gestation
period of any mammal!). The calf then takes an average of three to five years to
fully wean off of its mother’s milk, and will not reach sexual maturity until
its teens. A male usually reaches sexual maturity around age 14 to 15 and is
then known as a bull. At this point he will join a bachelor herd, and will
likely not have access to females until he is around age 30, due to the
dominance of other older males. A female will reach sexual maturity at about
age 14-16, and will usually have her first calf around age 18 to 20. An adult
female, known as a cow, can give birth to a single calf every two to four years
under optimal conditions, and on average has five to six (and a max of ten)
calves throughout her lifetime. A female will stay in her mother’s herd for her
entire life, continually learning from the older females. <sup>7, 8</sup></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijLvfSVhXZvwVPlspSluAaZXKCGAcs144bH7HDdU0LLrW6_j2w-RtVM5Ub5DaEQ6E9PXxw68G7h0ZPmQvLuMRyj2s_lWDi6mVU-KbnOs_wB4auJxISm6UU3rqduNvEySn-lJ_7RQ15-SA/s1600/_DSC0405_DxO+smallTEIblog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijLvfSVhXZvwVPlspSluAaZXKCGAcs144bH7HDdU0LLrW6_j2w-RtVM5Ub5DaEQ6E9PXxw68G7h0ZPmQvLuMRyj2s_lWDi6mVU-KbnOs_wB4auJxISm6UU3rqduNvEySn-lJ_7RQ15-SA/s1600/_DSC0405_DxO+smallTEIblog.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boonjan and baby Denra here in the Golden Triangle</td></tr>
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The Asian elephant’s long-term parenting is a clear
depiction of what it means to be a K strategist: very slow maturation time, a
few number of offspring produced, larger offspring relative to R strategists, altricial
offspring (meaning they must rely on their parents for survival when they are
born), lower mortality rate of offspring relative to R strategists, immense
parental care, and a long potential life span. <sup>1, 9</sup></div>
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How this particular parental investment strategy relates to
conservation is important. Because of the life history traits associated with K
strategists, these species are often the ones most impacted by human induced
change such as loss of habitat due to development, or direct population declines
due to hunting. And unfortunately, these same life history traits also mean
that these species tend to be the most difficult to save once their numbers have
been significantly depleted. </div>
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When trying to save a K strategist species, like the
elephant, a conservationist has to deal with the fact that an individual of
this species is only going to reproduce a few select times over many years. Furthermore,
that group of progeny will then take another many years in order to reach
sexual maturity so that they may produce the subsequent generation. Which means,
that if protection measures are to be effective, they have to be successfully
implemented throughout the duration of a vastly large temporal scale. They
require the investment and cooperation of many groups, governments, and
citizens, to maintain efforts long enough for a species to increase its
population to a stable, and self-sustaining, level.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsUa6m5MXhH-xI4Nhay0bXqFf2c_LK1y3_JXeay6zSdlPE49rglkx3FBf4CjDcncJRctqTpge5Y9ZKUD1CQQLwxq1Zc4AM-aLY9OLkA6t-_u11zhOUxMska2I1HPwYxRCA_AzN8YXc71M/s1600/453691-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsUa6m5MXhH-xI4Nhay0bXqFf2c_LK1y3_JXeay6zSdlPE49rglkx3FBf4CjDcncJRctqTpge5Y9ZKUD1CQQLwxq1Zc4AM-aLY9OLkA6t-_u11zhOUxMska2I1HPwYxRCA_AzN8YXc71M/s1600/453691-001.jpg" height="157" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Herd of African elephants (Ref 11)</td></tr>
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Across the animal kingdom there are a variety of species
that fall somewhere between our two extreme examples. A leatherback sea turtle
for example has a long life span, but still lays many eggs at a time that must
hatch unprotected and immediately fend for themselves. While a grey wolf, who
has a much shorter life span, produces fewer offspring over the course of its
lifetime and instead chooses to invest more energy into each young. With all of
these parenting tactics in mind, if you yourself are debating whether to have
many children with hopes that at least one of them will make it to the
professional big leagues, or to only have a single child so that you can afford
the best coaches in the country to optimize their training, then just remember that
you are not alone in strategizing how best to reproduce.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4WQ5R1CMdy6phhyphenhyphenug7_h1pdMu58DAuIAQVggsb3zOYs9sOdS4fI6-gH77m4E7efsEUyBT1gvre3J7jwhr2u8XgAY6_pDkti54Rbw1GBOathCdhrFG9IvyU9WMCbNJLETyBkrrxT7CUto/s1600/208271_17762349064_5967_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4WQ5R1CMdy6phhyphenhyphenug7_h1pdMu58DAuIAQVggsb3zOYs9sOdS4fI6-gH77m4E7efsEUyBT1gvre3J7jwhr2u8XgAY6_pDkti54Rbw1GBOathCdhrFG9IvyU9WMCbNJLETyBkrrxT7CUto/s1600/208271_17762349064_5967_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leatherback sea turtle hatch-lings, Costa Rica</td></tr>
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References:</div>
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<sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">1</span></sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> jaredreser.com/Background/Biology/randkstrategies.htm</span></div>
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<sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">2
</span></sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">hentnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/urban/flies/house_fly.HTM</span></div>
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<sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">3
</span></sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">the-piedpiper.co.uk/th6a.htm</span></div>
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<sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">4
</span></sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Housefly</span></div>
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<sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">5
</span></sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">llink.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4020-8644-1_18#page-2</span></div>
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<sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">6
</span></sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/487821/r-selected-species</span></div>
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<sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">7
</span></sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">http://library.sandiegozoo.org/factsheets/asian_elephant/asian_elephant.htm</span></div>
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<sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">8</span></sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">un.or.id/documents_upload/publication/Giants%20on%20our%20hands.%20Proceedings%20of%20the%20International%20workshop%20on%20the%20domesticated%20Asian%20elephant.pdf#page=205</span></div>
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<sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">9
</span></sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/309092/K-selected-species</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">10 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span>howsyourrobot.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/wp-House-fly-1680x1050.jpg</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">11 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></span>cache1.asset-cache.net/gc/453691-001-african-elephant-herd-kenya-gettyimages.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=x5iQdYk1Kw%2FnAnImWLpHeJN1UgwER5wTTq9RXS240c4%3D</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18099112345134913258noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-937300192862251449.post-28922954220547559912014-09-14T16:54:00.001-07:002014-09-14T16:54:45.912-07:00An Anecdote to Accompany our Assessment of Anthropomorphism<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<i><span style="color: #666666;">By: Elise Gilchrist</span></i></div>
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This blog is written as a follow-up
to a piece I wrote recently about anthropomorphism and whether or not it is
negative to anthropomorphize in the scientific world (http://bit.ly/1t9cfL7). </div>
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I was at a press conference
recently with Dr. Plotnik, the founder of Think Elephants International. We
were at an event in Bangkok and a small conference had been set up to give the journalists
some background information about elephants. There were three ‘elephant
experts’ available, each at their own table. The journalists essentially had
the opportunity to speed date each of the experts by sitting with them and asking
questions for a brief period of fifteen minutes before being shuffled on to the
next speaker. The panel of experts was made up of Dr. Plotnik, to discuss
elephant cognition and conservation, John Roberts, the head of the Golden
Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation to discuss captive elephant management, and
Tony Nevin, an elephant osteopath to talk about elephant physiology and health.
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I was shadowing Dr. Plotnik at the
press conference, something I always find beneficial because he has a way of
talking about our organization and discussing the research in a way that is
scientific but also relatable. That was not what I found most interesting, however.
Dr. Plotnik, because he was speaking to three different groups for a short
amount of time, wanted to get across the same information in each round, but
because this was not a rehearsed speech, there were slight variations each time
in how he presented the work. He described the elephant cognition research to
each group and I noticed something interesting when he talked about the study on
cooperation. For one of the groups he noted, “The elephant had to learn to
stand and hold the rope without pulling, waiting for its partner to walk over.”
The reporters were intrigued and asked more questions about the implications of
the work. We moved on to the next group, but this time when describing the same
study, Dr. Plotnik said, “The elephant had to learn to stand and hold the rope
without pulling, waiting for its <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>friend</u></i>
to walk over.” Instantly the group reacted with smiles, laughs and questions.
It was a palpable emotional response from the group. I believe this might have
been due to the phrasing he used, and specifically attributing our
anthropocentric notion of friendship to the elephants engaging in the task. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QmJ-xKlJ9q8/VBYqVn7iajI/AAAAAAAAAms/dlQhZxQik_A/s1600/_DSC0130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QmJ-xKlJ9q8/VBYqVn7iajI/AAAAAAAAAms/dlQhZxQik_A/s1600/_DSC0130.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr. Plotnik speaking at a different event. This was at the International Primatological Society's Conference in Hanoi, Vitenam.</td></tr>
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There are certainly other factors
that may be at play in this one instance. For example, it is highly likely that
the groups we were talking to were comprised of different human personalities
that were predisposed to react differently to the information. It is also
conceivable that it was something else in the way Dr. Plotnik presented the
information. Regardless, there was one specific difference between the two speeches,
the only one I picked up on, and it was the slight variance in wording. It was
a difference that made the study relatable to human behavior.</div>
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I have also witnessed this effect
as a result of information I was presenting about elephants. Here at Think
Elephants International, we interact quite a bit with guests at the Anantara
Golden Triangle Resort and Spa. A part of what we do is teach guests about all
things elephant. During one of these experiences I was describing the social
structure of wild Asian elephants. At first I used the term “matriarch” and
described her important role as ‘the oldest living female.’ This did not get
much of a response from the family I was talking to. Time to try another
tactic. I tried again and this time described the family group of all related
females, with the oldest living female as the leader, sort of like a
grandmother taking care of her daughters and granddaughters. Instantly they
understood and were maybe able to relate their family life to elephant family
life. </div>
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Again these are merely anecdotes,
but they do potentially offer a trend. Maybe as scientists talking to the
general public, we should be less worried about giving information as it’s
presented in a peer-reviewed journal or textbook and instead try to find ways
to talk about science so it is comprehendible and even relatable to our
audience. The more ways we can find to better communicate science and
conservation messages, the better equipped we will be as a global community to
make decisions about our world. If used with careful consideration, maybe
anthropomorphism is a tool that can be utilized do just that. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-937300192862251449.post-44170687906143643152014-09-02T07:27:00.000-07:002014-09-02T07:27:46.820-07:00Technology in Conservation<br />
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Technology permeates most aspects
of modern human society, and in recent years, this has come to include methods
that specifically address our surrounding ecosystems as well. Several
technologies have been developed of late that have both direct and indirect
applications in conservation. These range from the monitoring of animal
populations using radio collars or unmanned airplanes, to websites that allow
important information about human activities within an ecosystem to be readily
accessible. And all of these technologies have proven useful tools for the
protection of elephants among other species.</div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Global Positioning System (GPS)
collars have been widely used as a conservation tool for over 50 years. The
collars allow scientists to track animal movements in order to determine
migration routes and habitat use. Animals are immobilized, fitted with collars,
and the data from their movements is collected at intermittent periods. Then, using
this information, a picture of their locations over time can be generated to show
a map of the animal’s home range. This technology is useful in conservation,
especially for animals inhabiting dense forested areas where human observation
is limited. In more recent years however, real-time monitoring of animal
movements has become possible with technological advances. Instead of
collecting stored data about animal positions every week, the data can be
streamed continuously for analysis. This allows an analyst to visualize the
position or trajectory of a collared animal in a geographical information
system (GIS) within minutes of its occurrence</span><sup style="text-indent: 0.5in;">1</sup><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">. This technology has
the potential to better protect species that are either under immediate risk of
hunting or are likely to frequently interact with humans as a threat.</span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://wildlife.followit.se/files/sidbilder//whitetail-kernel1-1-537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://wildlife.followit.se/files/sidbilder//whitetail-kernel1-1-537.jpg" height="336" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">The home range of a white-tailed deer based on GPS i</span>nformation<sup>7</sup></span></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">Particularly in African elephant
conservation, real-time monitoring with GPS collars has enabled researchers to
monitor the safety of individual elephants and the communities that surround
elephant habitat. There are currently over 90 elephants across Africa being
tracked</span><sup style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">2</sup><span style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">. Rangers can use the acquired knowledge
of elephant movements within a particular ecosystem to best design their patrol
routes in order to protect against poachers. Additionally, the technology can
also recognize immobility of a collared elephant. This means that if the
individual does not move out of a critical radius an alert can be made to wildlife managers about the possibility of an
injured elephant, likely due to poaching</span><sup style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">1</sup><span style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">. Rangers can then be
deployed to the site of immobility in an attempt to arrest any present poachers
and potentially save the injured elephant.</span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgARx_cyy5sRZV94XgRnqZVc4T-KVj9dKXaRPps8ddFUxZVsrKl6w8QNmIRr0Em7qsU-YhnxwsU3rjwiY5IBcqtJEtXt8mbFIUOMdeRc8QEYLZX-o588miknnz_MElrkU-6jzT7K30LFIsX/s1600/IMG_4489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgARx_cyy5sRZV94XgRnqZVc4T-KVj9dKXaRPps8ddFUxZVsrKl6w8QNmIRr0Em7qsU-YhnxwsU3rjwiY5IBcqtJEtXt8mbFIUOMdeRc8QEYLZX-o588miknnz_MElrkU-6jzT7K30LFIsX/s1600/IMG_4489.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-indent: 48px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A bull elephant wearing a GPS collar in Samburu, Kenya</span></span></td></tr>
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This tracking technology can also
be used to prevent human-elephant conflict. This is accomplished through the
analysis of geographic intersections, or geofencing. A geofence is a virtual
fence line erected around human settlements that can send alerts to wildlife
managers if a collared elephant approaches within a certain distance of the
line<sup>1</sup>. This allows communities to be notified if potential crop-raiding
elephants are close. Farmers and rangers can then attempt to deter elephants
from eating crops, and drive them away from their village, before the
elephant’s damage to a farmers’ livelihood incurs the anger of the farmer. Over
time elephants may also learn to avoid these areas where they are harassed and
to travel through safer corridors<sup>3</sup>. <o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmntdy5KnhbEsGSpWfme3tPfUyTXf6sg-5GWIojuknQbaj1aEjOIm8iXl9CCwq4PuAexlD2XynjjUcv8SghuMfDC2ufEb5odcUFKQ4YEw5a3x_Udj5LBP9EDCcY1RpP5bQWPsl4chVIHCB/s1600/Geo-Fencing-text-message.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmntdy5KnhbEsGSpWfme3tPfUyTXf6sg-5GWIojuknQbaj1aEjOIm8iXl9CCwq4PuAexlD2XynjjUcv8SghuMfDC2ufEb5odcUFKQ4YEw5a3x_Udj5LBP9EDCcY1RpP5bQWPsl4chVIHCB/s1600/Geo-Fencing-text-message.jpg" height="149" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A text message alert from an elephant crossing a geofence<sup>2</sup></td></tr>
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Drone technology, historically used
in the military, has also recently been adapted for use in conservation. One
NGO, Conservation Drones, is working to promote the use of these unmanned
aerial vehicles in surveying wildlife, mapping ecosystems, and supporting the
enforcement of protected areas. The conservation drones are small motorized
planes with navigation systems and high definition cameras. The major advantage
of this technology is that it can reduce the cost and time associated with
traditional ground surveys, especially in dense forest where human access is
difficult. Several of these drones have already been used to conduct a census
of the orangutans living in a national park in Sumatra, and to monitor seabird-nesting
activities along the coast of Australia. They have also been used to protect
elephants in Nepal, and several countries in Africa, by expanding surveillance
of illegal activity such as poaching<sup>4</sup>.</div>
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<sup><o:p></o:p></sup></div>
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Although
drones seem to be a beneficial, low-cost conservation tool, a lot of skepticism
exists about their use as surveillance technology. The success of conservation
projects depends greatly on the support of the surrounding communities, and
using drones could alienate the local people. If they feel as though they are
being spied upon, then this technology could make relationships with local
communities worse, undermining their desire to cooperate in conservation
projects<sup>5</sup>. There is also a fear of the technology falling into the opponents’
hands. If poachers are able to hack into the drone technology, they could find
target animals even easier. Security of this technology is therefore extremely
important to maintain in order for them to be considered an effective
surveillance tool. The public stigma associated with drones may have to change
for them to prove successful in conservation efforts.<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqMYeKDYAgLKG4ZeJgU8YkUkAu3wu0AZTWIA5FA8dVr8RmeBN05iNkxYJ01DZu-2Gm3Ri-9w132haldcUnzXzMFth8Ch3Yvj32-lelC0zsv4bWPpK8ueyginDD2ghTecImJUQmdzE8CgM/s1600/drone-collage-of-nests2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqMYeKDYAgLKG4ZeJgU8YkUkAu3wu0AZTWIA5FA8dVr8RmeBN05iNkxYJ01DZu-2Gm3Ri-9w132haldcUnzXzMFth8Ch3Yvj32-lelC0zsv4bWPpK8ueyginDD2ghTecImJUQmdzE8CgM/s1600/drone-collage-of-nests2.jpg" height="151" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-indent: 48px;">Photographs of orangutan nests in Sumatra taken by a drone</span><sup style="text-indent: 48px;">8</sup></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Information
is widely available in the current digital age and more platforms for
publically available information are being created with conservation in mind.
One of these global databases is a website called WildLeaks, which provides a
secure platform for users to share anonymous information regarding wildlife and
forest crime. The organization is composed of professionals with backgrounds in
law enforcement, security, and investigations. They analyze and evaluate the
information received, then decide to launch an investigation or share the
information with law enforcement and the media. The goal of the organization is
to encourage the sharing of information without the fear of losing anonymity,
so that enforcement agencies can more successfully break down the coordinated
criminals of wildlife trafficking<sup>6</sup>. WildLeaks has even recently
received three separated tips related to the ivory trade in East Africa
allowing them to start investigations into the ivory trafficking that is
endangering elephants in this area<sup>3</sup>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To
further promote awareness through technology, other organizations have embraced
a public platform where they can provide transparency about conservation
issues. One of these groups is Eyes on the Forest, which has partnered with
Google Earth and multiple NGOs in Indonesia to create maps of the deforestation
occurring on the island of Sumatra. This island is one of the only places where
Asian elephants, tigers, and orangutans co-exist, so it is a critically
important habitat to preserve. Eyes on the Forest has created these maps for
the public to clearly see where the locations of wildlife ranges, national
parks, and legal logging or palm oil plantations occur. They hope this
transparency will both allow the community to identify where illegal activities
may be occurring, and to place greater public pressure on companies driving
deforestation<sup>3</sup>. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTXjVqVeetzp4Y_z2xBNr4qjeT6lPJV_Cx0W5MIvR3h-ox83zO1jspJQIvkSL9-axSJbQZ8W4c6ruSqSPlFVNzMh67kGCb9rURGIgei03FgiM7Jhp2t6SL-sTjIYP-bvggPx537JP6122d/s1600/eyesonforest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTXjVqVeetzp4Y_z2xBNr4qjeT6lPJV_Cx0W5MIvR3h-ox83zO1jspJQIvkSL9-axSJbQZ8W4c6ruSqSPlFVNzMh67kGCb9rURGIgei03FgiM7Jhp2t6SL-sTjIYP-bvggPx537JP6122d/s1600/eyesonforest.jpg" height="187" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A map of Sumatra showing forest cover in 1985 (light green) compared to 2009 (dark green) created by Eyes on the Forest <sup>9</sup></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<sup><o:p></o:p></sup></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The
combination of technology at work on the ground, in the sky, and via online platforms,
is an exciting new hope for the future of many species. It is allowing for conservationists to take alternate and possibly more effective measures to protect individuals
at immediate risk, and take-down larger scale networks of environmental
threats. Both the African and the Asian elephant are among these species. Through the use of these technologies we can improve our knowledge of their habitat use, implement
better techniques to protect them from poaching, and develop management practices
that reduce conflict between humans and these magnificent animals.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> Resources</span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><sup>1 </sup>Wall, J., Wittemeyer, G., Klinkenberg, B.,
& Douglas-Hamilton, I. 2014. Novel opportunities for wildlife conservation
and research with real-time monitoring. <i>Ecological
Applications</i>, <i>24, </i>593-601.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><sup>2</sup> savetheelephants.org<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><sup>3 </sup>thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2014-08-21/how-technology-transforming-conservation-efforts-worldwide/transcript<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><sup>4</sup> conservationdrones.org/mission/<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><sup>5</sup> theguardian.com/environment/blog/2014/jun/26/using-drones-save-elephants-rhinos-backfire<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><sup>6</sup> news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/02/140210-wildleaks-wildlife-crime-trafficking-whistleblower/<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><sup>7</sup>wildlife.followit.se/projects/tellus-gpsgsm-study-of-white-tailed-deer-in-suburban-philadelphia<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><sup>8 </sup>blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/2012/09/27/drones-help-conserve-sumatran-orangutans-wildlife/<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><sup>9 </sup>http://maps.eyesontheforest.or.id/</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Sarah Jacobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16687672432339638215noreply@blogger.com164tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-937300192862251449.post-70080762661993251662014-08-26T02:10:00.000-07:002014-11-20T01:17:33.127-08:00Elephants in the Media: 10 Top Stories<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As I sit on an elevated bank beside the Mekong
River, a natural transport system traveling from as far as Tibet, I begin
reading the early news stories of the day. Fishermen and shipping vessels
cruise with and against the current as they continue their ordinary rituals.
With my handy electronic mobile device, I am given the power to swipe my finger
in a few directions, tap away at various concentrated pixels, and access the
inter-webs faster than this sentence reads. A vast plethora of knowledge exists
on that little radiant rectangular screen. I can read stories of the world from
the most credible sources while sipping my early morning cup of joe. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How lucky we are and how grateful I am to have such
access!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Especially intriguing is when the wrinkly,
lumpy, mammoth sized creatures we study here at TEI make the headlines. Because
they can be majestic and goofy at the same time, media coverage surrounding
elephants exists all over the web. But since there are so many people talking
about them, it can be overwhelming to know where to dive in first. With this
blog entry, I want to facilitate that initial awakening as you learn more about
elephants. Whether this is your first exposure or you’re an elephant guru, I
hope you can enjoy this quick collection of media coverage and allow it to send
you further into the deep end, a place full of information and knowledge of
elephant culture, biology, behavior, intelligence, and conservation.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Links 1-5 featuring work by Dr. Joshua Plotnik,
Founder and CEO of Think Elephants International </span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1. WHYY's program "Radio Times" tunes you
into a conversation with Dr. Plotnik, along with Dr. George Wittemyer, an
African elephant expert, to address global elephant conservation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://whyy.org/cms/radiotimes/2014/09/04/saving-african-elephants/"><span style="color: blue;">Radio Times: Saving Elephants</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2. At the recent International Primatological
Society Conference in Hanoi, Vietnam, Dr. Plotnik explains the complex
terminology of convergent cognitive evolution and why we study elephants. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.cicasp.pri.kyoto-u.ac.jp/node/316"><span style="color: blue;">The
Primate Cast</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3. The New York Times "Science Take"
examines our most recent publication on elephant reassurance and empathy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/28/science/elephants-give-a-helping-trunk.html"><span style="color: blue;">New York Times: Elephant Empathy</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4. The Science Channel's program "Through the
Wormhole" takes a look at elephant intelligence and self-awareness through
mirror self-recognition...with the voice of Morgan Freeman.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.sciencechannel.com/tv-shows/through-the-wormhole/videos/are-elephants-self-aware.htm"><span style="color: blue;">Through the Wormhole: Are Elephants Self-Aware?</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5. Still relevant, Discovery Magazine covers Dr.
Plotnik's <a href="http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2011/03/08/elephants-give-each-other-a-helping-trunk/#.VG2llFesUak"><span style="color: blue;">Elephant Cooperation</span></a> study.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And elephants in the news around the globe...</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">6. Learn about the complex situation of elephants in
Myanmar as the country begins to expand.<a href="http://thewildlife.wbur.org/2014/11/12/the-half-captive-half-wild-elephants-of-myanmar-a-quirky-road-to-survival/"><span style="color: blue;">The Wild Life: The Half-Captive, Half-Wild Elephants Of
Myanmar</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">7. What does it take to complete a census of every
elephant population in Africa? Find out how it's done with Africa Geographic:
Episode 1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://magazine.africageographic.com/weekly/issue-1/"><span style="color: blue;">Where The Giants Still Roam</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">8. As gentle as you may think elephants may be, they
can potentially be dangerous in both captivity and the wild. People that live
next to wild elephant populations are at risk every day. Learn more about how
Indian scientists are combatting the problems of human-elephant conflict as elephant
habitats are destroyed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2014/10/asian-elephant-sms-saving-indian-lives-201410226391849714.html"><span style="color: blue;">Asian Elephant SMS Saving Indian Lives</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">9. Dr. George Wittemyer discusses his recent work revealing
the magnitude of African elephant poaching and the ivory trade. <a href="http://today-archive.colostate.edu/story.aspx?id=10353"><span style="color: blue;">George Wittemyer @ Colorado State University</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">10. From the Smithsonian National Zoological Park,
learn about human-Asian elephant conflict in Sri Lanka from several
perspectives. <a href="http://nationalzoo.si.edu/SCBI/ConservationGIS/projects/asian_elephants/conflict.cfm"><span style="color: blue;">National Zoo</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And of course, check us out at <a href="http://thinkelephants.org/">thinkelephants.org</a> to
learn more about what we do and how to get in touch. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By no means is this a complete list of
elephant information...it will always keep changing and evolving. Surely there
are several credible sources left out here, but just I wanted to compile some
of the information I have recently come across to help the reader have a more
holistic experience learning about elephants. I hope this aids that process.
And if you have any suggestions of your favorite elephant articles, be sure to
send them my way at daniel.dixon@thinkelephants.org<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; mso-ansi-language: ES-TRAD; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thanks and enjoy!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00494273791983899002noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-937300192862251449.post-5014555738046953162014-08-19T08:59:00.000-07:002014-08-19T09:03:40.913-07:00There's Dollars in That Dung<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">By Hunter Doughty</i></div>
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A look at elephant dung and how humans use it.</div>
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I began writing this blog entry thinking I would be able to
find at least a few interesting examples of elephant dung use to talk about,
but to my amazement I was way off. There is not a select few examples, but tons
of examples! Apparently, elephant dung is a hot commodity at the moment (no pun
intended). In my search I came across elephant dung coffee, paper, medicine, beer,
artwork, mosquito repellent, souvenirs, fuel, and shoes. And I am sure there is
plenty more where that came from.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRt7CbCtRggV_XMLuDll904CIun-UhhBGyChqrTEqrSIl1aNvl_7sC1boO3OqP28L-Qi5lirLeDnb_ra76h2kMhxx5dUE-Qi9yAT-vVYKWbrAq3_Xi5FGgTdF2FQype9H0xPcx4p27K_0/s1600/elephant-poo-paper2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRt7CbCtRggV_XMLuDll904CIun-UhhBGyChqrTEqrSIl1aNvl_7sC1boO3OqP28L-Qi5lirLeDnb_ra76h2kMhxx5dUE-Qi9yAT-vVYKWbrAq3_Xi5FGgTdF2FQype9H0xPcx4p27K_0/s1600/elephant-poo-paper2.png" height="182" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">thatslikewhoa.com/paper-made-from-elephant-poop/</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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But to answer how elephant dung is so versatile, we must
first learn a bit about the biology. The average Asian elephant eats about
150kg of food <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">per day</i>. Surprisingly
though, an elephant only digests 40-50% of this. Which means that all of that excrement
is extremely nutrient rich. It is full of intact plant material and seeds.
Interestingly, many of these seeds have evolved to only germinate after being
passed through an elephant (sort of like how some plant species have evolved to
only germinate after a fire). Additionally, elephant dung does not smell. This
is likely related to it being so poorly digested. Most smelly excrements
contain high amounts of volatile chemicals, such as sulfur compounds, that are
produced as a byproduct of bacterial metabolism<sup>1</sup>. In elephant dung
however, lesser amounts of organic matter is being broken down, so there are fewer
available compounds for bacteria. Which means less bacterial metabolism is occurring,
and hence, less smelly byproducts.</div>
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Related to those intact fibers, let’s first look at elephant
dung paper. Dung paper is made through the same general process as tree bark
paper, except that the wash and boil phase seems to hold a bit more significance.
To read the full breakdown of the steps to make such paper check out the Thai
Elephant Conservation Center’s<sup>2</sup> website from Chiang Mai, Thailand. Dung
paper seems to be a popular source of revenue in zoos and conservation centers
worldwide where elephant products are used to generate awareness for elephant
conservation needs. Additionally, elephant dung paper has become a part of the
recent eco-friendly movement wanting to promote treeless paper. Companies
targeting an international market, such as Poopoopaper<sup>3</sup>, sell various
paper products made from the excrement of a range of species like elephants,
cows, and horses.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ynmCPoMnXbP1O-SaIpRexMre1VWYCb56KAQ72uu1IosFJzZb0SxSCwLkEiwctA4rQld7-X6r-_gHqNKICoxdOuyGEoaJEX5l7N-WMgY_oR4-ooGBPOeLDLSOyUlRX2zqOZ2BaVC8qkU/s1600/6_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ynmCPoMnXbP1O-SaIpRexMre1VWYCb56KAQ72uu1IosFJzZb0SxSCwLkEiwctA4rQld7-X6r-_gHqNKICoxdOuyGEoaJEX5l7N-WMgY_oR4-ooGBPOeLDLSOyUlRX2zqOZ2BaVC8qkU/s1600/6_1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">elephantdungpaper.com/process.html</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Another eco-friendly use for elephant dung is as a fuel
source. In Africa, the need for heat source fuels is staggering. So many people
need fire for cooking and warmth every day, that deforestation for firewood has
had a significant impact on the landscape of the continent<sup>4</sup>. It is
no surprise then that proponents of reforestation practices have turned to
elephant dung as a viable alternative. Dried elephant dung can be used directly
as a firewood substitute; same as how dried cow patties can be used<sup>5</sup>.
And being such a dense compaction of plant material, these ‘bricks’ likely burn
much longer than their equivalent size in fresh grasses.</div>
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Additionally, scientists in recent years have figured out
how to use elephant dung as a source of natural gas. All of that undigested
plant material makes for a high caloric value substance that is then ‘digested’
in a contained setting where the methane that is produced during bacterial
breakdown can be harvested for use in cooking, heating, and powering things
like water heaters<sup>6</sup>. This technology is being employed in Africa,
Asia<sup>7</sup>, and interestingly, western zoos. Yes, some zoos like the Rosamond
Gifford Zoo<sup>8</sup> in Syracuse, NY, USA, have turned to the mass amounts
of feces they incur as a sustainable way to power their facilities. And the
Munich Zoo in particular has implemented a fairly successful system of using
‘poo power’<sup>9</sup> and solar energy to keep their lights on.</div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgctytQwukifeIVB4zq5iddzYHWxAHzCk2G9CDlK96UQSGXxlyLQLKI34sEcgvLk7H1tueBJyMm71H4lkHP_3WWonXNnn2lwTQC6b_cGoSLtX3AL0b7qyEIVMJtcUZWvm06pkLkAhx4HxQ/s1600/IMG_9322___-560x373.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgctytQwukifeIVB4zq5iddzYHWxAHzCk2G9CDlK96UQSGXxlyLQLKI34sEcgvLk7H1tueBJyMm71H4lkHP_3WWonXNnn2lwTQC6b_cGoSLtX3AL0b7qyEIVMJtcUZWvm06pkLkAhx4HxQ/s1600/IMG_9322___-560x373.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">dswtwildernessjournal.com/cooking-with-elephant-dung/</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Separate from its use as a bio-fuel, elephant dung has now
joined the ranks of species like the civet in creating what some humans would
call an equally important daily energy source, coffee. Right here in the Golden
Triangle the elephants we work with are also being employed by the company
Black Ivory Coffee<sup>10</sup> to produce, or should I say excrete, bitter-free
coffee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to the owner, an
elephants’ gentle digestive track helps to lightly break down the coffee bean,
which can then be harvested and provide for a cup of Joe that is not only “very
smooth”, but contains “flavours you wouldn't get from other coffees,"<sup>11</sup>
(I have a few guesses as to why…). Priced at $520 per pound, Black Ivory Coffee
is one of the most expensive coffees in the world. And although the company
itself is not purely for the benefit of captive elephant management, they do at
least donate 8% of sales back to the elephants here in the Golden Triangle
Asian Elephant Foundation. So, caffeinate on!</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTnqzYWktrP9dvzd6Ifzah6xQMJsYuc7kY1O6xkbrojXRGsFvhjSAI1NjyggqZJHsMcinCJDq_ljHYjEr5d-oyNQOdeVEc61Zc7zegmZ1KsV3Y1LoDpz56B0K2Qfq70BycRhsb0wGwIR0/s1600/970811ea61401da62c03063cc3f9a72e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTnqzYWktrP9dvzd6Ifzah6xQMJsYuc7kY1O6xkbrojXRGsFvhjSAI1NjyggqZJHsMcinCJDq_ljHYjEr5d-oyNQOdeVEc61Zc7zegmZ1KsV3Y1LoDpz56B0K2Qfq70BycRhsb0wGwIR0/s1600/970811ea61401da62c03063cc3f9a72e.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">podroze.onet.pl/kulinaria/tajlandia-black-ivory-najdrozsza-kawa-na-swiecie/jh59h</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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To take this coffee fad even further though, a Japanese
brewery has begun using these coffee beans in their latest stout. Labeled <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Un, Kono Kuro</i>, the Sankt Gallen brewery<sup>12</sup>
believes that their combination of fine brewing and delicately digested coffee
will provide you with a experience as heightened as this Japanese reviewer’s
was: “The combination of bitter and sweet stayed fresh and lingered in my head.
It was a familiar aroma that accompanied me through the entire beer.” If you
are feeling so inclined, you can try the stout for yourself by either
purchasing it online, or ordering it on tap in their shop in Tokyo.</div>
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Lastly, the elephant dung use that surprised me the most was
in the form of art. Chris Ofili is an English Turner Prize-winning painter who
gained particular fame and notoriety by incorporating elephant dung into his artwork.
Starting in 1993 when he first travelled to Africa, Ofili has been using clumps
or smears of dung in his multi-media pieces to add a controversial and arguably
animalistic effect<sup>13</sup>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And in response to Ofili’s work, the UK artist and designer
Insa, created a pair of ten-inch high heels, also made from elephant dung, that
were showcased in a 2010 exhibition highlighting Ofili’s work<sup>14</sup>.
Entitling the shoes ‘Anything Goes When it Comes to Shoes’, Insa wanted to both
experiment with the material and “[teach] himself how to work with a medium
that at first may seem inappropriate.” Well Insa, I can say from personal
experience that having elephant dung on your shoes is actually quite
appropriate, at least when you are an elephant researcher.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwa6FatCbhGvOwNaM1HtjwuepyKiSGS8iJPIgG8Gn1knn97TqOczSDt_eRPqAJTIw8B_PFVSH69f7woU5lDSnwE06ALkW8cPAtX9WGX3NLJbHOHvCOcAfCzMQfjBI1I-weezzrv8jTk-A/s1600/INSA_Anything-goes-when-it-comes-to-shoes_2010_Elephant-dung-Heels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwa6FatCbhGvOwNaM1HtjwuepyKiSGS8iJPIgG8Gn1knn97TqOczSDt_eRPqAJTIw8B_PFVSH69f7woU5lDSnwE06ALkW8cPAtX9WGX3NLJbHOHvCOcAfCzMQfjBI1I-weezzrv8jTk-A/s1600/INSA_Anything-goes-when-it-comes-to-shoes_2010_Elephant-dung-Heels.jpg" height="320" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">see-infos.de/?p=2483 </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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In conclusion, from bio-fuel, to stilettos, to everything in-between,
it seems elephant dung is a resource that humans the world over have come to utilize.
And given the challenges that both wild and captive elephants are facing, I think
that no matter how bizarre the use is, if it provides humans with
another reason to conserve elephants, or just calls attention to elephants as
a species, then it is a good use to me. </div>
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References:</div>
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<sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">1</span></sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/203293/feces</span></div>
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<sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">2</span></sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">elephantdungpaper.com/process.html</span></div>
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<sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">3</span></sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">new.poopoopaper.com</span></div>
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<sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">4</span></sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">elephantswithoutborders.org/surveys.php</span></div>
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<sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">5</span></sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">udzungwa.wildlifedirect.org/category/dung</span></div>
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<sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">6</span></sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">dswtwildernessjournal.com/cooking-with-elephant-dung</span></div>
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<sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">7</span></sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">climate.org/smart-solutions/?p=15</span></div>
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<sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">8</span></sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">treehugger.com/corporate-responsibility/zoo-poo-power-elephant-dung-for-electricity.html</span></div>
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<sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">9</span></sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">edition.cnn.com/2011/10/10/world/europe/elephant-dung-biogas-munich</span></div>
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<sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">10</span></sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">blackivorycoffee.com</span></div>
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<sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">11</span></sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">news.sky.com/story/1022257/elephant-dung-used-to-make-black-ivory-coffee</span></div>
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<sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">12</span></sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">thedrinksbusiness.com/2013/04/elephant-dung-beer-sells-out-in-minutes/</span></div>
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<sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">13</span></sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">barbaryalan.wordpress.com/2010/01/28/less-elephant-dung-in-new-show-by-chris-ofili-at-tate-britain-art-knowledge-news/</span></div>
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<sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">14</span></sup><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">designboom.com/design/elephant-dung-shoes-by-insa/</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18099112345134913258noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-937300192862251449.post-44541660724666863142014-08-13T04:38:00.000-07:002014-08-13T04:38:10.864-07:00Anthropomorphism: A Tendency to be Feared or Favored?<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> <i><span style="color: #666666;">By: Elise Gilchrist</span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><br /></span></div>
Anthropormorphism,
as defined by Wikipedia, is the attribution of a human form or characteristic
to anything other than a human being. This term describes an age-old human
tendency to define our world in ways relatable to our day-to-day lives. We have
used human-like characteristics and descriptions when talking about ancient
deities, describing weather patterns, and discussing our natural world along
with the creatures that inhabit it. Have you ever seen two birds huddled next
to each other and said “Awe, they look like they are in love”? Or have you had
full conversations with your dog, maybe believing they understand a bit of what
you are saying? And have you ever watched the chimpanzees at the zoo and
marveled at how human-like they are? We have all done it; it is one of the many
ways we relate to the very strange world surrounding us.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bne9vbohyK4/U-tLM1SyQoI/AAAAAAAAAlA/wj-d269y1qQ/s1600/_DSC0647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bne9vbohyK4/U-tLM1SyQoI/AAAAAAAAAlA/wj-d269y1qQ/s1600/_DSC0647.jpg" height="320" width="237" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is this dog happy or sad?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Anthropomorphism
however, is a phrase and tendency that is often frowned upon in the scientific
community. Using language that suggests animals have emotions and even intentions
often lacks objectivity. Scientists who study animal behavior have been warned
to rely on what one observes, without equating intentionality to the actions.
For example, when a scientist watches a dog wag its tail, the scientist
describes such behavior as “the dog moved its tail back and forth in rapid
succession,” as opposed to “the dog wagged its tail because it was happy to be
reunited with its owner.” The latter, as you can see, is clearly less objective
and implies an intention that is not necessarily true. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This
concept was more formally put into place with the onset of a field called
behaviorism. This is an approach to psychology and animal behavior research
that proclaims you should study observable behaviors of people and animals as
opposed to the unobservable workings of the mind. One of the founding fathers
of this field is the famous psychologist B.F. Skinner who was staunchly averse
to attributing human-like emotions to any animal. Behaviorism emerged in the
early twentieth century and its influences on scientific thought and research
methods in psychology/animal behavior are still apparent. However, this strict
behaviorist approach has started to dissipate. In recent years, fields devoted entirely
to studying topics like animal personality and non-human empathy, have begun to
emerge. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ECejF_cDuDk/U-tLglNYEvI/AAAAAAAAAlI/bzLfKToaKt8/s1600/DSC08084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ECejF_cDuDk/U-tLglNYEvI/AAAAAAAAAlI/bzLfKToaKt8/s1600/DSC08084.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Are these elephants kissing?<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So the
question is: is anthropomorphism, related to the field of animal behavior and
conservation, inherently bad? To discuss this I want to bring forth a person
whom advocates on both sides have clashed over, Jane Goodall. Jane Goodall is
one of the world’s most famous primatologists, having spent decades studying
the behavior of chimpanzees in the wild. When she started her research in
Africa she had no formal scientific training, and for better or worse, no
pre-conceived biases about how her work should be conducted or recorded. This
means that Goodall did the unthinkable, she named the individuals she was
studying. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Naming your
test subjects is another practice most behaviorists would frown upon. After all,
giving human names to animals may bias you toward interpreting their behavior
using human constructs and emotions. Jane Goodall’s work has been met with
significant amounts of criticism over the years, particularly because she has never
shied from attributing emotion and personality to the chimpanzees she studied.
I will not argue the validity of her work, but I will present it in light of my
own childhood experience. When I was young I was given a book called <u>In the
Shadow of Man</u>, written by Jane Goodall. To this day, characters from the
book like Fifi, David Greybeard and Flo, all still hold a very permanent place
in my memory. The interesting thing about these characters is that none of them
are human. Goodall’s best-selling books have done something no author had done
before: they presented chimpanzee behavior in a way that was both memorable and
relatable to most readers, regardless of their age or involvement in the
scientific community. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AU23TaqF27E/U-tMhmDDH4I/AAAAAAAAAlU/qXYDyXHEr-s/s1600/10616079_10203262191330682_8334103912381502611_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AU23TaqF27E/U-tMhmDDH4I/AAAAAAAAAlU/qXYDyXHEr-s/s1600/10616079_10203262191330682_8334103912381502611_n.jpg" height="320" width="234" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is this horse feeling joyful?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Anthropomorphism
is certainly a tricky subject and there are very good reasons that scientists
should be wary of it when interpreting animal behavior. However, I would argue
that it could be an effective tool when used to educate and enthrall a more
general public. For I know that even after my own intensive undergraduate
training in animal behavior, I cannot recall much about B.F. Skinner’s
experiments, but I can still recount anecdotes about the amazing intellectual
capacities of chimpanzees over a decade after reading Jane Goodall’s book. So,
maybe attributing human characteristics, like names and personality traits, to non-human
animals does in fact hold merit, at least when communicating science and engaging
the general public in important conservation initiatives.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u839Pv3P_e0/U-tMhOhQQxI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/pOS_9Ey94Rs/s1600/1606945_10203262193810744_2659934975853925315_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u839Pv3P_e0/U-tMhOhQQxI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/pOS_9Ey94Rs/s1600/1606945_10203262193810744_2659934975853925315_n.jpg" height="320" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is this bird comfortable in my hand?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If any of
our readers have opinions on this argument we would love to engage in a
discussion. Please comment on this blog if you agree or disagree with the
points I made above. It would be great to hear your take on this!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sources: <o:p></o:p></div>
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“Anthropomorphism” <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Wikipedia:
The Free Encyclopedia. </i>10 August 2014. Web. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthropomorphism">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthropomorphism</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-937300192862251449.post-91877601134488249352014-08-05T08:28:00.000-07:002014-08-05T08:28:27.985-07:00There Is No I in Ecosystem, But There Is A Bit Of Me<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span dir="ltr"></span><br />
<div>
By: Sophie Wasserman</div>
<div>
<br />
</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiEdWct0wccW9PMLg9AIuptOdMIBeGRXNM__IxnYKJGvf_kcDMyyzWl7fa5yZBrqsxk8rgbObyWwv6JwwtbhTw2gn1qYxzuKkzL3T0QM33TdMfNqqdGJ85XGaY0PhOXWsKF1rzERF0UC8/s1600/10524575_10203177638376911_8341997894189921294_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiEdWct0wccW9PMLg9AIuptOdMIBeGRXNM__IxnYKJGvf_kcDMyyzWl7fa5yZBrqsxk8rgbObyWwv6JwwtbhTw2gn1qYxzuKkzL3T0QM33TdMfNqqdGJ85XGaY0PhOXWsKF1rzERF0UC8/s1600/10524575_10203177638376911_8341997894189921294_n.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 14pt; margin-top: 14pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
After
over a year with Think Elephants International (TEI), I have finally
learned to “think elephants.” Of them, about them, for them, like them. I
think elephants in the office, in the field,
and sometimes even in my dreams. I think elephants are stubborn, sassy
and temperamental. I think elephants are brilliant, charming, and
playful. I think elephants have excellent aim when throwing grass at
your head, I think elephants base their estimation
of your character almost entirely on your ability to provide them with
food, and I think elephants deserve a chance to continue their existence
on this planet. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 14pt; margin-top: 14pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
The
ability to “think elephants” is a skill we’re trying to teach to future
generations. One of my favorite lessons in the TEI education curriculum
uses a ball of red string and a little imagination
to teach children that everything in an ecosystem is connected. Called
the Web of Life game, it illustrates the concept that an ecosystem is
made up of inter-related food chains, as well as the idea that elephants
are a key stone species; if you remove elephants
from the equation, the whole complex network falls apart. Often it’s a
turning point in the classroom, a tangible demonstration of just how
co-dependent organisms can be and a breakthrough in terms of a students
understanding of the role they play in their own
environment. It’s inadequate to study an ecosystem without realizing
that you make up an integral part of it. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 14pt; margin-top: 14pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
To me,
the most important part of conservation education is not students
learning facts or figures, but children coming to understand that their
actions have consequences. In the same way that
poor choices can slowly erode our environment, preemptive actions can
save it. This year with TEI made me realize that the true value of our
curriculum lies in the problem solving it inspires, the discussions it
sparks, and the fundamental shift in assumptions
from what’s happening to <i>the</i> environment to what’s happening in <i>my </i>environment.
We are actors, not passive observers, in not only our ecosystem but our
classrooms and communities as well, and the sooner we can get children
to realize their own
agency and ability to affect positive change, the better off our planet
will be.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCowzCaF1Wviul7ZiIzf6vzWbqvZYcsNdG6Ny9wbwRg4nQlkYWs5piBPXitN_UXGLrzYFVI1L477LNNlfyaa_uhypIQ3XfRrglZOh5rq_v4UECOMCjXUET4Nu2Kl-1pHfrbRowA58G1gk/s1600/995064_10152636181987442_1958372485575741146_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCowzCaF1Wviul7ZiIzf6vzWbqvZYcsNdG6Ny9wbwRg4nQlkYWs5piBPXitN_UXGLrzYFVI1L477LNNlfyaa_uhypIQ3XfRrglZOh5rq_v4UECOMCjXUET4Nu2Kl-1pHfrbRowA58G1gk/s1600/995064_10152636181987442_1958372485575741146_n.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 14pt; margin-top: 14pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
I have
frequently joked to friends, family, and Earthwatchers that it’s “all
downhill” from here: no job could ever live up to the unbelievable
experience of the past year with Think Elephants.
I worked with an incredible team, with an intelligent species, and in
indescribably beautiful country. In truth, however, I leave TEI facing a
long road uphill, inspired by my work here to continue fighting for the
conservation of endangered species everywhere.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 14pt; margin-top: 14pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
Finally,
thank you to all of TEI’s friends and fans for the enthusiastic,
unwavering support; we could not have come so far without you. Get ready
for another fantastic year with new team members
<a href="http://bit.ly/1kkIDqP" target="_blank">Sarah</a>, <a href="http://bit.ly/1lwuxhl" target="_blank">Hunter</a>, and <a href="http://bit.ly/1noytAG" target="_blank">Dan</a>!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7k02Ec44Ur8ab5EZlCeK7huNVTDjTzAGKZL1At1MU5KHWICdzbbBjX2dPNcJK224Avd-ytNYOoiLiFBQSuLLbZSCzG5-gWj2X_tnjG6QFhFSLibi5sHkXqnvnPD4Z-vbyVad3MHhjAo/s1600/1412446_10202005789321417_1330151486_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7k02Ec44Ur8ab5EZlCeK7huNVTDjTzAGKZL1At1MU5KHWICdzbbBjX2dPNcJK224Avd-ytNYOoiLiFBQSuLLbZSCzG5-gWj2X_tnjG6QFhFSLibi5sHkXqnvnPD4Z-vbyVad3MHhjAo/s1600/1412446_10202005789321417_1330151486_o.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 14pt; margin-top: 14pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18099112345134913258noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-937300192862251449.post-70751445832373271742014-07-28T23:02:00.001-07:002014-07-29T18:07:05.570-07:00Final Thoughts<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #999999;"><i>by Rebecca Shoer</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One year ago, I was a fresh-faced college graduate heading
into the great unknown. A Biology and
Neuroscience major who had only left the US once in her whole life, I was eager
(and, to be frank, terrified) at the prospect of living for a year in a developing
country. My only exposure to Thailand
had come from a passing knowledge of <i>The
King and I </i>lyrics and a love for our on-campus Thai restaurant. <i>But at
least</i>, I thought, <i>I know something
about elephants</i>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90Scig1Ha109jxnwr0jsMRGZ0tWWR27SXOz6kcvsmETCC7hC8s2nV_igEo2JeXLleQwl9-K03JyYpBl6J6I1FzFd-iRAvLEn8obhtuDL7sk3MSv0H6S4rxirv0YekZS50A5ndbFzFjy5v/s1600/DSC05742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90Scig1Ha109jxnwr0jsMRGZ0tWWR27SXOz6kcvsmETCC7hC8s2nV_igEo2JeXLleQwl9-K03JyYpBl6J6I1FzFd-iRAvLEn8obhtuDL7sk3MSv0H6S4rxirv0YekZS50A5ndbFzFjy5v/s1600/DSC05742.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by Rebecca Shoer</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, it should come as no surprise that my dearth of
knowledge about Thailand was equally matched by my lack of elephant facts. Sure, I knew that they are the largest
terrestrial mammals, that their herds are led by matriarchs, and that they are
endangered. But I had no idea about the
spectacular sounds they make, and about the amount of noise they <i>don't</i> make (elephants can walk nearly
silently). I didn't know that they are
hairy, or that they love to coat themselves in a healthy layer of mud. I didn't know that elephants only have four
teeth, that they are dichromatic, or that they can hold about 14 liters of
water in their trunk at one time. I
thought they could be kind and gentle, but I didn't know they could be equally
aggressive and dangerous. Of course, I
also learned about how little I, and the scientific community in general, knows
about elephants. What do those
spectacular sounds mean? How keen is
their sense of smell? How acute their
vision? And perhaps, most importantly,
how can we save them from extinction?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For some of us, we are simply curious about the natural
world. We wish to learn and understand
more about the wildlife that surrounds us simply because we have a drive to
explore the unknown. For others, we want
to learn how to protect humans and elephants from each other. And finally, for all of us, we want to find
ways to protect and conserve an incredible, and incredibly intelligent,
species. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLMCqW3qXyqqyCdOlelc9hlykyUAa9LOinFkSeRYv8YloMv1I9vT9UMAsakgEevA7RfDwXsK9dMTsVw_922_IRIli82zjvZbSrZdOA3dBV6RXJf9TrRBk_4RoQmjbn3XUN3UOvnO6yPgKl/s1600/DSC04523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLMCqW3qXyqqyCdOlelc9hlykyUAa9LOinFkSeRYv8YloMv1I9vT9UMAsakgEevA7RfDwXsK9dMTsVw_922_IRIli82zjvZbSrZdOA3dBV6RXJf9TrRBk_4RoQmjbn3XUN3UOvnO6yPgKl/s1600/DSC04523.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by Rebecca Shoer</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Perhaps the most valuable lesson for a young person just graduated
from an academic setting, is the value of a<i>
lack</i> of knowledge. I had just spent
four years learning about (what felt like) everything scientists know about
biology, and to move to a place and a job about which I knew very little was
extremely humbling. Yet, at the same
time, it was the best decision I could have made for my future plans in
conservation. In a field populated by
seemingly lost causes and a desperate sense of urgency, discovering just how
little we know about our planet was surprisingly reassuring. Yes, the fate of our planet can seem truly
hopeless at times, but every day we are working to find new natural wonders and
ways to protect them. As long as there
are groups like Think Elephants International<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>, I refuse
to give up on our planet.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
This year has been an incredible experience, full of
frustrations, joys, heartbreak, and hope.
I have to thank my incredible fellow RAs (Lisa, Elise, Sophie, and Ou),
my Thai mother (P'TomTem), my wonderfully supportive boss (Dr. Plotnik), and
the incredible friends I've made along the way.
I wish you all the best, and I hope that you continue to boldly go where
no elephant researcher has gone before!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMpHptzffTKz5p-sZuEQ337SxH2zgfUbB5l4rL6nuezM_4eywUioZcUQ0NE_CfpdTmCqxFS8eyPUWJCIj5BZ8Bh7GKJyFcqoDePGm6BGotmibQP94ZHK6JkyF4J4DHRcCP5dLzrzNh_y-9/s1600/4blog.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMpHptzffTKz5p-sZuEQ337SxH2zgfUbB5l4rL6nuezM_4eywUioZcUQ0NE_CfpdTmCqxFS8eyPUWJCIj5BZ8Bh7GKJyFcqoDePGm6BGotmibQP94ZHK6JkyF4J4DHRcCP5dLzrzNh_y-9/s1600/4blog.png" height="400" width="398" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by Elise Gilchrist</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-937300192862251449.post-17008237188699198522014-07-17T19:21:00.000-07:002014-07-17T19:21:16.330-07:00Thinking Back on Think Elephants<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>by Lisa Barrett</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As my time with Think Elephants International (TEI) comes to
a close, I have been reflecting more and more on what I have accomplished with
my team members and what the experience has meant to me. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This fall I will be attending the University of Wyoming (UW)
as a doctoral student in the Zoology & Physiology Department. I am so
excited to begin on a new journey that will bring me one step closer to
fulfilling my professional goals, but I will never forget how my adventure in
Thailand has influenced me. Living in Thailand, a developing nation with a
fascinating, rich, and complex culture has helped me to learn new things about
myself (both personally and professionally) and has equipped me with the skills
I will need for graduate school and beyond. Living in Wyoming will certainly
evoke a new lifestyle, but I am eager to adapt what I have learned in the
Golden Triangle to my new home.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0jBGu5540Vo/U8h93z9TAmI/AAAAAAAAFVo/k1imDZ7bSPU/s1600/DSC06629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0jBGu5540Vo/U8h93z9TAmI/AAAAAAAAFVo/k1imDZ7bSPU/s1600/DSC06629.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Me and Poonlarb.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by: Elise Gilchrist</span></div>
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By working as a member of the TEI team, I have learned how
to work together to accomplish research goals. On a day to day basis, our small
group discusses research protocols, designs research apparatus, and inputs
data—all while getting along famously! Believe it or not, I couldn’t have asked
for better team members with whom to live in a rural town for over one year.
These tasks make me better-prepared to collaborate with lab members at UW.
Perhaps just as importantly, I have learned how to think from the perspective
of other animals (elephants) when designing research experiments.<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1ywJyxy4F8g/U8h7kk7pZ-I/AAAAAAAAFVM/pz5c4zCUHF8/s1600/DSC06483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1ywJyxy4F8g/U8h7kk7pZ-I/AAAAAAAAFVM/pz5c4zCUHF8/s1600/DSC06483.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">One of my favorite aspects of research is studying social behavior through behavioral observations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by: Lisa Barrett</span></div>
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I am so glad that working with TEI gave not only gave me
valuable research experience, but also allowed me to delve into the realm of education.
Creating and revising curriculum for TEI’s school lessons has reinforced my
desire to teach, a desire that has culminated in my goal to become a research
professor. I thoroughly enjoyed creating activities and games that would serve
to explain each of our ten lesson’s themes and goals. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Working on our monthly newsletter, creating YouTube videos,
and writing blogs (especially my three-part series on “<a href="http://bit.ly/1dGXKbl">How to Become Un-endangered</a>”) was another favorite aspect of the job. The practice of
engaging with our fans via social media drew upon my interest in marketing and
disseminating scientific information to the public. These are both interests
that, after honing related skills at TEI, I hope to incorporate into my future
career. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u_evHfq70Jw/U8h7ti9EgVI/AAAAAAAAFVU/YVGbdiGhtnw/s1600/DSCN0517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u_evHfq70Jw/U8h7ti9EgVI/AAAAAAAAFVU/YVGbdiGhtnw/s1600/DSCN0517.JPG" height="290" width="320" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Everyone has their favorite elephants-- mine are Buathong (right) and Am (left). </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by: Lisa Barrett</span></div>
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Lastly, my time with TEI has produced lasting friendships
that cover the globe. I will surely miss the other members of the team; we
developed relationships based on a very unique experience, and it is one that I
will never forget. Although I cannot say for sure that I formed any sort of
friendships with the elephants here, I will certainly miss seeing them at
research and learning more about their personalities!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7DK579w-wf0/U8h_jcUx9mI/AAAAAAAAFV0/O44h7Yv3ZcQ/s1600/10406787_10152462909762442_6750295736188019094_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7DK579w-wf0/U8h_jcUx9mI/AAAAAAAAFV0/O44h7Yv3ZcQ/s1600/10406787_10152462909762442_6750295736188019094_n.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The 2013 Elephant Team: Elise, Rebecca, Gae, Ou, Sophie, and me.</span></div>
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I hope you continue to enjoy all of our blog posts,
newsletters, and social media posts in the future! I am excited to see what the
new team will do at TEI, and I will always remember my year here. Thank you for
the enthusiasm about elephant conservation and for the fantastic support! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://bit.ly/1dLVBFM">Check out Lisa on YouTube</a></span> </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18247923667029286642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-937300192862251449.post-30883134370144055602014-07-14T19:50:00.000-07:002014-07-14T19:50:10.330-07:00A Final Addition to the TEI Team<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
It is hard to believe that I have been
a research assistant with Think Elephants International (TEI) for one month
now! I’ve been meeting the staff of TEI and the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant
Foundation, learning all about the elephants living here, and exploring my new
town of Sob Ruak. I guess it’s about time to introduce myself as a new team
member to those of you who will be reading my future blogs, social media posts,
and research updates. My name is Sarah Jacobson and I’ve come to Thailand from
my hometown of Columbia, Missouri.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj72-XWhXkoem9WsauBAYNcCiiAYh8ENvs_GCQOXSyDOB0QiBIag3zolZeuAslfv69shjc3YpwpbnaT9vaUkAQR_9f1TNbpma5UKueYTnSoXDnhB9rOq81Tl63xju_Dh6-93cVMfKKVlAF3/s1600/IMG_8434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj72-XWhXkoem9WsauBAYNcCiiAYh8ENvs_GCQOXSyDOB0QiBIag3zolZeuAslfv69shjc3YpwpbnaT9vaUkAQR_9f1TNbpma5UKueYTnSoXDnhB9rOq81Tl63xju_Dh6-93cVMfKKVlAF3/s1600/IMG_8434.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Meeting my new friend Thangmo</span></div>
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">As I think about how I got to where
I am today, looking out on the Mekong from the TEI office, a memory emerges. I
recall being in my partially wooded backyard in mid-Missouri and staring at a
deer. I was attempting to approach this timid doe little by little while using
my hands as makeshift deer ears. I had observed deer on many instances as I explored
our neighborhood creeks, and I had deduced that their flicking ears might be a
form of communication. I must have looked pretty ridiculous crouching in the
grass and slowly creeping forward with my hands in the shape of deer ears swiveling
on my head. The deer apparently thought the same, as when I approached too
closely, she flicked her tail and promptly ran away. So my interest in animal
behavior began with a faulty assumption: the deer’s ears were actually moving
to best gather auditory information about her environment. I have
come a long way since that initial attempt at taking the perspective of another
creature.</span></div>
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I have pursued many opportunities
to gain insight into the perspectives of other beings beyond my experiences in the
woods of Missouri. My interest in animals evolved from a veterinary focus to that
of animal behavior and cognition through my undergraduate coursework at
Colorado College. This developing passion led me to spend a semester studying wildlife
conservation in East Africa. My animal-centric view was challenged as I
discovered the many facets of conservation. Through interviews and discussions
with community members near our two field sites in Kenya and Tanzania, I
learned to consider the perspectives of the people living closest to the
environment. These herders and farmers were struggling with a changing climate
and conflict with surrounding wildlife. It was clear through our meetings that
these people would not be motivated to protect the wildlife competing with them
for land or food unless they themselves were benefitting. <span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;">The
importance of community-based conservation was growing extremely apparent the
more we were exposed to various failures and successes of past projects. The resounding
theme was that projects initiated by foreign organizations all slowly
disintegrated without community involvement and support. I had gone to East Africa
to learn about the many threats to the wildlife of the African savannah, but I
came away with a much broader perspective that included local stakeholders as a
crucial factor in successful conservation. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9eUbkniDsZnAUrADJto90JlBkBgkYQDMOkkhdwvIh50FGBz2Z9qSw3BSSzI3BkXkkvtjAMzrQRrWO9HoutjLujvgZVHzR7vJdVfM22Q3Iz_u2TZIidSqmH7hXAZ8xitK9XtcxAEW_o7mb/s1600/IMG_2928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9eUbkniDsZnAUrADJto90JlBkBgkYQDMOkkhdwvIh50FGBz2Z9qSw3BSSzI3BkXkkvtjAMzrQRrWO9HoutjLujvgZVHzR7vJdVfM22Q3Iz_u2TZIidSqmH7hXAZ8xitK9XtcxAEW_o7mb/s1600/IMG_2928.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Some of the local Maasai who I interviewed in Tanzania</span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;">After my semester abroad, I remained in
Kenya for two months as a research assistant with an elephant conservation organization in
Samburu National Reserve. Daily excursions in the park provided insight into
the meaning of elephant communication: trumpets and rumbles, the flaring of the
ears, and touch of trunks (Learn more about Asian elephant communication here: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eW8sVZM6ULE&list=UUvGw6efZ5QE15MqGJffm-CA">Behavioral Observations: Trunk Talk</a>).</span></span><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: 0.5in;"> During my time at the Reserve, I met
intact elephant families that were spared from the effects of the ivory trade and
fractured elephant families where the oldest female was an immature 12 year
old. Elephant matriarchs pass down knowledge about food sources, safe places to
avoid conflict with humans, and proper reproductive behavior. But a younger
female, like in these fractured families, has little such knowledge, and inadvertently
becomes an endangerment to her surviving family. I could see how the elephants
of Samburu were suffering for the status and wealth of humans, denoted by a
trinket carved from their teeth. Fortunately though, community conservation
efforts in northern Kenya were admirable and I met many rangers who were
dedicated to the protection of the animals that roamed this landscape. Nevertheless,
there is only so much that can be done to combat the high demand for tusks and
the heavily armed poachers, so poaching continues to take its toll on the
elephants there. In fact, one elephant dies every 15 minutes for the ivory
trade.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOKnpeSrcfdNS_7d6pmtekKQXkmXfoUNdzJhNk5wxbVsFcVGQ4b-NqM9oN6RMhZEgA8tyEsDixNEGCeRjuO3A1vYumtTpCJkU-8V1eaKnoc6FVBaMGUNgLkqWJvs5UMHRWAMONwTRSaHwq/s1600/Cirrocumulus2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOKnpeSrcfdNS_7d6pmtekKQXkmXfoUNdzJhNk5wxbVsFcVGQ4b-NqM9oN6RMhZEgA8tyEsDixNEGCeRjuO3A1vYumtTpCJkU-8V1eaKnoc6FVBaMGUNgLkqWJvs5UMHRWAMONwTRSaHwq/s1600/Cirrocumulus2.jpg" height="224" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;">Cirrocumulus was one of the most
beautiful elephants that frequented the reserve. Her long tusks doomed her and
her orphaned calf when she was killed by poachers.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;">My time in Africa ignited a passion for
the conservation of wild animals and strengthened my desire to combine the
study of cognition with conservation. My senior thesis embraced the perspective
of another complex species, this time in captivity. I investigated if a mother
western lowland gorilla at Cheyenne
Mountain Zoo, named Asha, experienced anxiety due to visitors outside of
her enclosure and whether it affected her maternal behavior. This initial foray
into conducting behavioral research introduced many challenges. I measured
Asha’s visual monitoring of visitors and self-scratching behaviors to determine
her anxiety during high and low visitor density. I became skeptical of these
measures of anxiety that had been used in previous studies and questioned
whether my study was truly evaluating Asha’s perception of visitors. My research
did not satisfactorily answer my questions about whether she experienced
anxiety due to my skepticism. Through this project I became interested in
captive management and the impact that zoos had on conservation of wild
animals. </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHTevOSXZcKnP-m_pydQ8Xc07oy-RlmxOxyi9xCz8aVCn2UUh5aX5cSl4sDr0CLOw-9KrvCuK0tsm7oclU2iXghmUL8bdpe6hVQhTcWtMoCrQGn8mOXEdE64q19AXArTvwqevptRLAbuA/s1600/IMG_0128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHTevOSXZcKnP-m_pydQ8Xc07oy-RlmxOxyi9xCz8aVCn2UUh5aX5cSl4sDr0CLOw-9KrvCuK0tsm7oclU2iXghmUL8bdpe6hVQhTcWtMoCrQGn8mOXEdE64q19AXArTvwqevptRLAbuA/s1600/IMG_0128.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;">Asha and her baby Dembe</span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;">After graduation, I decided to continue
investigating behavior in captivity through an internship with the Lester E.
Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes. In this position, I
observed the social spacing of the chimpanzees and gorillas housed at the Lincoln
Park Zoo in Chicago. I discovered the chimpanzee Vicki’s preference for a
hammock with a view of Lake Michigan, the teenage male gorillas’ partiality for
an area away from their his more dominant comrade, and Chuckie the chimp’s
favorite spot to nest in a secluded hollow stump. Mapping space use by animals contributes
to important information about effective exhibit design and comparative
behavior to wild apes. This method can also allow researchers to measure the
cohesion of a social group after a new individual is introduced.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;">My job at the zoo was to watch the apes,
but I found I was attentive to the behavior of the eager children and
captivated adults all around me. Like in East Africa, I realized that the
perspective of the humans, in this case the zoo visitors, was also important to
consider. I observed their excitement and awe while gazing through the glass at
Kwan, the huge silverback gorilla. Were these visitors being inspired to
conserve the species they were viewing? Or did they just view the enclosures as
stages for their own entertainment? I
like to think that these visitors' enthusiasm to learn of the apes’ displays of
intelligence and innovation is a promising sign for ape conservation.</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Kwan, the silverback gorilla and chimps nesting at Lincoln Park Zoo</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: right; text-indent: 0.5in;">And now, with the hope of quenching my
thirst to explore elephant cognition while disseminating knowledge about how
elephants view the world to the public, I joined the TEI research team. I
realize that many people believe human intelligence is superior to that of
other animals, but we must remember that most “intelligence” is measured in
human terms. I hope to challenge this idea by using the elephant’s perspective
to determine their cognitive abilities. I want to change the human-centric
viewpoint that defends our society’s environmentally-destructive habits with
little consideration of other species. I also hope to help inspire future
generations to value the unique abilities of other creatures and be motivated
to keep these species from disappearing from our world. </span></div>
</div>
Sarah Jacobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16687672432339638215noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-937300192862251449.post-59632296306524224692014-07-07T23:16:00.000-07:002014-07-07T23:16:55.739-07:00Introduction: New Squad Member<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The year was 1997. A younger, intrepid,
and equally as observant representation of myself was cruising on bicycle
through the eastern Pennsylvania wilderness with no direction or destination in
mind. I was fully engulfed by my summer “job” as a truth-seeking 7-year-old in
the Pocono Mountains, a segment of the Appalachian mountain chain defining the eastern
USA.</span></div>
<br />
Very few rules restrained my day-to-day
operation; the matriarch of my domain simply required an early return home in
time for our evening supper. Religiously, from early morning to late afternoon,
my attention was focused on the potential organisms beneath each rock, beyond the
next valley, or above the deciduous canopy. From raptors and ravens to newts
and serpents, each and every facet was novel and observations varied. The
freedom to ask questions with a hint of curiosity created a fusion that
functioned as a pivotal factor behind everything. The limitlessness of
possibilities could not be overstated. The pond down the street was my
laboratory. Armed with a radiant, golden Ticonderoga and traditional
composition notebook, sites and sounds were jotted and hypotheses arose. During that time, the feeling of being inundated with the most natural of senses
became regular as I returned each summer. Complex thoughts came about as the
ecosystem changed both seasonally and annually. During those primitive years,
results were far less ubiquitous than wonders. A fascinating aspect of science
is its paradoxical nature; answers tend to lead to more questions.<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Since those meaningful afternoons, I
think I’ve been subconsciously acting based on those experiences. Through
education and exposure to media, I like learning about the great observers and
explorers who illustrated the ‘explorer’ we picture today. Almost two hundred
years ago, using the HMS Beagle as his vessel, Darwin was shifting the
zeitgeist towards a scientific awareness. At the dawn of the 19<sup>th</sup>
century, John Muir was moving mountains (figuratively) in Yosemite Valley by
treating massive domes and wee butterflies with the same respect and attention.
Little did I know at the turn of the millennium, I was doing the same thing (on
a slightly smaller scale). It’s interesting how minds, whether qualified or
not, can stumble upon similar trains of thought. All that stuff
was science—combined with a bit of imagination and an appreciation for the
environment. What’s more, that collection of cached experiences during my youth
exists in my memories unlike any other. It’s something I cherish very much. I didn’t quite realize how lucky I was to have the opportunity
to maintain a unique connection with the environment into adulthood. Today, I
see that fortune and I want to spread it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Upon reflection, it’s fascinating how
the scientific method of making observations, asking questions, and acquiring
knowledge came so effortlessly. The child, I truly believe, is born with the
ability to be a natural scientist. It’s a form of cognizance that allows for
unbiased interpretations of why and how things exist. To ask–<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">why is that thing the way it is?–</i>is
beautiful. The power of understanding something, with depth and through time,
is part of what distinguishes our mental capacity in the animal kingdom. Other
organisms may not be on our level, which is completely rational to understand. But
they exist on their own plane through their own perception, however basic or
complex it may be. Why then, does that initial curiosity not transcend into
adulthood and surpass generations? Why is the childlike curiosity of nature<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">–</i>playing in the mud, making loud noises
and asking questions<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">–</i>quite often
suppressed? As reasonable as this question is, it does not have one answer.
Simply put, we are curious about our environments, but that curiosity is
becoming less abundant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">The year is now 2014. My name is Dan
(the second Dan to join the research squad). I am one of the new research assistants here
in the northern corner of Thailand, in a small town known as the Golden
Triangle. Although slightly indirect, the brief account above can explain and
define why I am drawn to </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">conserving Asian elephants in Thailand and Asia—and
any aspect of nature. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3QrDKXnksZHARrhSur0ZO6XvPzd-4e6OAXqPPm5hoox3KS8wvg0SPsWMaX5A4AKfK2LOdq5fWAetd3VW3vkzgQyquUX5W3e_PPU86bQri5hnLAC8zl02XFUJG1P7LpbJA1ajR9ZUZh70/s1600/IMG_1965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3QrDKXnksZHARrhSur0ZO6XvPzd-4e6OAXqPPm5hoox3KS8wvg0SPsWMaX5A4AKfK2LOdq5fWAetd3VW3vkzgQyquUX5W3e_PPU86bQri5hnLAC8zl02XFUJG1P7LpbJA1ajR9ZUZh70/s1600/IMG_1965.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: x-small;">In Gishwati Forest Reserve, Rwanda</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">About one decade has passed since my
initial introduction to natural research in the PA Mountains. I like to think
I’m wiser now and more attuned to global issues, but maybe desensitized to some
aspects of the world that grasped my attention as a kid. I still like to keep
my senses fresh and keen through exploring as much as possible. Entering
college at West Chester University in PA, seeing the world through diverse
cultures and traveling sparked my attention in conservation and a variety of
related disciplines. Animal behavior, biological anthropology, psychology, and
even foreign languages are just a few examples. Throughout my academic career, that
organic lust for nature underlined and fueled my decisions about who I was and
who I would become. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’ve developed that deep connection to
nature in a variety of ecosystems now. By working as part of various research
teams, I’ve learned first hand how local and global communities can benefit
from science, conservation, and education. The first move was to move to Mexico
directly after graduating. I spent several months with a group of biologists working
towards increasing populations of scarlet macaws, a charismatic icon of
avifauna once omnipresent in the southern state of Chiapas, other southern Mexican
states, and from Central to South America.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTX5BPDm3bU4xBIAD5JJuoCWaK2_HP2pkoYeTCu5tGZ_VgIFSEWygMyffQkbLtE1tEC14-15-_ZZqfYiEMFtjgN_KuMu7CULhm1VWyaJf6G-NGmAcyYfmGKKQDceJspc8yMrrLE4dFcI/s1600/1146631_10151557041067592_121507578_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTX5BPDm3bU4xBIAD5JJuoCWaK2_HP2pkoYeTCu5tGZ_VgIFSEWygMyffQkbLtE1tEC14-15-_ZZqfYiEMFtjgN_KuMu7CULhm1VWyaJf6G-NGmAcyYfmGKKQDceJspc8yMrrLE4dFcI/s1600/1146631_10151557041067592_121507578_n.jpg" height="208" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> <span style="font-size: x-small;">Scarlet Macaw flying near Palenque National Park - Chiapas, México</span></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Even more recently, a jaunt through
East Africa would test my senses, patience, and investment in this field. Working
in Gishwati Forest, a fragmented montane rainforest south of Volcanoes National
Park in Rwanda, I was presented with the chance to learn first hand what it’s
like to live next to endangered primates. Being one of the most densely populated
countries on the planet and hosting two of the great apes<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">–</i>mountain gorilla and chimpanzee<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">–</i>Rwanda
is a model place to learn about human-wildlife conflict. But resources are
scarce and land is limited. Through local interviews with farmers and measuring
crop-raiding by chimpanzees surrounding the forest, we learned about the extent
of the issue and which mitigation methods are most practical. Getting that
information back to local communities will hopefully keep primates in Gishwati
Forest and farmers at a safe distance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj5yBz0AEnA-rJoPMEwU4IPuKCvytRJwbCNQTTmRv8EGEWbBV-UUzJio5gDp2iMbt1xcKlwJyYwDXOXWXe-8daf6dorjY52ZF3c5prb9S7IHcN2EDbYbAV1iRZqT6bqudNOk3SF4Ad2jA/s1600/IMG_2329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj5yBz0AEnA-rJoPMEwU4IPuKCvytRJwbCNQTTmRv8EGEWbBV-UUzJio5gDp2iMbt1xcKlwJyYwDXOXWXe-8daf6dorjY52ZF3c5prb9S7IHcN2EDbYbAV1iRZqT6bqudNOk3SF4Ad2jA/s1600/IMG_2329.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Interview with Rwandan maize farmer near Gishwati Forest Reserve</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Unfortunately, the problem of
increasing human populations and battling for land is worsening each day. Fewer
people are exposed to nature. Of the seven billion humans on Earth, roughly
half of them live in urban areas. I sometimes think about and feel for those
3.5 billion (with a b, that’s 3.5 x nine zeros!) who may never relate on the
natural spectrum that I was able to explore as a kid. Because I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">was</i> exposed to nature and its ability to
impact behavior, I now feel a personal responsibility to help protect it. All
humans deserve the right to some form of natural exposure. Because it’s either
not accessible or its discouraged by others, many will never be able to relate.
I feel a bit of anxiety at the thought of future generations unable to
experience the awe of diversity.<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Stan%20Dixon" datetime="2014-07-07T12:34"><o:p></o:p></ins></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">TEI’s mission of educating the future
generation about science and complex thinking is exactly the style of atmosphere
paramount to influencing others while growing personally.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Studying elephants is what we do here,
but our methodology is not limited solely to conserving elephants. The Asian
elephant is used as a spark because of its charisma and likability. It’s usage serves
as an icon to reestablish the connection between humans and the environment. If
people can learn to think like an elephant, the capacity exists to connect with
all fronts of the natural world; the potential is immense. That’s enough
about me. Now that you know who I am and why I am here, let’s do some science.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Connecting students and elephants!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00494273791983899002noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-937300192862251449.post-88376904751373580782014-07-01T01:29:00.000-07:002014-07-01T03:26:05.691-07:00Joining the Team<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>By Hunter Doughty</i></div>
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Hello,</div>
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My name is Hunter. And I am an enthusiastic new
member of the Think Elephants International research team!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-izYlY5YM9_LVCjAE2cUmIiZUaxY-zkrNVb88azdaN213cuXlpk7h6egPidtjNmRrluU06X0ISmyAz45KZw-QwglDUsZJaTyVx0-I3vcRjPJrOVom1JGfax20j2nveexrCFtSCJJs54A/s1600/LSA1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-izYlY5YM9_LVCjAE2cUmIiZUaxY-zkrNVb88azdaN213cuXlpk7h6egPidtjNmRrluU06X0ISmyAz45KZw-QwglDUsZJaTyVx0-I3vcRjPJrOVom1JGfax20j2nveexrCFtSCJJs54A/s1600/LSA1.jpg" height="200" width="132" /></a></div>
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I have a background in conservation biology, and have gained
experience traveling, researching, and volunteering all throughout the world. Two
opportunities that have had the most impact on me as a scientist are the
positions I held in Namibia and Madagascar.</div>
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About six years ago I had just finished my freshman year of
undergrad at a local community college and was gleefully spending my summer volunteering
at a wildlife sanctuary in Namibia. I had always been an animal lover: a
caretaker for all living things in our California home, a self-proclaimed
vegetarian at age 13, and an annoying outspoken supporter of nature. Yet, I had
never experienced anything like I would in Africa. So I was off, spending my days
in the Namibia scrubland, where I lived and worked in a surreal world filled
with exotic and displaced wildlife. I played with a two-year-old leopard, raised
a lamb, slept with purring cheetahs under the African stars, and bonded to one
particularly special baboon. However, I also saw the hardships that these
animals had gone through, like beatings, trappings, and malnourishment. I was
troubled by their stories and frustrated by things I didn’t agree with, even welfare
practices at their current safe haven. By the time I began my sophomore year of
college I had converted this frustration into a driven set of goals about the
changes I wanted to make. That summer abroad had infused into me an almost
desperate need to follow my dreams. I was hooked. I was in love with Africa,
passionate to help the animals I saw there, and so ready to take a real step in
that direction that I would have walked across the US if it had meant going
away to a university to get a degree in biology.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWsAS3xY6wTlTp0dNsrER6MK6g1Tm2n0KwtMEIuyYHcirHVk9t2RmbR4NhJ0p3Y1sdu1Yj7BDJyXNRh9LTVDOWjW6vEtgZv1nmgg6rypK-8HutcYoJgL8oGhWn67naPMhPerJWEYzjEdA/s1600/lion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWsAS3xY6wTlTp0dNsrER6MK6g1Tm2n0KwtMEIuyYHcirHVk9t2RmbR4NhJ0p3Y1sdu1Yj7BDJyXNRh9LTVDOWjW6vEtgZv1nmgg6rypK-8HutcYoJgL8oGhWn67naPMhPerJWEYzjEdA/s1600/lion.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Three years later I completed my bachelor’s degree in
biology at the University of Virginia. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through the support of my mentor and advisor at UVA, I was elatedly
going to be staying on for a Master’s. For the field portion of my new degree I
headed off to Madagascar to work as a research assistant for a doctoral student
studying the effects of forest fragmentation on Malagasy carnivores. During my
stint in the Makira-Mosoala landscape I was once again faced with experiences
that would greatly shape the type of scientist and person I would strive to be.
I was exposed to a growing list of issues Madagascar is facing such as
overpopulation, depletion of resources, deforestation, and most notably to me,
unsustainable hunting of bushmeat. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bushmeat</i>
is a term used to define wild animals hunted specifically for consumption, and it
often refers to animals consumed in developing nations. The scientists,
veterinarians, and Malagasy team I worked alongside while in-country all agreed
that these big issues, including bushmeat, could only be solved through
increased education. And in order to educate both local and global communities
we needed a clearer – and more accurate – description of what was actually
happening. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiow170xoPf-idcgJzdEUnC_xAtZUX2AX0_j5sO6rSnlXdN9xU7Q6Iq9VkW-9SvPU5_JSAlyHa8gKVeqFvjccI1HG7dhfIghQPb-5jTPJj7B5n0NmKTkpO39TOT40vnUDXu60sVD_nH5-w/s1600/silky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiow170xoPf-idcgJzdEUnC_xAtZUX2AX0_j5sO6rSnlXdN9xU7Q6Iq9VkW-9SvPU5_JSAlyHa8gKVeqFvjccI1HG7dhfIghQPb-5jTPJj7B5n0NmKTkpO39TOT40vnUDXu60sVD_nH5-w/s1600/silky.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Spurred by these ideas I returned to Virginia intent on focusing
my Master’s degree on gaining that ‘clearer picture’ for at least some part of
the bushmeat problem. So, I conducted a meta-analysis of the hunting of
carnivores in forested African regions. In other words, I combed through
hundreds of previously conducted studies to pull data that could show trends in
hunting pressure. Which carnivores were being hunted? How were they being
hunted? And most importantly, for what reasons were they being hunted? These
questions formed the basis of my fervent search. Once complete I was able to
demonstrate that hunting of carnivores in forested Africa is actually far more
pervasive than previously realized. What’s more, old stipulations about why we <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">thought</i> carnivores were being hunted are
in fact no longer accurate to current conditions. For example, the residing
belief has been that small carnivores like mongooses are rarely eaten because
they are considered taboo by most African tribes, however, this is not in fact
true. Due to a lack of preferred meat species such as the antelope, tribes all
throughout Africa have turned to ‘taboo’ species for their source of protein.</div>
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Fast-forward to this year: and my life as a scientist is
taking its next major step. My goals to make a difference in the natural world have
encouraged me to gain more experience in this field, and have given me the moxy
to jump in as an elephant researcher here in Thailand. Excitingly, my first two
weeks have been a blur of elephant facts, research protocols, and Thai culture.
And despite the whirlwind, I am eager to learn everything this job has to offer
and I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the good this
organization does.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZCXz6cjIBp8DJWItnKioZr7NSqrW2uDB6-jzaruL0kOyA_ntjEilXUA4yDwpD8BLs4Ji8Jozf2fy1EvAJVgQeGusOfTyn5lSTuz9PsyOeMzBQ8-vrXDddDJavgY86_-kACu0f_YDm-pg/s1600/IMG_8435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZCXz6cjIBp8DJWItnKioZr7NSqrW2uDB6-jzaruL0kOyA_ntjEilXUA4yDwpD8BLs4Ji8Jozf2fy1EvAJVgQeGusOfTyn5lSTuz9PsyOeMzBQ8-vrXDddDJavgY86_-kACu0f_YDm-pg/s1600/IMG_8435.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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As a new member of the team, I am happy to say that Think
Elephants International embodies all of the qualities I have come to admire:
honest and innovative research, direct applications to conservation, and a
belief that the knowledge we gain is only as useful as the education with which
we disseminate it to the public.</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18099112345134913258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-937300192862251449.post-42789900669231522692014-06-23T21:41:00.002-07:002014-06-23T21:48:53.845-07:00Gaining Experience with Think Elephants!<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">by Ou Yonthantham</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Hi,</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> everyone! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">My name is Laddawan, but you can call me Ou.
I am one of the new research assistants at Think Elephants International (TEI).
I’m originally from Nakhon Si Thammarat, </span><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">in the south of Thailand. I just graduated with a degree in
Conservation Biology from Mahidol University, Kanchanaburi Campus. I first
heard about TEI from my co-adviser, Dr. Chomcheun Siripunkaw. She introduced me to Dr.
Joshua M. Plotnik, TEI’s founder, and
the topic of elephant intelligence. Later, during my senior project, I chose to
study this topic under the supervision of Dr. Plotnik.</span></span><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6Pi40jNBAqo/U6j_Sz-Rw4I/AAAAAAAAFRA/SFUrme4mJ9s/s1600/ou+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6Pi40jNBAqo/U6j_Sz-Rw4I/AAAAAAAAFRA/SFUrme4mJ9s/s1600/ou+1.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Namchoke giving me a kiss!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">I chose to study
elephants for a few different reasons.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"> First, there
are only about 3,000 captive elephants and 3,000 wild elephants in Thailand.
The wild Asian elephant population has steadily decreased because of habitat
loss, fragmentation, and human – elephant conflict. Therefore, I believe the
best way to conserve elephants is through education. <i>Conservation Education </i>(CE) is a process of </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">influencing public attitudes, emotions,
knowledge, and behavior about wildlife. At the root of CE lies the idea that if
people know about and love elephants, it’s easier to encourage them to conserve
elephants</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Second, o</span><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">ne of the things I find most interesting about elephants is
that they are very smart. They don’t have hands like humans but their trunk
serves a similar function as the human hand. The trunk is a very important
appendage for elephants. Elephants use their trunk to breathe, take baths, grasp
food, and interact socially with</span><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">
their friends. We don’t know a lot about how the elephant uses its trunk to
make decisions. So, in my independent research study, we investigated how
elephants use their trunks to gather tactile information.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qTWJiclIUXM/U6j_gdP4A0I/AAAAAAAAFRI/9xv0aJLdvQ0/s1600/ou+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qTWJiclIUXM/U6j_gdP4A0I/AAAAAAAAFRI/9xv0aJLdvQ0/s1600/ou+2.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Here I’m presenting my
project (elephant intelligence) in </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">MUKA
Science and Management project exhibition 2014 at <span style="background: white;">Mahidol University, Kanchanaburi Campus.</span></span><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In nature,
elephants touch each other a lot with their trunks. In my study, we showed that
elephants can use their trunks to differentiate between things. This is
interesting because unlike humans and chimpanzees, which use their hands only
to gather tactile information, elephants use their trunks to gather information
both by smelling and touching. This suggests we may be able to learn a lot
about how elephants navigate their physical and social worlds by studying how
they use their trunks. Studying elephant intelligence and behavior also has
implications for how elephant conservation protocols are designed.<span style="color: #292526;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #292526; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nEYF7K445fw/U6j_qoWGQrI/AAAAAAAAFRQ/lnaR3Pmh_OY/s1600/ou+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nEYF7K445fw/U6j_qoWGQrI/AAAAAAAAFRQ/lnaR3Pmh_OY/s1600/ou+3.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Elephants use their trunks to gather information.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">I like working for TEI</span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"> for many reasons. First, I like to work with elephants.
Elephants are wonderful and they surprised and impressed me while I was working
on my project. Additionally, the TEI team is very professional. When I had
questions about my project, we discussed it together and felt like a real TEAM!
Second, I wanted to practice speaking, reading, and writing the English
language. This is a good opportunity for me because TEI’s research assistants
are fluent in English and our work is mostly done in English.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">
Finally, I think if you want to get the best experience, you should try
something different from other people. Most other conservation biology students
from my program are working in jobs not related to their degree. TEI lets me use
what I learned about science and animal behavior to directly affect
conservation in a way that I really like.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lJdFs1ntroA/U6kADJhZfwI/AAAAAAAAFRY/d8HI_x-jQXo/s1600/ou+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lJdFs1ntroA/U6kADJhZfwI/AAAAAAAAFRY/d8HI_x-jQXo/s1600/ou+4.jpg" height="256" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The TEI team poses with Am.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I am very excited to work
with elephants and the research team at Think Elephants International. I’m
helping to do research and communicating with the mahouts. It’s a very good
experience because I get to practice my English skills and learn more about
elephant behavior.</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> In the future, I want to study for a
master’s degree in Conservation Biology. I will use this knowledge to help
conserve wild elephants and let people know about why and how to conserve
elephants.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6rkqyMvmaW0/U6kAe6pBj6I/AAAAAAAAFRg/ptpZR8CpUZQ/s1600/ou+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6rkqyMvmaW0/U6kAe6pBj6I/AAAAAAAAFRg/ptpZR8CpUZQ/s1600/ou+5.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<u><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">References<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></div>
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<u><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></u></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">International Zoo
Educators Association. (2005). Developing a Conservation Education Program
(online).Available:http://www.izea.net/education/Developing%20a%20Conservation%20Education%20Program.pdf<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_ENREF_7"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Rasmussen, L. E. L., & Munger, L. (1996). The
Sensorineural Specializations of the Trunk Tip (Finger) of the Asian Elephant,
Elephas maximus. <i>Wiley-Liss, Inc.</i>,
127-134. </span></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_ENREF_8"></a><span style="line-height: 115%;">Spinage, C. A. (1994). <i>Elephants</i>.
London: Poyser.</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Srikrachang, M. (2003). Conservation and management of elephant in
Thailand [Ph.D. thesis <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">In Biology]. Bangkok: Faculty of
Graduate Studies, Mahidol University.</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18247923667029286642noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-937300192862251449.post-83455624517675436282014-06-18T06:54:00.001-07:002014-06-18T19:13:55.164-07:00Low Blows: How Elephants Produce Low Frequency Vocalizations<i>By Sophie Wasserman</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
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Last month, we introduced you to
the wide variety of elephant vocalizations (<a href="http://thinkelephants.blogspot.com/2014/05/call-me-maybe-elephant-vocalizations.html">link</a>)--from very low frequency
rumbles to higher frequency trumpets and chirps. But at least one question
still remains: how do elephants produce this incredible range of sounds?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>To get a
better understanding of how elephants vocalize, let’s first examine the basics
of sound production in mammals. Remember from high school physics class that
sound is a travelling mechanical wave, displacing the molecules of different
media like air or water and causing them to vibrate. We can perceive sound
because our ears contain membranes that are designed to translate this vibrational
energy into signals our brain can recognize-- but that’s a whole different blog
post! The important thing to note is that in order to make a sound, you need
something for the sound to travel through, like air. Hence, vocalization
production starts with the lungs. Elephants have an incredible lung capacity,
taking in an average of 8-10 gallons of air per breath, or about 60-80 times greater
than that of the average human.</div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6azxDPsBTGWq46q12Vc_RQsKg_H5kJ9iHxX9r_og5lRWc1P_MjCQid9I6NvbxiaoGjGlVXgwg-YpLYfuAKOgwVkkfJt6BPcQKAOKFI2tu9B86wUnaamHHCFCVZ5-ptAs4hzcG2e51oetR/s1600/Screen+shot+2014-06-18+at+8.49.19+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6azxDPsBTGWq46q12Vc_RQsKg_H5kJ9iHxX9r_og5lRWc1P_MjCQid9I6NvbxiaoGjGlVXgwg-YpLYfuAKOgwVkkfJt6BPcQKAOKFI2tu9B86wUnaamHHCFCVZ5-ptAs4hzcG2e51oetR/s1600/Screen+shot+2014-06-18+at+8.49.19+PM.png" height="320" width="206" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boonsri is amazed at how much air her lungs hold!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Of course,
what goes in must also come out, and so in the next step of vocalizing, the air
is expelled from the lungs by contractions of the surrounding muscles and exhaled
through the trachea to the larynx. The larynx, also called the voice box, is
mostly made up of cartilage and muscle. It is found in mammals, reptiles, and
even amphibians. The key components to vocalizations are two small membranes at
the top of larynx called the vocal folds, or vocal cords. In humans, the
pressure of the breath builds up and forces the vocal folds to separate until
enough pressure has been released that they can recoil and come together again.
This cycle keeps repeating naturally and without direct muscle control, causing
the vocal cords to vibrate and thus create sound waves. We modulate our voice
by loosening or tightening these folds, creating lower or higher sounds,
respectively. <o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://scienceblogs.com/tetrapodzoology/wp-content/blogs.dir/471/files/2012/05/i-076cbcef5c704a7194d6c12ce6362446-elephant-pharyngeal-pouch-Shoshani.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://scienceblogs.com/tetrapodzoology/wp-content/blogs.dir/471/files/2012/05/i-076cbcef5c704a7194d6c12ce6362446-elephant-pharyngeal-pouch-Shoshani.jpg" height="400" width="307" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elephant's vocal cords and larynx<br />
<i>Via Shoshani (1998)</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Cats, on the other hand, have to
actively contract the muscles of their larynx to produce their characteristic
purr. Until recently, it was unclear whether an elephant’s rumble was produced
in the same way as a human’s hum or a cat’s purr, but a study published in 2012
seems to indicate that they fall in line with humans. To test their theory, the
researchers took the larynx of a zoo elephant who had died of natural causes
and hooked it up to an aluminum tube. When they passed air through the vocal cords,
the larynx produced sounds similar to that of a typical elephant rumble,
demonstrating that the active muscle control of purring is not necessary for
elephants to produce sound. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/50/Cat111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/50/Cat111.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cats use active muscle control of their larynx to purr<br />
<i>via Wikimedia Commons</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
The final step in the process of
producing vocalizations is fine-tuning and modulating sound with the mouth. For
humans, the positioning of our tongue and teeth can differentiate between
consonants and vowels. In the elephant’s case, the way in which it holds its
head, mouth, tongue, and trunk can modify the type and frequency of sound that
it produces. For example, an Asian elephant will open her mouth when rumbling
but will close off the tip of her trunk when chirping and squeaking. Most trumpets
are produced with trunk raised, though this could be a behavioral cue instead
of, or as well as, a way to modify the vocalization produced. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zFXt1JZmFDfcQqAGmthFEzE25GWx4sw1QxdUaFG3kWEitb7Dd6Bl_RIqMMQ8TbxfRcie9lAbJql3mO5QYtanAvekgfp4h8YrM-7XoUageYRvlhrQBDFBt0hs097eF608mhBY3sif4i_2/s1600/Screen+shot+2014-06-18+at+8.32.35+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zFXt1JZmFDfcQqAGmthFEzE25GWx4sw1QxdUaFG3kWEitb7Dd6Bl_RIqMMQ8TbxfRcie9lAbJql3mO5QYtanAvekgfp4h8YrM-7XoUageYRvlhrQBDFBt0hs097eF608mhBY3sif4i_2/s1600/Screen+shot+2014-06-18+at+8.32.35+PM.png" height="316" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elephants modulate sounds with trunk and mouth positioning</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Still the question remains, how can
elephants go so low? In other words, how do their rumbles contain infrasonic
components as low as 10-12 Hz, or sound waves at a frequency below the human
hearing range and about 3 octaves below the typical frequency of a human male’s
voice? The first reason is that they’re huge animals. For instance, compare a
violin to a cello: the longer the string and the larger the resonating chamber,
the lower pitched the sound. Elephants, by nature of their size, have naturally
longer vocal cords of about 7.5-10 cm in length compared to the measly 12-24 mm
of humans. They also have a built-in resonance chamber in their two-meter long
trunk, increasing the volume of air the sound passes through and lowering the
pitch of the sound produced. Finally, the elephant’s hyoid bone, which provides
support for the tongue and larynx, is comprised of five bones rather than the
typical nine, and it is not attached to the skull directly, but atypically
connected by ligaments and tendons. This enables greater flexibility of the
larynx, which in turn allows their vocal cords to stretch even beyond what you
would expect and produce even lower sounds. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://jeb.biologists.org/content/216/21/4054/F3.medium.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://jeb.biologists.org/content/216/21/4054/F3.medium.gif" height="320" width="205" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elephant vs human larynx<br />
<i>via Herbst (2013)</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
All of these adaptations, which enable
the ultra-low frequency rumbles, allow for the communication of elephants
across vast expanses, a necessity born of the structure of elephant society.
Female elephants, who live within a familial herd, often use rumbles to gather together
disparate herd members while male elephants will emit distinct rumbles during
musth (their peak of sexual activity) to communicate with potential mates from
far away, since they tend to live on their own or with loosely bonded male
compatriots. In this way, the physiology of elephant vocalizations reflects the
challenges and limits of their physical and social environments. But the
production of the sound is only half the story; next month we’ll look at how
the elephants on the other end of the communication perceive and localize the
calls of their kin. <o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<br />
References<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; line-height: 16px;">Herbst, C. T., Stoeger, A. S., Frey, R., Lohscheller, J., Titze, I. R., Gumpenberger, M., & Fitch, W. T. (2012). How low can you go? Physical production mechanism of elephant infrasonic vocalizations.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; line-height: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; line-height: 16px;"><i>Science</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; line-height: 16px;">,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; line-height: 16px;"><i>337</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; line-height: 16px;">(6094), 595-599.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">http://www.elephantvoices.org/elephant-communication/acoustic-communication.html</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129083762<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">http://www.elephantsforever.co.za/elephants-respiratory-system.html#.U6E6N-Dam_w<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">http://onwisconsin.uwalumni.com/features/an-elephant-never-begets/</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">http://news.psu.edu/story/141213/2009/10/19/research/probing-question-why-do-men-have-deep-voices</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 16px;">Photos:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Shoshani, J. 1998. Understanding proboscidean evolution: a formidable task. <em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Trends in Ecology & Evolution</em> 13, 480-487.</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">Cat by Sameer.S <i>via Wikimedia Commons</i></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Herbst, C. T., Švec, J. G., Lohscheller, J., Frey, R., Gumpenberger, M., Stoeger, A. S., & Fitch, W. T. (2013). Complex vibratory patterns in an elephant larynx. <i>The Journal of experimental biology</i>, <i>216</i>(21), 4054-4064.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-937300192862251449.post-14040082920790062272014-06-09T00:31:00.003-07:002014-06-09T00:31:50.262-07:00How To Guide: Performing an Elephant Health Check<i>by Lisa Barrett</i><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">After your first snack of grass and
sugarcane, you felt a little bit queasy.
A few hours later, after another quick bite of bananas, you started feeling
downright lousy. You've made it to the
doctor's office to get a checkup, but discovered a slight problem: your doctor
doesn't speak elephant! What can you do?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></i>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GSdu0beloMo/U5VicybQ5jI/AAAAAAAAFLw/8g27WQIQTmg/s1600/DSCN0340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GSdu0beloMo/U5VicybQ5jI/AAAAAAAAFLw/8g27WQIQTmg/s1600/DSCN0340.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Like Somjai here, the elephants we work with receive regular health check-ups.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by: Lisa Barrett</i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Since
elephants cannot tell us when they are feeling ill, we rely on regular health
checks to measure whether an elephant is healthy or sick, overweight or
malnourished. Elephant veterinarians usually perform these checks on a monthly
basis at the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation’s target training wall
while employing positive reinforcement techniques (<a href="http://bit.ly/1ppzGeF">read more about target-training here</a>). In addition,
mahouts, elephant caretakers, will report any abnormalities or illnesses in his
elephant to the vet. So, what are the steps of a basic elephant vet check?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>What’s Up, Doc?</b><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Before
approaching an elephant, the vet will want to assess the body state of the
patient and be sure that the elephant’s mahout is present. An upset elephant
will likely have her ears pushed forward and her tail sticking straight out or
up. These postural cues indicate that an elephant is not safe to approach. A
good way to greet your patient is by handing them a nice handful of sunflower
seeds, a delicious treat for elephants!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wd7lAmO6mNE/U5VhLRZk_uI/AAAAAAAAFLU/wTsRnv14wVw/s1600/DSC05857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wd7lAmO6mNE/U5VhLRZk_uI/AAAAAAAAFLU/wTsRnv14wVw/s1600/DSC05857.JPG" height="246" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">If Am's tail was erect and ears were pushed forward, it may not be safe to approach her.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by: Lisa Barrett</span></i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>“Eyes and Ears and Mouth and Nose…”</b><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Next, the
vet will check to make sure that the elephant’s eyes are bright and clear and
that they are not secreting a lot of excess liquid. Dull eyes would indicate
sickness or pain. It is normal for elephants to appear as though they are
crying, because these tears help them flush out debris from the eyes (and these
tears likely are not the same as when humans weep and emotionally feel sad). Liquid
pouring from the eyes, however, could signify an ulcer or eye infection needing
treatment. Similarly, an inspection of the ears for any smelly secretions is critical
to a health check up. A cooperative elephant will also allow the vet to look
inside of their mouth to check for any mouth sores or growths, and to count out
four healthy teeth. If an elephant’s mahout has reported breathing problems in
their elephant, the vet may also investigate the trunk to make sure airways are
clear of any sticks or other obstructions.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-linV-SupeOs/U5Veu7t0E6I/AAAAAAAAFK4/v-BRcNYEkas/s1600/DSC05374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-linV-SupeOs/U5Veu7t0E6I/AAAAAAAAFK4/v-BRcNYEkas/s1600/DSC05374.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">We can tell a lot about Lakheng's health by checking her eyes.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by: Lisa Barrett</span></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Breathe In, Breathe Out</b><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Checking the
respiration rate of an elephant can be a hefty feat, as the giants do not like to
stand still. At any rate, we can look at the elephant’s abdominal area to attempt
a breath count. Believe it or not, they only breathe four to twelve times per
minute!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">How do we
measure the pulse of an elephant? We place one or two fingers on the largest
artery behind the ear. Interestingly, an elephant’s heart rate may triple in an
attempt to get blood to all of their extremities if it is lying down. And just
like your heart rate might be faster when you are at the doctor’s office, so
might an elephant’s when she is with the vet!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sIQBTpHVDB4/U5VdT95UjeI/AAAAAAAAFKo/UMwdBrWdGG8/s1600/DSC05931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sIQBTpHVDB4/U5VdT95UjeI/AAAAAAAAFKo/UMwdBrWdGG8/s1600/DSC05931.JPG" height="132" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">We can measure an elephant's pulse on the back of her ear.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by: Lisa Barrett</span></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Skin & Toes</b><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">To be sure
there are no rashes or fungal growth on the body of an elephant, a vet should examine
the skin carefully. Believe it or not, some bug bites can pierce elephant skin,
and the thick skin can close over the top and create an unhealthy ulcer if not
cleaned properly. The skin should feel soft, hairy, and wrinkly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Perhaps the
most important part of the elephant body, feet and toenails require regular
inspection for cracks, punctures, and pain. The mahout and veterinarian will also
pay careful attention to whether the elephant is favoring a leg by observing
her gait.<o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wNYPpfgZ8Sc/U5VfgnhxbeI/AAAAAAAAFLE/LrROQXn85T0/s1600/DSC05220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wNYPpfgZ8Sc/U5VfgnhxbeI/AAAAAAAAFLE/LrROQXn85T0/s1600/DSC05220.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Asian elephants have five toenails on their front feet.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by: Lisa Barrett</span></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Step on the Scale</b><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Most
elephant vet checks will include weighing the animal, but if a facility does
not have an elephant-sized scale, one can use a formula as a weight estimate.
For adult elephants, this formula involves measuring the chest girth of the
elephant, multiplying by 18, and subtracting 3,336. A healthy female elephant weighs around two to
three tons!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Vets will
also keep a record of the elephant’s shoulder height, another measurement which
we can estimate. By multiplying the circumference of an elephant foot by two,
we get a fairly accurate guess at the elephant’s shoulder height! In other
words, if you found an elephant footprint in the wild, you could measure its
circumference to determine the body size of the wild elephant in that area. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Lastly, a
vet can use body condition scores to evaluate whether an elephant is
underweight, overweight, or just right. By using a standard yet subjective
scoring system, he or she will rate different body areas (temporal, scapular,
pelvic, etc.) between zero (for very little fat) to one (for very filled out).
Summing these scores provides a total score that falls between zero and
five—between malnourished and overweight. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IdkTjXMekkE/U5Us4e5G_zI/AAAAAAAAFKE/B-NA60RAuek/s1600/blog12+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IdkTjXMekkE/U5Us4e5G_zI/AAAAAAAAFKE/B-NA60RAuek/s1600/blog12+1.png" height="320" width="211" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">A malnourished elephant (top) compared to a very full elephant (bottom).</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo from: Fernando et al. 2009</i></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"><i><b>Final Touches</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">All of these
steps equip an elephant veterinarian with enough information to assess the
general health of an elephant. It is important to have these regular check-ups
so we have a record of each elephant’s health history. From being careful about
approaching her patient to carefully assessing the health of each body part and
the body as a whole, being an elephant veterinarian is “no small feat!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MBRsL9s9GUo/U5UyqA3sWDI/AAAAAAAAFKU/pkCI3rYQnDo/s1600/_DSC0467-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MBRsL9s9GUo/U5UyqA3sWDI/AAAAAAAAFKU/pkCI3rYQnDo/s1600/_DSC0467-2.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by: Elise Gilchrist</i></span><br />
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<b><a href="http://bit.ly/1eTOl0C">To see a health check in action on five-year-old Am, click here!</a> </b><br />
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