One of Amboseli's up-and-coming prime bulls was killed by poachers the day before yesterday. Winston had just turned 30 in January of this year and was regularly coming into musth. It should have been just the beginning of a successful breeding life but he was cut down for his ivory tusks.

I felt particularly close to Winston because he was one of 14 calves I chose for a special study in 1980. I carried out research on mother-calf bonds and calf development on these calves and so I spent hours with them in the first year of their lives.

mirror.co.uk
ELEPHANTS

Read the complete article

There should be a ban on importing elephants into UK zoos, demands the RSPCA.

The call comes as a report, commissioned by Defra, raises serious concerns about their welfare.

RSPCA scientist Dr Ros Clubb said: "Elephants are without question suffering in zoos. Adding yet more to an ailing population simply masks the problems." …

Please sign up for the first issue of our e-newsletter. The sign-up button is in the left column here. We will be producing a newsletter each month and hope you will find this a good way to get information directly to your e-mail address. Let us know what you think.

The following is the second half of a TV review that appeared in the Independent: http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/last-nights-t....

There was a two-part review in the Guardian that included another program: http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/2010/aug/06/mistresses-natural-wo....

Below is the part relating to "Echo an Unforgettable Elephant":

A comprehensive story on the life and death of the 'Majestic Echo'. Go to: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/3082419/Life-and-death-of-...

"Echo An Unforgettable Elephant"

For UK friends and supporters you have a special treat. The final film about Echo, which includes a retrospective of her life and the consequences to her family after her death, will be shown on BBC2 on August 5. In the days previous to this premiere BBC will be showing all the other Echo films. To read more about the schedule and see a preview and interviews go to:
http://www.mikebirkhead.com/Programmes/EchoUnforgettable.html.

US viewers will be able to see the new film on PBS channels on October 17. I will post more information closer to the time.

The Amboseli Trust for Elephants (ATE) started an initiative of supporting young Maasai girls in high school and also paying University scholarship for girls and boys.