Devastating news from Amboseli. One of our best-loved big matriarchs, Qumquat, was slaughtered by poachers, along with her two young daughters, very close to the border of the Park. Qumquat's youngest daughter was found alongside the carcasses, and we rescued her yesterday with the help of David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. She is lucky to be cared for by the expert team at Sheldrick's but she has been through a terrible ordeal. Qumquat's 6-month-old grandson is missing. Apologies for these upsetting images; this is the cruel and bloody reality of the ivory trade.

We are delighted to hit another landmark in our baby boom. Since the 12th of October, we've now documented 150 births. These calves are thriving, having been born in an above-average rainfall year. It's a delight being around the families, even though the terrain is becoming increasingly water-logged and harder for us to get to the elephants.

The TC family starred in Cynthia’s book Elephant Memories, and their triumphs and trials through thirteen years have introduced countless people to the wonder of elephant family life.

Here are some of my favourite images of our newest arrivals in Amboseli. The calves are doing well and we're nowhere near the end of the births yet.

Geeta's new daughter gave us cause for celebration with her arrival at position 100.

I was thrilled today to find Risa with a new female calf, just outside our camp as I returned from the field. She is a particularly pretty little female, and when I came to my notes, I discovered she's baby number 70 in this baby boom.

I had to share just how sweet she is!

Hi everyone,

Well the ATE team has been kept incredibly busy during the first three weeks of 2012. The elephants have been in large groups, which keep us on our toes as we try to identify all the families and males present, as well of course as keeping track of all the new calves.

Here are some of my favourite shots of life in Amboseli over the past few weeks of the New Year.

With very best wishes for 2012, on behalf the of ATE team. We thank you for your support as we go into the 40th year of the project.

Vicki

hi everyone,

Thanks for your patience; we're delighted to be able to share some images of our new arrivals, via our YouTube channel Amboseli Trust, and on our Facebook page.

The entire team is starting to feel sorry for some of our females; the most heavily pregnant ladies are starting to look quite tired. Not surprising when you consider that in a 22-month gestation, calves do a final growth spurt in the last month or so of pregnancy.

I decided to write this month's blog entry about the EAs quite a few weeks ago. Imagine my disappointment then when I couldn't find them, even to take any photos to put up here on the website. As you'll see from the blog post, not getting data on the EA family is something I'm learning to live with, but they just spent about a week right in the centre of Longinye swamp, where any photos I took would just be dark grey blobs on a sea of green.