Body language plays a big part in elephant communication, much as it does with humans. Kitich is among the most shy of all the elephants we have rescued recently, but his shyness does not mask how he feels. There are tell-tale signs that let us know when a new orphan begins to feel at home. Kitich is constantly crossing his back legs, which is an elephant gesture of contentment, and it makes his Keepers and all of us so happy to see him settling in, quite literally, to his new life! Like so many

As we know, elephant vocalization plays a key role in their survival in the wild. For this week’s EleFact, we look at a recent study that delved into the complex system of sounds they make, from low-frequency rumbles and roars to high-frequency chirps and squeaks. Much of the research on elephant communication comes from studying African elephants, but we don’t know as much about Asian elephants and their communication strategies, which differ in several ways. It’s important to understand the su