Lady Elephant Simulator Could Save Lives

Feb 13, 2008
19,430
0
0
Lady Elephant Simulator Could Save Lives


Learning how to speak the seismic language of elephants may save some farmer's lives.

Zoologists in Namibia think so, and are trying to harness the seismic social calls of the female elephant to lure rampaging males back to safety. They've already had success by simulating the low rumble of a herd of female elephants in heat, causing randy bull elephants to come a-calling.

The trials are being led by Dr Caitlin O'Connell-Rodwell, of Stanford University, England. Elephants in must, their state of sexual readiness, have been shown to alter their movements to head towards the low vibration in the ground.

The tool could help save elephants in Etosha National Park from the risk of violent conflicts with farmers. Elephants damage crops, break water installations and may end up being shot. "It's very difficult to get them back into the park. Someone ends up getting hurt," said Dr. O'Connell-Rodwell.

The vibrations have been shown to make bull elephants react from up to 2km away, although they can hear mating calls at up to 10km away. So if you've left your rumble pack on the ground and you hear a trumpeting, run like your life depended on it.

Source: BBC [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7890919.stm]
(Image) [http://www.flickr.com/photos/angela7/80765299/]

Permalink
 

Galletea

Inexplicably Awesome
Sep 27, 2008
2,877
0
0
Well saving elephants from fighting with farmers is good. It is intriguing how creatures manage to communicate over such long distances.

Though it does show that even 10 km away males have but one thing on their minds ;P
 

NewClassic_v1legacy

Bringer of Words
Jul 30, 2008
2,484
0
0
galletea said:
Though it does show that even 10 km away males have but one thing on their minds ;P
That is really unfair, Gtea. (True, but unfair.)

That's a very interesting use of social habits as a form of location control. I certainly agree that it's a bad thing that farmers end up injuring Elephants, and the elephants end up damaging farming equipment.

I really like this solution. It's an active solution that does something forward and relevant without being terribly destructive. Hell, if most of life's problems had creative, simple, but effective solutions like these, then life would be a hell of a lot more interesting and simple.

...Okay, unlikely, but a man can dream.