For three years, I have listened and watched countless videos of forest elephants in Dzanga Bai, a field site of the Elephant Listening Project located in Dzanga-Ndoki National Park in Central African Republic. I’ve seen a baby elephant take its first steps, reunions between family members, and the joy in elephants taking mud baths on hot days. In May 2013, poachers arrived in Dzanga Bai and slaughtered at least 26 elephants – four of which were infants. This senseless act of cruelty hit home for me personally and all of the other individuals who volunteer for the Elephant Listening Project. Slaughters such as the one in Dzanga Bai are occurring all across Africa to fuel the illegal ivory trade. If we do not take action soon, these magnificent creatures will soon only be found in history books. 

-Natalie,

President of Elephant Ears