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Africa

Promise for Elephants

They need you now more than ever before.

Wild elephants at Loisaba Wilderness in Laikipia in Northern Kenya. © Ami Vitale

A wild African elephant born today could live up to 60 years if she has enough safe, healthy habitat.

We’re taking a holistic approach with partners to give her that chance.

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Program Overview

Join Us to #SaveElephants

Elephants need wide open spaces and protection from poachers. Learn more by watching the video at left, or make an immediate impact by texting "elephants" to 50555 to give $10.

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Latest News

An elephant raises its trunk.

Documenting Zambia’s Elephants

In September 2015, ecologists took to the sky to get a better picture of the state of elephants in Zambia as part of the Great Elephant Census.

Close-up of African elephants.

Elephants Will Have a Say in Mapping Kenya’s Future

Could elephants, with their complex mental maps of rivers, forests and fertile grassland, contribute to smarter growth for Kenya? With a little help from TNC’s scientists and movement data from Save the Elephants, we can make this happen.

Photo of an elephant.

African Bush Elephant

The African bush elephant is the largest land mammal in the world, but habitat destruction and poaching pose major threats to species survival.

Elephants in Their Element

Elephants on the Move African elephants live in a wide variety of habitats ranging from the deserts of Namibia to the forests of Congo to the grassy savannas of Kenya and Tanzania. © Kenneth K. Coe
A Giant Up Close The African elephant is the largest of Earth’s living land mammals. A fully grown adult reaches a height of 10 to 13 feet. © Ami Vitale
Family Ties Elephants form deep family bonds and live in tight matriarchal family groups. When a calf is born, it is raised and protected by the whole herd. © Krista Lyons
Big Eaters An elephant spends the majority of its day eating—16 hours, to be exact! Elephants are herbivores and can consume up to 300 pounds of food in a single day. © Ami Vitale
The Elephant Eye Elephants have very small eyes, but who needs good eyesight when you have the largest brain in the animal kingdom? © Jennifer Leigh
Majestic Tusks Tusks grow for most of an elephant’s lifetime. Despite bans on international sales of ivory, elephants are still being poached because market demand for ivory remains high. © Karine Aigner
Trunks as Tools To cool off, elephants use their trunks to squirt water on their bodies. Elephants also use their trunks as snorkels when they wade into rivers, as seen here. © Ami Vitale
Not Just for Hearing Elephants also use their enormous ears to control their body temperature and keep cool in Africa’s hot climate. © Ami Vitale
Providing Safe Places The Nature Conservancy is working with local partners to protect large, intact landscapes. Securing wildlife corridors means more protected habitat for African elephants. © Ami Vitale
Bring Promise for Elephants Join The Nature Conservancy in our effort to create a better future for these remarkable animals. © Roshni Lodhia
× Elephants on the Move African elephants live in a wide variety of habitats ranging from the deserts of Namibia to the forests of Congo to the grassy savannas of Kenya and Tanzania. © Kenneth K. Coe
× A Giant Up Close The African elephant is the largest of Earth’s living land mammals. A fully grown adult reaches a height of 10 to 13 feet. © Ami Vitale
× Family Ties Elephants form deep family bonds and live in tight matriarchal family groups. When a calf is born, it is raised and protected by the whole herd. © Krista Lyons
× Big Eaters An elephant spends the majority of its day eating—16 hours, to be exact! Elephants are herbivores and can consume up to 300 pounds of food in a single day. © Ami Vitale
× The Elephant Eye Elephants have very small eyes, but who needs good eyesight when you have the largest brain in the animal kingdom? © Jennifer Leigh
× Majestic Tusks Tusks grow for most of an elephant’s lifetime. Despite bans on international sales of ivory, elephants are still being poached because market demand for ivory remains high. © Karine Aigner
× Trunks as Tools To cool off, elephants use their trunks to squirt water on their bodies. Elephants also use their trunks as snorkels when they wade into rivers, as seen here. © Ami Vitale
× Not Just for Hearing Elephants also use their enormous ears to control their body temperature and keep cool in Africa’s hot climate. © Ami Vitale
× Providing Safe Places The Nature Conservancy is working with local partners to protect large, intact landscapes. Securing wildlife corridors means more protected habitat for African elephants. © Ami Vitale
× Bring Promise for Elephants Join The Nature Conservancy in our effort to create a better future for these remarkable animals. © Roshni Lodhia
Elephants crossing Through Tarangire National Park, in Tanzania. © Nick Hall