June marks the start of the African elephant migration season, so this week, we’re learning about these incredible creatures! Before you take a gander at these brilliant mammals, follow this doodle tutorial and draw an elephant friend to accompany you on your adventure.
Yours in media,
Elizabeth He, Visual Communications Editor
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From the arts to history to drama and beyond, dig into a weekly interesting topic featuring GBH programming.
Elephants in the Wild
Elephants and Hippos Play Hide and Seek
Usually, elephants and hippos stay out of each other’s way, but these elephants deliberately gate-crash this hippo’s lagoon party. Do they get along?
When an Earthquake Struck San Diego, These Elephants Formed an “Alert Circle”
The San Diego Zoo Safari Park caught its elephants on video taking action to protect their young. Altruism at its finest!
NATURE Elephant Architects of the Okavango
See how elephants help shape the flow of the Okavango River by cutting pathways through the reeds and vegetation.
Human Footprint: Can We Live with Giants?
Kenyan farmers and rangers balance danger and devotion in their fight to coexist with elephants. How do we live in harmony?
NATURE The Making of Tusker
Go behind the scenes of Tusker: Brotherhood of Elephants, where filmmakers set out to capture the individuality of male elephants — and the distinct journey each one charts through life.
Do Giant Brains Mean More Smarts?
What does an elephant really know? Take a look at the ways elephants show their intelligence and how it compares to other animals.
Elephant Conservation
NATURE: Baby Steps: Becoming Elephants: The Orphans of Reteti
At Reteti Sanctuary in Kenya, the team helps a disabled orphan elephant named Long’uro find his confidence, nurses a sick calf back from the brink, and manages an unexpected encounter inside an enclosure.
How Do You Move 250 Elephants to Their New Home? Very Carefully
A tranquilized baby elephant is hoisted into the air and gently placed in a large truck that will take it to a new home. What a process to see.
NATURE: Bedtime at the Elephant Orphanage
At Nairobi’s David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant orphanage, caretakers spend each night with a different elephant, to prevent the orphans from becoming too attached. It’s a slumber party with the elephants!
Changing Planet: Elephant Orphanage
Enjoy snack time at the Voi elephant orphanage in Kenya and learn about the impact of drought on the local elephant population.
Georgia Outdoors: Elephant Sanctuary
There is an elephant sanctuary near Bainbridge, Georgia. Meet two of its residents: Bo, a retired circus elephant, and Tarra, an elephant with an amazing past.
Recipe of the Week
Banana Custard Pie with Caramelized Sugar from Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Television
Elephants do not actually eat peanuts. Instead, they eat grasses and barks. Their “sweet tooth” is often satisfied with mangoes, figs, and bananas. Here’s a sweet treat that is sure to satisfy your cravings.
Elephant Stories — Real and Imagined
- Jumbo the elephant was so popular that even today his name is synonymous with “big.” When P.T. Barnum bought Jumbo, an African elephant from the London Zoological Society, the sale caused protests in England and began a sensational story. Fun fact! Jumbo later became a much loved mascot at Tufts University.
- Watch an AMERICAN EXPERIENCE original interview with writer, Ron Suskind, where he explains how a “simple story” like Dumbo can still pack an emotional punch because “we all yearn to be part of the main ... to be like everyone else.”
- Some scientists and engineers are teaching elephants to play music. Now, that’s a talented elephant.
- Christie the African Elephant loves painting. Her keepers trained her to hold the brush and have since watched her art style develop on its on. Check out her masterpiece.
- Today there are only three species of elephant, but 16 million years ago, there were dozens. What happened to all those species?
Dive Into America 250
America’s Awesome Kids Celebrates Kindness and Community
GBH Kids’ new series showcases the cultures and passions of children throughout the country. See how exemplary kids are making an impact in their local communities.
Off Topic
- The Curiosity Desk talks about the best ice cream spots in New England. Do you agree?
- Is this allergy season in Massachusetts really as bad as it feels? GBH News investigates our pollen forecasts.
- A Boston Common monument honors the “Boston Game” and the first game of “football.” But was it American football or soccer?
