Elephants in the news

May 5th, 2026 Researchers have uncovered a unique genetic lineage in high-altitude elephants in Angola, revealing surprising links to Namibian populations. The findings come after years of fieldwork and DNA analysis of dung samples, shedding new light on these elusive “ghost elephants” first sought by conservation biologist Steve Boyes. Read the full article on https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2026/05/ghost-elephants-dna-research (Image source: Unsplash)

October 2025 Researchers have developed a promising new vaccine to protect young elephants from EEHV, a deadly virus affecting Asian elephants. Trials in adult elephants showed the vaccine is safe and activates key immune responses. For full details, read the article by Victoria Gill at BBC News: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjd1j02y88do

19 September 2025 Image: Elephant by Lucas Metz, via Unsplash (illustrative purposes) Delhi Animal welfare groups in India are mourning the passing of Shankar, the only African elephant at Delhi Zoo, who spent much of his life in isolation. The 29-year-old male elephant stopped eating and collapsed on Wednesday, and despite veterinary efforts, passed away within 40 minutes. Shankar endured a long life largely alone, including at least 13 years in solitary confinement. The ca

Wednesday 15 October 2025 - 11:23am - ENCA NEW DELHI - India's wild elephant population estimates have dropped sharply by a quarter, a government survey incorporating a new DNA system has found, marking the most accurate but sobering count yet. India is home to the majority of the world's remaining wild Asian elephants, a species listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and increasingly threatened by shrinking habitat. The Wildlife In