Following the Leader 🐘👑

Dynamic relationships shape the herd NOTES FROM THE FIELD | 2025 | No. 10

An elephant’s ears perk up as it curiously swivels towards a rustling sound. Nearby, another herd member’s eager trunk curls and stretches to pluck tender leaves from a tree branch. Depending on the relationship of these two African elephants, they may share the leafy meal or one of them might only get the leftovers. It’s all part of being a family. Elephant families tend to have complex and ever-changing relationships. The herd at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park is no exception. Swazi, the matriarch, is a calm and dominant female despite her smaller size and the other seven members follow her quiet but confident lead. For elephants, each strategic social choice they make and where they stand with the matriarch can influence greater access to resources, including water, foraging opportunities, shade, and preferred sleeping spots. In 2026, you’ll experience these incredible social dynamics for yourself at Denny Sanford Elephant Valley. Your journey here will take you across the savanna and into the heart of our conservation work to save, protect, and care for endangered African elephants through our Savanna Conversation Hub. Before you step into the herd’s world, discover who’s who in the family.

MEET THE HERD

NOT-SO-FALSE-ALARM Earth’s largest land animal has some extraordinary abilities, including “hearing” through their foot pads in what’s known as seismic communication. Circle up and see how the herd at the Safari Park used this superpower during a 5.2 magnitude earthquake. Plus, explore how other wildlife, from amphibians to birds of prey, tap into their unique adaptations when the weather changes.

SHAKE, RATTLE, ROLL

SAVING SPOTS With their towering silhouettes, giraffes are watchtowers of the sprawling African savanna. Unfortunately, their populations have drastically decreased over last 30 years. We recently celebrated the birth of Masai giraffe calves at both the Zoo and Safari Park, boosting the global population of their endangered species. Stand tall and learn more about other critical conservation efforts to save them.

NEW HEIGHTS

MAPPING THE FUTURE The key to saving endangered African elephants might just be in their genes. With our Savanna Conservation Hub partners, we’re filling knowledge gaps by creating an innovative conservation tool: a genomic atlas. Unearth more about how this groundbreaking resource is helping secure a genetically diverse future for these beloved gentle giants.

BANKING ON IT

Your monthly gift will make a world of difference for wildlife. , your ongoing support makes a lifesaving difference for African elephants. As a Wildlife Hero, your monthly gift will take us further as we work together to create a brighter future for this iconic—and endangered—species through our Savanna Conservation Hub. And as a Wildlife Hero, your support will renew hope for the extraordinary wildlife relying on us to thrive—and survive—each and every day. You make it all possible, and we’re forever grateful for you. WILDLIFE HEROES CHANGE THE WORLD.

BE A HERO

DONATE

Your support saves wildlife. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is an international conservation nonprofit and a registered 501(c)(3) organization. Tax ID# 95-1648219. With more than 100 years of wildlife care expertise and partnerships around the globe, we are saving, protecting, and caring for species worldwide. Follow along on our mission to save wildlife

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