The 'Hello in Elephant' campaign has been developed in partnership with ElephantVoices, using its founder and conservationist Dr Joyce Poole’s research into elephant communication and behaviour, which has been conducted over her 40-year career, working with and studying elephants.

By inputting a phrase by voice, text, or emoji on the 'Hello in Elephant' website, people will get to see a video of an elephant communicating the same greeting or emotion back to them in elephant speak. The video can be shared via Facebook, WhatsApp, and Twitter to help raise awareness of elephants.
 


Poole adds, "Elephants are awe-inspiring. Every moment in their company brings one joy. Unlocking their rich emotive communication and gaining deeper insight into their world is fascinating. Yet, elephants and their habitats are under assault, and we urgently need to change hearts and minds." 


The 'Hello in Elephant' website translates human phrases that fit with elephant communications sounds into elephant calls. Key translations include the following:

  • Hello / Greetings – Hello, good evening, good day, welcome;
  • Casual Hello / – Hi Hey, hi, Yo;
  • How are you? – How are you? You alright?; 
  • Love / Affection – I love you, xoxo;
  • Male Flirting/Sexual – Hey girl, beautiful, darling;
  • Female Flirting/Sexual – Hey handsome, charming;
  • Playful / Cheeky / Silly – Haha, dance, funny;
  • Rage / Fury – I’m furious, mad, tantrum;
  • Annoyed / Frustrated / NO – No, stressed out, on my nerves;
  • Celebrate / Super Playful – Cheers, Woohoo, yahoo, let’s party, awesome;
  • Let’s go – Let’s go. Come on;
  • Scared / Fearful – Afraid, I’m worried, dreading;
  • Unhappy / very distressed – Sad, misery, distressed, embarrassed;
  • Begging / Pleading – Please, ask, beg;
  • OK / yes / I’m here – Ok, Yes, alright, yep, good, sure thing;
  • Fighting – Hate, Grrr, push, punch, brawl; and
  • Hungry – Hungry, famished, starving.

Angela Sheldrick, chief executive of the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, says, "We hope this campaign will inspire budding elephant ‘conversationalists’ to become elephant conservationists by supporting The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (DSWT), and our campaign partner ElephantVoices, to help us to continue our vital elephant protection projects."

The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is a successful orphan-elephant rescue and rehabilitation programme and one of the pioneering conservation organisations for wildlife and habitat protection in East Africa.

Elephants are in increased danger of extinction due to poaching and habitat loss. There were over 10 million African elephants in the early 20th century, now there are less than 400 000. By 2025, scientists predict there could be only 190 000 left.

Sheldrick concludes, "Africa’s wildlife is being pushed to the brink of extinction. The lucrative illegal ivory trade is killing up to 70 elephants a day. Human/wildlife conflict is leaving behind injured and orphaned wild animals that would not survive without intervention and habitat destruction is endangering important biodiversity areas. Through this campaign’s celebration of this magnificent animal, we hope to raise more awareness of the elephant’s plight and funding for elephant rescue and conservation projects."

For more information, visit www.helloinelephant.com.