Life-size elephant puppets raise awareness of looming threat of culling in South Africa

Yaeesh Collins, Independent Online (South Africa), July 8, 2026

A herd of giant, life-size puppets trod solemnly through the shrublands of Cape Point, embodying the spirit of elephants against a backdrop of impending doom. This evocative scene features two adult elephant puppets and a calf, a poignant representation crafted by the Handspring Puppet Company, to raise awareness about the potential culling of over 2,000 elephants in South Africa.

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Amboseli loses another iconic giant as Tusker One Ton dies

Mary Wambui, Eastleigh Voice (Kenya), July 7, 2026

One of the eight remaining Amboseli iconic tuskers, One Ton, renowned for its massive body, impressive long tusks, and exceptionally calm demeanour, died over the weekend, months after the death of the iconic Craig. According to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), it represented a rare generation of elephants that survived decades in the wild, contributing to the ecological richness and continuity of the Amboseli–Tsavo Ecosystem and Kenya's natural heritage.

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Scientists probe Namibian desert elephant calf deaths

Hertta Maria Amutenja, Namibian (Namibia), July 8, 2026

Scientists are expanding research into the deaths of desert elephant calves in north-western Namibia amid concerns over rising mortality rates. The research follows the death of a newborn calf whose final hours were captured on video and shared by Elephant-Human Relations Aid (EHRA). The organisation says the calf was only a few hours old when it was filmed struggling before it died shortly afterwards. EHRA says tourists had gathered near the calf at the time, adding unnecessary stress to an already vulnerable situation.

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