'Ghost' Elephant Spotted for First Time in 5 Years
An African forest elephant — nicknamed the "ghost elephant" due to its incredibly infrequent sightings — was spotted in Senegal for the first time in five years earlier this June.
Remote camera footage from Niokolo-Koba National Park in Senegal shows a lone elephant walking across frame — stopping to seemingly take a quick peek at the camera before moving on.
The elephant, named Ousmane after a local park ranger, was last seen in January 2020. At the time, it was expected that this elephant was one of only five to 10 African forest elephants left in the 3,500 square mile park.
Panthera, a conservation organization that owns the remote camera that caught Ousmane, released a statement following the finding. "This male is the only individual that's been photographed in the park since 2020," the statement reads, "And DNA analysis, collected through dung samples, confirms he's potentially the only individual left."
View the to see embedded media.
The elephant population in Senegal has been decimated over past decades due to poaching and continuous habitat loss. Niokolo-Koba National Park plays an integral role in maintaining the health of the elephant population as well as several other species.
Niokolo-Koba is also home to the critically endangered West African lion as well as the largest population of leopards left in West Africa, according to Panthera. While Ousmane may be the only African forest elephant left in Senegal, preservation efforts may lead to the transport of others in the species — particularly female elephants — to help somewhat repopulate Niokolo-Koba National Park.
'Ghost' Elephant Spotted for First Time in 5 Years first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 19, 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Onlookers capture incredible video as massive sea animal wanders into bustling community far from shore: 'He's huge'
Residents of a South African harbor town were left stunned — and rather charmed — by the unexpected visit of a large sea animal. In a video uploaded to CNN's TikTok account in late May, a massive elephant seal had a grand day out in Gordon's Bay, a harbor town and suburb of Cape Town. After disrupting traffic, "the seal eventually won the hearts" of the locals. Residents named the oversized interloper "Gordon," or "Gordy" for short. After nine hours of effort, the still-growing pup was eventually enticed back to the safety of the sea, having originally traveled a great distance to the residential area. The video's commenters were as enamored with Gordy as the coastal community had been. One simply said, "He's HUGE!" Another swooned, "He's so cute!" A few aspiring comedians weighed in. One postulated, "Imagine being late, then telling your boss 'There was a seal on the road.'" Although presented as a light-hearted piece, the story highlights an important issue that should be a cause for some concern. In this case, nobody was harmed, and no serious property damage occurred. However, other such cases have not ended so well. When threatened, animals can attack people. They can also make off with pets and livestock. In such cases, they can also face euthanasia themselves. Of course, it's possible for a wild animal to randomly wander into a developed community. But human encroachment and habitat destruction are prime drivers of unusual wildlife presence in urban areas. Do you think people should be allowed to keep exotic animals as pets? Yes No It depends on the animal It depends on the person Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Another contributing factor is the disruption of animals' food supplies stemming from rising global temperatures. With heat-trapping pollution upsetting growing patterns and food chains, some hungry animals are forced to venture outside their natural habitats. Polar bears are an example of wildlife that is becoming increasingly common in human settlements for these reasons. Fortunately, elephant seals as a species aren't facing any immediate threats to their long-term survival, but that hasn't always been the case. They were hunted to near extinction for their blubber. Now they are protected under international law. In the big picture, addressing root causes will be key. Human-caused pollution and encroachment are problems with at least a few solutions we could deploy now. But managing human-wildlife encounters often begins close to home. In Gordy's case, the community came together to nudge the seal gently back to sea. Properly addressing more difficult cases will require some planning and deliberate local action. A part of that action could include designating and safeguarding conservation areas for vulnerable animals. Supporting pro-environment policies could help to create preserves aimed at protecting specific species — and the biodiversity on which all living things rely. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Farmer delivers ‘little miracle' baby hare in emergency roadside Caesarean
A baby hare has been hailed a 'little miracle' after being delivered from its mother in an emergency roadside Caesarean. The adult female hare was accidentally struck by machinery while farmer Robert Craig was carrying out silage operations in Dumfries and Galloway. When he checked on the dead mother, he noticed that there was movement in her stomach and realised she was pregnant. Knowing that he needed to act quickly to save the babies he performed an emergency Caesarean section with a pen knife, delivering two tiny leverets at the side of the road. Mr Craig said: 'I went to check what I had struck and sadly found the hare dead. 'But then I saw her stomach move and knew instantly she was pregnant, and I had to act quickly to give the babies a chance at life. 'I carefully cut her open and saw the babies. I gave them a gentle swing to clear out any mucus, just like you would with newborn lambs. 'Then I started rubbing their bodies to try and get them breathing, and sure enough, they gasped and came around. 'So, I stopped working, got them warmed up and called the Scottish SPCA.' While one of the leverets did not survive, the other, named Bruno by Scottish SPCA staff for his fighting spirit, is now gaining strength at the charity's National Wildlife Rescue Centre at Fishcross in Clackmannanshire. Animal Rescue Officer Emma Totney went to the scene at Rigg near Gretna, Dumfries and Galloway, on May 13. She said: 'When I arrived, I was surprised by how alert and energetic the baby was – it was a huge relief. He was feeding well and already showing signs of real fight. 'He was smaller than we'd expect for a newborn, but clearly a fighter. He's a little miracle. 'He was feeding well and showed great energy, so I knew I needed to get him to our team at Fishcross as quickly as possible. 'We stopped a couple of times on the journey for feeds, and each time he did brilliantly. 'We were all amazed he had survived such a dramatic start to life. 'It's heartwarming to know that thanks to a kind-hearted farmer, the wildlife centre team, and myself, this little miracle will get the chance to return to the wild and live a full life.' When first admitted to the Wildlife Rescue Centre, Bruno was very underweight at just 80g – well below the typical 100–130g birth weight for a newborn hare. However, he has since grown significantly and now weighs more than nine times his original weight. The team hope that Bruno will be ready for release into the wild in the coming weeks, provided his progress continues. At Fishcross, the Scottish SPCA's wildlife team provides round-the-clock care for orphaned and injured animals. Wildlife assistant Shauni Stoddart, who has been caring for Bruno, said: 'When Bruno first arrived, he was 20g underweight and in a very fragile condition. 'Due to his unique circumstances, he was hand-reared at home for the first five days to minimise stress. He responded incredibly well, quickly gaining strength. 'He's a true little fighter. It's been an emotional journey for everyone involved but seeing him grow stronger every day is so rewarding.' The Scottish SPCA described Bruno's birth as 'very extraordinary', and the charity said it would not recommend anyone performing this kind of surgery on any animal.
CBS News
16 hours ago
- CBS News
Video shows mama bear swimming across Massachusetts reservoir with cubs on her back
Mother bear swims across Massachusetts reservoir with cubs on her back Mother bear swims across Massachusetts reservoir with cubs on her back Mother bear swims across Massachusetts reservoir with cubs on her back A fisherman captured video showing a mama bear swimming across a Massachusetts reservoir with two cubs on her cubs on her back. The adorable moment was captured by a man on the Quabbin Reservoir in New Salem. The man, Izzy Drost, said in a Facebook post that his friend had taken him out fishing that day, and they suddenly saw the bears. "What an amazing sight to see," Drost wrote online. Experts say that black bears can swim at least a mile and a half in fresh water. The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife says that bears should be appreciated from a safe distance. If you encounter a bear, here's what experts recommend doing. Remain calm Do not run and do not climb trees Back away Make sure the bear has a safe route Fight back if attacked Experts also say not to feed bears under any circumstances. For more information on what to do if you come across a black bear, click here. Mama bear and cubs in Worcester A mama bear and her two cubs were seen wandering through a Worcester neighborhood in October of 2024. Residents were thrilled to see the family in their backyards. "It was definitely breathtaking to see a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said Brianna Emond-Parkin, who saw the bears. "It also gives me a deep respect for nature and for the health of the woods around here. I think we have to be respectful as long as nobody's getting hurt it was just a beautiful experience," Tracy Emond-Parkin said.
