I filmed this video during the research for my picture book HOW TO BE AN ELEPHANT while out in the field at the Mpala Research Centre with elephant expert Sandy Oduor. We had just spent the morning identifying and counting elephants on the grounds when we came upon this migratory herd of about 30-40 individuals on the left side of the road, previously unseen at Mpala. Unlike resident elephant herds, this herd did not recognize Sandy Oduor or our jeep, so when we stopped to give them some space, an older female turned and bluff-charged our vehicle (as the video shows). Sandy decided it would be safest to continue forward to avoid the danger of becoming surrounded by the herd, but as we drove further other family members came out from the bushes on the left and crossed the road in front of us (see my video “Elephants Trumpeting”). It was a very tense situation for both the elephants and for us, but luckily the herd let us pass and we made it back to headquarters safely. In hindsight, it was an extremely dangerous situation, more than I fully understood at the time. Book research is not for the faint of heart!

This elephant video was filmed at the Mpala Research Centre, Laikipia District, Kenya in May 2014 on my Samsung Galaxy 3. Special thanks to elephant researcher (and expert driver) Sandy Oduor for getting us out of there swiftly and safely!

I filmed this video during the research for my picture book HOW TO BE AN ELEPHANT while out in the field at the Mpala Research Centre with elephant expert Sandy Oduor. We had just spent the morning identifying and counting elephants on the grounds when we came upon this migratory herd of 30-40 individuals on the left side of the road, previously unseen at Mpala. Unlike resident elephant herds, this herd did not recognize Sandy Oduor or our jeep, so when we stopped to give them some space, an older female turned and bluff-charged our vehicle (see my video “Elephant Bluff Charge”). Sandy decided it would be safest to continue forward to avoid the danger of becoming surrounded by the herd, but as you will see other family members came out from the bushes on the left and crossed the road in front of us. It was a very tense situation for both the elephants and for us, but luckily the herd let us pass and we made it back to headquarters safely. In hindsight, it was an extremely dangerous situation, more than I fully understood at the time. Book research is not for the faint of heart!

This elephant video was filmed at the Mpala Research Centre, Laikipia District, Kenya in May 2014 on my Samsung Galaxy 3. Special thanks to elephant researcher (and expert driver) Sandy Oduor for getting us out of there swiftly and safely.

If you are what you eat, elephants are basically one big walking pile of acacia leaves. They eat other plants too, of course—some populations of elephants have hundreds of different greens to choose from—but the elephants that I met in Kenya loved acacia plants, enormous spikes and all. In this video shot at the Sheldrick Ithumba Camp in Tsavo National Park, I share a little about acacia plants and the sharp weapons they have on their branches. Check it out!

A hand and an arm and a nose and a shower-an elephant's trunk is like a Swiss Army knife of tools! With over 100,000 muscles crisscrossing its length, this appendage is a masterpiece of strength and dexterity. In this video, which was shot at the Sheldrick Ithumba Camp in Tsavo National Park, I share a few moments with a young elephant as she makes the most of her morning meal. Check it out!