Family Histories

Where it all began… The story of Wart Ear and her family, the first elephants identified in 1972 by Cynthia Moss and Harvey Croze.

One of the most tight-knit and affectionate Amboseli families, Celeste would reign as matriarch for many years.

Possibly the most famous elephant ever, Echo led her family from seven members at the start of the study, to a flourishing 37 at the time of her death in 2009. She remains an Amboseli icon.

The GB family split into two parts, but since the time of writing these two parts have rejoined one another. This rejoin was precipitated by the loss of two big females, Gladys and Gwen in 2009, and is the first time we have ever documented this kind of flexibility.

Three Holes appeared in the Amboseli population around 1977, a “floater” who must have lost the rest of her family. She joined Isabel and the IA family, and eventually became their matriarch – a wonderful example of social flexibility.

The KAs have had more than their fair share of troubles over the time we have known them, but they are currently flourishing once again.

The MAs were a difficult family to work out early in the study, because they were so closely bonded to the WA family. This friendship has now lasted thirty years.

One of the biggest Amboseli families, the PAs have provided us with many important data points as well as many wonderful hours of field time.

Fascinating, and frustrating, the RAs have challenged and puzzled us with their family dynamics.

Immortalised in Cynthia’s book, Elephant Memories, the Ts remain close to our hearts.

The largest and most dominant family in Amboseli, the VAs have been fiercely successful.

Wise Xanthippe and her crew are great friends with the RA family, but this friendship has caused us some confusion.

Not surprisingly the ZA family was one of the last families to be identified as the elephant families are categorized into alphabetical order.