Elephant Health (broadcast Friday, December 12th, 2008)

Peter Wrege, director of the Elephant Listening Project at Cornell University, takes us to an elephant hot spot in the Central African Republic. Listen to the calls of African forest elephants (Loxodonta cyclotis) and find out what researchers think the vocalizations may mean. (Credits: Footage courtesy of Andrea Turkalo/Elephant Listening Project. ) See More Videos

Research published this week indicates that elephants in protected areas in the wild live longer, healthier lives than those in captivity. According to the paper, published this week in the journal Science, female elephants living in protected populations in Africa and Asia live longer than those in captivity in European zoos -- on average, about twice as long. Obesity and stress are thought to be two of the factors involved. In this segment, we'll talk about the study, and how zoos around the world might have to adapt in the face of the new findings. Teachers, find more information about using Science Friday as a classroom resource in the Kids' Connection.