08/08/2014

Listening In on Elephant ‘Mating Pandemonium’

8:19 minutes

Single Elephant
Image by Peter Wrege

Elephants have different rumbles and roars for how they greet each other, warn about danger, and even to show that they’re annoyed. Peter Wrege, director of The Elephant Listening Project, recorded an event called “mating pandemonium,” where a group of elephants roar after a pair of elephants mate. Wrege discusses the possible reasons for this pachyderm party.

You can learn more about the thermal imaging technology Wrege used to see the event in this Picture of the Week article.

Segment Guests

Peter Wrege

Peter Wrege is director of the Elephant Listening Project at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

Meet the Producer

About Alexa Lim

Alexa Lim was a senior producer for Science Friday. Her favorite stories involve space, sound, and strange animal discoveries.

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