Joyce Hatheway Poole (born 1 May 1956) is a biologist, ethologist, conservationist, and co-founder/scientific director of ElephantVoices.[1] She is a world authority on elephant reproductive, communicative, and cognitive behavior.[2]
Poole graduated from Smith College in 1979 with a degree in biological sciences and received her PhD in animal behavior from the University of Cambridge in 1982.[3] She began her research with Cynthia Moss in Amboseli in 1975, focusing on male elephants, which culminated in her Cambridge dissertation on the sexual and aggressive phenomenon of musth in male elephants, entitled, Musth and male-male competition in the African elephant. In the mid-1980s Poole and Katherine (Katy) Payne worked together in Amboseli studying elephant vocal communication. This collaboration led to the discovery that African elephants use powerful, very low frequency calls to communicate with one another over long distances.[4]
Poole has worked as a postdoctoral research fellow at Princeton University, head of the Elephant Program at Kenya Wildlife Service, and Scientific Director of ElephantVoices, which she co-founded with husband Petter Granli in 2002. Over decades Poole has been a vocal advocate for elephant conservation and welfare.[5][6] She has received several awards for her work, including the Smith College Medal and Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award.
Early life
Poole was born in Germany in 1956 to American parents, Robert Keyes Poole and Julie Ann Hatheway. Her father, a graduate of Yale, 1954, began his career teaching history at the Taft School. From there he was recruited in 1962 to join the US Peace Corps as country director first in Malawi and then in Kenya. In the early 1970s he initiated and ran the Smithsonian Peace Corp Environmental Program and then returned to Kenya to head the African offices of the African Wildlife Foundation. Poole's mother graduated from Smith College, 1954, and held numerous volunteer positions in Africa and the United States throughout her life. Poole has a brother, Emmy Award Winning nature cinematographer, Robert (Bob) C. Poole[7] and a sister, Virginia H. Poole, who holds a PhD in health services research from the Department of Health Policy and Management at Johns Hopkins University.[8]
Poole spent the first six years of her life in Connecticut at the Taft School, where her father was teaching. With her family Poole moved first to Malawi in 1962 and then to Kenya in 1965, where she grew up spending holidays in the national parks. At the age of six while on safari in Amboseli National Park, Kenya, their car was charged by a bull elephant. This made an impression on her. In 1966, when she was 11 years old, she went to one of primatologist Jane Goodall's lectures on her research with chimpanzees, and made a determination to become an animal behavior researcher.[9]
Career
Poole began her career in 1975, working with Cynthia Moss in Amboseli, where she focused on male African elephants. Her early observations led to her discovery of musth, a period of heightened reproductive activity and aggression, in African elephants. Her long-term documentation described the physical and behavioral characteristics and temporal patterning of musth among individual males, as well as the role of musth and longevity in reproductive success.[10]
In the mid-1980s Poole pursued postdoctoral research at Princeton University, working under Daniel Rubenstein. During this time, she continued her studies on the behavior of musth males while concurrently beginning to study elephant acoustic communication. During this period, she collaborated with Payne, leading to the discovery that the low frequency rumble vocalizations of African elephants contain infrasonic frequencies, below the range of human hearing. They postulated that elephants use powerful rumbles to communicate with one another over long distances.[11]
In 1990, she became the head of the Elephant Program for the Kenya Wildlife Service, where she worked for four years. She played a pivotal role in developing and implementing elephant conservation and management policies across the country and in training a team of young Kenyan elephant conservationists.
During the mid-1990s, Poole worked as a consultant for various organizations, including Richard Leakey & Associates, the World Bank, and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Her efforts were focused on advising, training, and raising awareness about elephant conservation. Additionally, she wrote a memoir Coming of Age with Elephants, published in 1996.[12][13]
In 2002, she co-founded ElephantVoices with her husband Granli, with the mission "to inspire wonder in the intelligence, complexity and voices of elephants, and to secure a kinder future for them".[1] In 2008, ElephantVoices was registered as a non-profit 501(c)3 organization in California dedicated to elephant research, conservation, education and advocacy.
Poole co-developed the Elephant Charter, outlining principles for the ethical treatment of elephants.[14] Poole and Granli also designed citizen science projects and digital tools that allowed people to submit observations of individual elephants through the use of customized apps to online databases. Among notable initiatives were the Elephant Partners project in the Maasai Mara ecosystem, and the Gorongosa Elephant Project in Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique, each with dedicated Who's Who & Whereabouts Databases and related smartphone apps as scientific tools, which enabled access to life history, social and locational information on individual elephants.[15]
Through their work at ElephantVoices, in 2021 Poole and Granli launched a fully searchable comprehensive Elephant Ethogram, a public database detailing African elephant behaviors and communication. This extensive resource, defining approximately 322 behaviors and 103 behavioral suites with written descriptions, images, sounds and over 2,400 video examples, was meticulously curated through tens of thousands of hours of field observations.
Research
Poole's work has focused on various aspects of elephant social structures, communication methods, and cognitive abilities. She has conducted in-depth studies on social and reproductive behaviors in elephants. She explored topics such as the persistence of effects of social disruption in elephants,[16] leadership in elephants, mate guarding, rutting behavior, and the adaptive value of age in male elephants.[17] Her research has shed light on the complexities of elephant societies, including coalition formations and cooperation among family members.
A significant portion of Poole's research has been dedicated to understanding elephant communication. She has investigated acoustic and gestural communication, examining the use of vocalizations and body language in various contexts. Her studies have delved into topics such as elephant vocal learning,[18] olfactory communication, and elephants' ability to classify human ethnic groups by odor and garment color. Poole's work has also explored the intentional use of signals, such as ostensive communication, where elephants emphasize the importance of specific messages within their groups.
Poole's research has contributed to the field of cognitive science by exploring elephant cognition and decision-making processes. Her studies have provided evidence of intentional, goal-directed actions among elephants, showcasing their ability to work together to achieve common objectives. This research highlights the elephants' independent agency, self-determination, and autonomy, demonstrating their sophisticated cognitive abilities. She has documented empathetic behaviors among elephants, including mourning rituals and cooperative problem-solving activities.
These observations emphasize the emotional depth and social bonds within elephant communities, underscoring the importance of empathy in their interactions. Poole's work has also highlighted the impact of poaching on the behavior and culture of elephants. Publications in the 2020s document these effects, including the consequences of systematic killing on populations, such as trauma, PTSD, behavioral abnormalities, culturally-learned behavior - such as aggression, and an increase in tusklessness in females.
Advocacy
Poole played a crucial role in documenting the devastating impact of poaching on elephants, particularly in the 1970s and 1980s. Her work contributed significantly to raising awareness about the issue, ultimately leading to the 1989 international ban on the ivory trade.[6] This ban was a significant milestone in the fight against the illegal ivory trade.
Poole has served as an expert witness in multiple court cases related to elephant welfare, particularly focusing on the cruelty associated with holding elephants in captivity. Her expert testimony provided valuable insights into the mistreatment and welfare of elephants held in captivity. Through her involvement in legal proceedings, she contributed to the efforts aimed at improving the living conditions and treatment of elephants in captivity and ending the import of elephants from the wild.
Specific cases
In 1998, Poole testified as an expert witness in the case of NSPCA v. Riccardo Ghiazza in South Africa. The case involved the capture and mistreatment of 34 baby elephants. Ghiazza was eventually found guilty of cruelty, highlighting the importance of ethical treatment of captive elephants.
In 2005, Poole provided her expertise via video link in the case of International Fund for Animal Welfare, et al. v. Minister for the Environment and Heritage et al., N2005/916. The case focused on the export of Asian elephants from Thailand to Australia, underscoring concerns about the welfare of elephants during international transfers.
In 2008, Poole testified in Washington DC in the case of ASPCA vs. Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Her involvement in this case highlighted the welfare issues related to elephants in circuses, contributing to the ongoing debate about the ethical treatment of animals in entertainment. Ringling Brothers no longer uses elephants.
In 2012, Poole testified in Los Angeles in the case of Aaron Leder vs. John Lewis, City of Los Angeles, concerning the welfare of the elephants at the Los Angeles Zoo. Her testimony provided valuable insights into the living conditions and treatment of elephants in a zoo environment, raising awareness about the ethical concerns associated with keeping elephants in captivity.
Poole is an expert witness for the ongoing Nonhuman Rights Project, a civil rights organization based in the United States that works to secure rights for nonhuman animals.
Personal life
Poole splits her time between Sandefjord, Norway; Olchoro Onyore, Kajiado County, Kenya; and field sites. She is married to Petter Granli, who is co-founder/CEO of ElephantVoices. They have one adult daughter, Selengei. Granli has a son, Thomas Conradi Granli from his previous marriage.
Honors and awards
Poole has received several honors and awards in recognition of her contributions to the field of elephant research, conservation, and advocacy and is a National Geographic Explorer. Some of the notable honors and awards she has received include:
Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award: Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival (2015)
Certificate of Recognition: California State Legislature and Assembly (2007)
Smith College Medal: Smith College (1996)
American Society of Mammologists Brazier Howell Award (1979)
In addition to these honors and awards, Joyce Poole has been invited to speak at many international meetings and symposia, showcasing her expertise in the field of elephant social behavior, communication and conservation. Her engagements have included events at institutions like the National Geographic Society[2] and Explorer's Club.
Poole's research and conservation work has also been featured in various media presentations, including printed articles, books, radio programs, and television.
Poole's research and conservation work have been featured in various publications, including Reader's Digest, Scientific American, National Geographic Kids, National Geographic, The New York Times and numerous other media outlets around the world. Poole's life and work have been featured in several books, including Jodi Picoult's novel Leaving Time (2014), Martin Meredith's biography Africa's Elephant (2001), and Doug Chadwick's Fate of the Elephant (1992).
Poole has been interviewed and her research has been featured on a variety of local and international radio programs, including NPR and BBC Radio. Her work has been featured in close to 100 television documentaries, such as Disney's "Secrets of the Elephants" (2023), National Geographic's "Mind of a Giant" (2016), PBS's "Gorongosa Park: Rebirth of Paradise" (2015), "An Apology to Elephants" (2013), "War Elephants" (2012) and BBC productions like "Elephant's Talk."
Poole has authored more than 40 peer-reviewed scientific articles published in journals such as Nature, Science, Frontiers in Zoology, Biology Letters, Proceedings of the Royal Society B, Immunogenetics, and PLoS ONE.
Book chapters
Poole's scientific work has been featured in chapters of peer-refereed books, including titles like "Mammals of Africa" (2013), "The Amboseli Elephants: A Long-Term Perspective on a Long-Lived Mammal" (2011), and "Elephants and Ethics: Toward a Morality of Co-existence" (2003).
Symposia proceedings
Poole's research findings have been published in peer-reviewed symposia proceedings, such as "Vocal Imitation in African Savannah Elephants" (2006) and "Elephant Mate Searching: Group Dynamics and Vocal and Olfactory Communication" (1989).
Popular articles
Poole has authored 14 popular articles in publications like National Geographic's blog "A Voice for Elephants".
Related Research Articles
Elephants are the largest living land animals. Three living species are currently recognised: the African bush elephant, the African forest elephant, and the Asian elephant. They are the only surviving members of the family Elephantidae and the order Proboscidea; extinct relatives include mammoths and mastodons. Distinctive features of elephants include a long proboscis called a trunk, tusks, large ear flaps, pillar-like legs, and tough but sensitive grey skin. The trunk is prehensile, bringing food and water to the mouth and grasping objects. Tusks, which are derived from the incisor teeth, serve both as weapons and as tools for moving objects and digging. The large ear flaps assist in maintaining a constant body temperature as well as in communication. African elephants have larger ears and concave backs, whereas Asian elephants have smaller ears and convex or level backs.
The African forest elephant is one of the two living species of African elephant. It is native to humid tropical forests in West Africa and the Congo Basin. It is the smallest of the three living elephant species, reaching a shoulder height of 2.4 m. As with other African elephants, both sexes have straight, down-pointing tusks, which begin to grow once the animals reach 1–3 years old. The forest elephant lives in highly sociable family groups of up to 20 individuals. Since they forage primarily on leaves, seeds, fruit, and tree bark, they have often been referred to as the 'megagardener of the forest'; the species is one of many that contributes significantly to maintaining the composition, diversity and structure of the Guinean Forests of West Africa and the Congolese rainforests. Seeds of various plants will go through the elephant's digestive tract and eventually pass through in the animal's droppings, thus helping to maintain the spread and biodiversity of the forests.
Musth or must is a periodic condition in bull (male) elephants characterized by aggressive behavior and accompanied by a large rise in reproductive hormones. It has been known in Asian elephants for 3000 years but was only described in African elephants in 1981. There is evidence that similar behaviour occurred in extinct proboscideans like gomphotheres and mastodons.
Amboseli National Park, formerly Maasai Amboseli Game Reserve, is a national park in Loitoktok District in Kajiado County, Kenya. It is 39,206 ha (392.06 km2) in size at the core of an 8,000 km2 (3,100 sq mi) ecosystem that spreads across the Kenya-Tanzania border. It harbours 400 species of birds including water birds like pelicans, kingfishers, crakes, hamerkop and 47 raptor species. The local people are mainly Maasai.
African elephants are members of the genus Loxodonta comprising two living elephant species, the African bush elephant and the smaller African forest elephant. Both are social herbivores with grey skin. However, they differ in the size and colour of their tusks as well as the shape and size of their ears and skulls.
The Born Free Foundation is an international wildlife charity that campaigns to "Keep Wildlife in the Wild". It protects wild animals in their natural habitat, campaigns against the keeping of wild animals in captivity and rescues wild animals in need. It also promotes compassionate conservation, which takes into account the welfare of individual animals in conservation initiatives. Born Free also creates and provides educational materials and activities that reflect the charity's values.
Gorongosa National Park is at the southern end of the Great African Rift Valley in the heart of central Mozambique, Southeast Africa. The more than 4,000 square kilometres (1,500 sq mi) park comprises the valley floor and parts of surrounding plateaus. Rivers originating on nearby Mount Gorongosa water the plain.
The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is one of the largest animal welfare and conservation charities in the world. The organization works to rescue individual animals, safeguard populations, preserve habitat, and advocate for greater protections. Brian Davies founded IFAW. IFAW was instrumental in ending the commercial seal hunt in Canada. In 1983 Europe banned all whitecoat harp seals products. This ban helped save over 1 million seals. IFAW operates in over 40 countries.
Katharine Boynton "Katy" Payne is an American zoologist and researcher in the Bioacoustics Research Program at the Laboratory of Ornithology at Cornell University. Payne studied music and biology in college and after a decade doing research in the savanna elephant country in Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, she founded Cornell's Elephant Listening Project in 1999.
Elephant cognition is animal cognition as present in elephants. Most contemporary ethologists view the elephant as one of the world's most intelligent animals. Elephants manifest a wide variety of behaviors, including those associated with grief, learning, mimicry, playing, altruism, tool use, compassion, cooperation, self-awareness, memory, and communication. Recent evidence suggests that elephants may understand pointing, the ability to nonverbally communicate an object by extending a finger, or equivalent.
The African bush elephant, also known as the African savanna elephant, is one of two extant African elephant species and one of three extant elephant species. It is the largest living terrestrial animal, with bulls reaching an average shoulder height of 3.04–3.36 metres (10.0–11.0 ft) and a body mass of 5.2–6.9 tonnes (11,500–15,200 lb), with the largest recorded specimen having a shoulder height of 3.96 metres (13.0 ft) and an estimated body mass of 10.4 tonnes (22,900 lb).
Cynthia Jane Moss is an American ethologist and conservationist, wildlife researcher, and writer. Her studies have concentrated on the demography, behavior, social organization, and population dynamics of the African elephants of Amboseli. She is the director of the Amboseli Elephant Research Project, and is the program director and trustee for the Amboseli Trust for Elephants (ATE).
The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) operates an orphaned elephant rescue and wildlife rehabilitation program in Nairobi, Kenya. It was founded in 1977 by Dame Daphne Sheldrick to honour her late husband, David. Since 2001, it has been run by their daughter, Angela.
Echo was an African bush elephant matriarch who was studied for over 30 years by ethologist Cynthia Moss, beginning in 1973, and was the subject of several books and films. She was the first subject of the Amboseli Elephant Research Project, the longest-running study of a land mammal. The study of Echo and her family contributed significantly to the understanding of elephants, including their life-cycles, methods of communication, emotional lives, and cooperative care of the young.
An Apology to Elephants is a 2013 documentary that explores abuse and brutal treatment of elephants. It showcases elephant training and the psychological trauma and physical damage done by living conditions in some zoos and circuses. It was premiered on HBO on April 22, 2013, also celebrated as an Earth Day. The documentary includes interviews with environmental activists and biologists, including Performing Animal Welfare Society co-founders Ed Stewart and Pat Derby. The film was dedicated to Derby, also known as an "elephant lady", who died on February 15, 2013.
The Amboseli Elephant Research Project is a long-term research project on the ethology of the African elephant, operated by the nonprofit Amboseli Trust for Elephants. The project studies the elephant's social behavior, age structure and population dynamics. It is the longest running study of elephant behavior in the wild, and has gathered data on life histories and association patterns for more than 2,000 individual elephants.
Sharon Pincott is an Australian author and specialist in African elephant behaviour. She has studied the social structure and population dynamics of a single clan of wild elephants extensively, and advocates for ending ivory trade and promoting conservation.
Paula Kahumbu is a wildlife conservationist and chief executive officer of WildlifeDirect. She is best known as a campaigner for elephants and wildlife, spearheading the Hands Off Our Elephants Campaign, which was launched in 2014 with Kenyan First Lady Margaret Kenyatta. She has recently in 2022 been appointed as the first National Geographical Explorer as a board of Trustees member at the National Geographic Society.
Elephants communicate via touching, visual displays, vocalisations, seismic vibrations, and semiochemicals.
Winnie Kiiru is a Kenyan biologist, elephant conservationist, and the chairperson of the Wildlife Research Institute in Naivasha. She is currently the chairperson of Friends of Karura Forest, a Community-Based Organization (CBO) that helps manage Karura forests.
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