Elephant Voices

Contact call video clip

Category: Elephant Video | Date: Nov 30 2007 | By: admin

Hi All

While preparing for our next field trip to Amboseli I am also trying to check out the different options on wildlifedirect. In the field office activities are more of a challenge, and our internet-connection not fiber-optic superspeed-like, so it makes sense to get to know wildlifedirect before we’re in the bush. I have uploaded a video sample from our collection of elephant vocalizations to YouTube - you can read more about our future vocalization database on ElephantVoices here.

The clip shows what we call a Contact Call. Elephants use Contact Calls to keep in audible contact with one another sometimes over long distances. In a sense an interchange of contact calls queries, “I am here, where are you?” and in answer, “I am over here”. Contact calls typically contain a series of at least three calls: The querying rumble by the initial caller, an answer by a second individual and then a confirmation by the initial caller that the answer has been received. Other nearby family members may also add their voice to the second or third phase of the series. Read more about Contact Calls here.

Cheers, Petter

3 responses so far

Elephant sounds on your computer?

Category: 1. General News, Elephant Sounds | Date: Nov 28 2007 | By: admin

I have put together a small package of elephant vocalizations (6), that we hope you will enjoy using on your computer instead of the boring standard sounds (excuse us, Bill Gates and others) we often hear around us. You will learn more about what elephants “talk about” the next few months.

An elephant greeting is a great start on a computer session, or maybe you want to hear a trumpet when a new mail arrives in your mailbox! A cry from a distressed baby elephant will alert you when you type something wrong… Or what about a play trumpet from a rambunctious juvenile when you shut down a program…?

Unzip the file into a folder, and install the ones you want by browsing under Control Panel, Audio and Video Devices. (Windows example)

Download ElephantVoices computer sounds (29kb) now!

Cheers, Petter

5 responses so far