Elephant Whispers

In the Masai Mara Reserve an elephant pride of about 12 with 3-4 babies frequently bathed along the riverbank.

One day as the pride was making their way out of the mud, the babies were struggling with the steep walls and slippery mud.

The whole pride worked together to hoist the little ones up and over the ravine.

The pride would stop all at once as if you’re pressing the pause button on a movie. Not a sounds was heard but we knew they must’ve been communicating because they would start moving again on cue.

Elephants are known for their ability to communicate at low frequencies, which are beyond the range of human hearing. These low-frequency sounds, also known as infrasonic communication, allow elephants to communicate over long distances and through obstacles, such as thick vegetation or rugged terrain.

One of the most well-known infrasonic sounds made by elephants is the rumble. Rumbles are low-frequency vocalizations that can be heard by other elephants up to several miles away.

In addition to rumbles, elephants also use seismic communication to send infrasonic messages. They do this by stomping their feet or trumpeting, which creates vibrations in the ground that can be detected by other elephants up to several miles away.

Infrasonic communication is crucial for their survival, as it allows them to coordinate their behavior and respond to potential threats in the wild.