© Indianapolis Zoo
Dr. Iain Douglas-Hamilton
1942 - 2025
Our mission is to secure a future for elephants and to sustain the beauty and ecological integrity of the places they live; to promote man’s delight in their intelligence and the diversity of their world, and to develop a tolerant relationship between the two species.
Dr Iain Douglas-Hamilton, pioneering zoologist and founder of Save the Elephants, has died aged 83. A visionary leader in elephant conservation for nearly six decades, Dr. Douglas-Hamilton revolutionised our understanding of African elephants through his groundbreaking research, and helped lead a global movement to prevent their slaughter. He passed away as the sun set, surrounded by close friends and family.
Save the Elephants’ founder, Scottish biologist Iain Douglas-Hamilton, revolutionised elephant research in the 1960s, later becoming a leading voice against ivory poaching. His journey from scientist to conservationist is captured in a powerful documentary featuring rare footage and interviews. Premiering globally in 2024, the film highlights his lifelong mission to protect Africa’s elephants.
As human-elephant conflict increases across Africa, farmers need practical, sustainable and affordable ways to peacefully co-exist with elephants without having to resort to violence. Save the Elephants has developed a unique ‘how to’ manual, the Human-Elephant Coexistence (HEC) Toolbox of tried and tested elephant deterrents to empower rural communities to protect their livelihoods from elephants. Built on the success of STE’s Elephants and Bees Project in Tsavo, the Toolbox is the brainchild of Dr Lucy King who heads up STE’s Human-Elephant Coexistence program.
Elephants are Africa’s gardeners and landscape engineers, planting seeds and creating habitat wherever they roam. Without urgent action to save their species, elephants could disappear from the wild within a single generation. Approximately 100,000 elephants in Africa were killed for their ivory in just three years between the years 2010 & 2012.
See the latest news and scientific publications from Save the Elephants
It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of Dr. Iain Douglas-Hamilton, renowned Scottish zoologist and founder & president of Save the Elephants. Iain passed away last night in Nairobi at age 83.
New work published today by Save the Elephants (STE) and the University of Oxford has shown that elephants can learn to ignore drones, a finding that could transform how scientists and conservationists monitor wildlife.
This study examines African savannah elephants’ (Loxodonta africana) responses to drones. Across 35 trials, elephants showed initial disturbance but habituated both short- and long-term, with minor activity changes persisting.
Long-term quantification of temporal species trends is fundamental to the assignment of conservation status, which in turn is critical for planning and targeting management interventions.
© Frank af Petersens
Leaders in elephant science, Save the Elephants provides cutting-edge scientific insights into elephant behavior, intelligence, and long-distance movement and applies them to the long-term challenges of elephant conservation.
The Samburu elephant population is one of the most extensively studied in the world. The elephants’ births, deaths, and interactions are closely monitored, making this population a valuable resource for understanding elephant society. Read more here
We conduct vital research on elephant behaviour and ecology and pioneered GPS radio tracking in Africa to provide fresh insight into the life of elephants. Our solid scientific data has helped shift international policy towards a better future for the species. Read more here
Our STE Wildtracks App enables us to conduct real-time monitoring of elephant movements. The data compiled is used to make critical decisions about elephant corridors as well as to respond quickly to elephants in distress. Read more here
