The Adventures With Elephants reserve in Bela Bela, South Africa, isn't just any animal reserve. It's home to all kinds of wildlife, but more particularly a family of six elephants. And these animals are special, not just because they are beautiful and majestic animals, but because of what they are being trained to do.
Elephants in both Africa and Asia have unfortunately been the victims of severe environmental and human factors: As we expand the territory we occupy, their homes diminish in size. Their prized tusks catch the attention of poachers, who have majorly contributed to the diminishing numbers of these beautiful creatures.
Now, it's not only laws that can stop the poachers from taking the lives of these incredibly smart animals. Humans are now helping the species defend itself — all thanks to the elephant's keen sense of smell.
With a sense of smell that is twice as strong as a dog's, the elephants on the reserve participate in a program that trains them to recognize the scents that will help track poachers. The training can also be applied to sniffing out diseases, weapons, and explosives. Ultimately, the research can help save lives on and off of the reserve.
Watch the video to find out how one elephant named Chova does when put to the test!
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