5 years on, 11 rescued South African elephants thriving in the wild
A five-year study of 11 rewilded elephants in South Africa shows that captive elephants can successfully adapt to life in the wild. Researchers found their behavior and stress levels closely mirrored those of elephants that had never been in captivity.
Why it matters
This research provides scientific evidence supporting the feasibility of rewilding programs for captive animals, which has significant implications for conservation efforts.
South Africa released 11 elephants that had spent years in captivity into protected reserves. Five years later, researchers found that their behavior was very similar to elephants that had always lived in the wild.The study showed that even after spending years under human care, the elephants successfully adjusted to natural environments. Their behavior closely matched that of wild elephant herds, providing important evidence that long-term captive elephants can regain their independence and live successfully in the wild.The research was published on July 29, 2026, in the journal PLOS One.
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