elephants

Archaeologists in Chile have unearthed 13,000-year-old bones of a gomphothere, an extinct long-tusked relative of elephants, bearing clear cut marks from butchering. The find adds to evidence that humans were present in South America far earlier than the traditional Clovis timeline, supporting theories of an earlier peopling of the Americas. Researchers say the discovery strengthens the case for pre-Clovis settlement across the continent.

Commentators are accusing public figures and media of ignoring antisemitism rooted in radical Islamist ideology, calling it the 'elephant in the room' in debates over rising anti-Jewish sentiment. The argument is that concern over antisemitism focuses on other sources while this strand is downplayed for fear of appearing discriminatory. Critics of the accusation counter that such claims risk stigmatizing Muslims broadly.

An elephant was allegedly smuggled into India from Nepal, and investigators following the animal's trail have found links to a non-governmental organisation as part of a wider leopard poaching probe, the Indian Express reports. The case connects wildlife trafficking across the India-Nepal border with illegal poaching activity, raising questions about the NGO's involvement.

Ivory Coast coach Hervé Renard has announced changes to his squad without overhauling his starting eleven ahead of the CAN 2027 qualifiers against Somalia. The announcement, carried by Abidjan.net, is drawing attention from Ivorian football fans ahead of the match, as supporters debate whether the tweaks will be enough to keep the Elephants on track.

Ivory Coast is facing Somalia, and the fixture is generating searches and discussion in France and Côte d'Ivoire. In Abidjan, local outlet 7INFO reported that the Boulevard Lagunaire would be closed on Tuesday 29 September, with coverage tying city logistics to the period around the game. Fans are following the Elephants' progress against a side they are widely expected to beat.

Thailand beat Vietnam in a FIFA ASEAN Cup match, with Sarach Yooyen scoring in a 1-0 win for the War Elephants. Vietnamese coach Kim Sang-sik had urged careful preparation before the fixture, while Vietnamese media note that even a win over Thailand would not be enough for Vietnam to dominate Southeast Asian football. The Philippines also gave up a two-goal lead in the same tournament.

A photograph of a banded mongoose in South Africa's Kruger National Park is being shared online, with a piece of elephant dung visible in the foreground. Banded mongooses are social animals often seen foraging in groups, and they frequently feed on insects found in dung. The image is drawing appreciation from wildlife and photography enthusiasts.

Scientists have discovered cut marks made by stone tools on the bones of extinct elephant relatives at Tagua-Tagua lake in central Chile. The find indicates that early inhabitants of the region hunted or processed these large animals thousands of years ago, offering new evidence about when and how humans first settled South America and their interaction with now-extinct megafauna.

Richard J. Tilley's poetry collection Elephant Snow, now available to read on the Internet Archive, is drawing renewed attention alongside a blog essay titled The Cries of Bitterns, revisited. The essay revisits the sounds of bitterns as a poetic motif, and small circles of poetry readers are sharing the piece along with the free copy of the book.