Ghost elephants: snow-white, strange, and very rare (8 photos)

Since ancient times, African tribes have told legends of white phantom elephants, mythical creatures imbued with mystical power. They say that only a very lucky or very honest person could encounter such an elephant. Tour guides at Etosha National Park disagree. They say, "Come visit us! You can see white elephants here every day!"





Is there a whiter elephant in the world?

The national park is located in the far north of Namibia, which is very, very dry land. For most of the year, Etosha is a barren wasteland, dotted with scattered emerald oases where all local life is concentrated. And the local elephants are perfectly adapted to these conditions. Herds of them wander from oasis to oasis, where they find temporary shelter, food, and, of course, the opportunity to swim and wallow in the liquid mud. Very light, clayey mud.



Oh, my Palmolive liquid gel, it smells like orchids...





Guys, your elephants have faded...

See what I'm getting at? This dirt, along with the dust clinging to the giant, forms a crust that turns an ordinary elephant white. But just wipe it with a wet cloth, and beneath the layer of dust and dirt, you'll find a perfectly ordinary elephant. So the national park staff lied to us, a bit. But the natives didn't.



An otherworldly landscape: the ghost of an elephant against a backdrop of dead vegetation.



They exposed him!

Let's change the subject and talk about completely different white elephants from another region of Africa. When ecologist Steve Boyce heard stories from Angolan tribes about ghost elephants, he took them seriously. So in 2016, Steve returned to Angola armed with camera traps. The traps captured leopards, monkeys, pigs, and a multitude of rodents, but not a single elephant. Then he returned again, and again, and again.



Steve Boyce himself.

He rented helicopters, hired guides, and spoke with local hunters and chieftains. Year after year, he searched for his white elephant, as if possessed. Until finally, in 2024, his efforts bore fruit. He managed to film a single, blurry, low-quality video. But it was enough to gain recognition, volunteers, and funding.



Elephant (sneaking).

It was thanks to him that we discovered that white elephants are a unique population of African elephants, numbering between 40 and 100 individuals. Their herds migrate long distances across the Angolan highlands, but move exclusively at night, and during the day they rest in shrubs and sparse forests, which is highly unusual for elephants.



Here it is, a real white elephant!

And, unlike the "dyed" ones, real white elephants are only a couple of shades lighter than the vast majority of elephants. A layman might not even notice the difference. But in terms of their behavior and genetics, they are unique.