Learning More About African Elephants From a 16th-Century Shipwreck

A sunken Portuguese ship called the Born Jesus was discovered by miners in 2008 off the coast of Namibia. The 16th-century shipwreck carried ample amounts of gold and silver coins, as well as other valuable cargo, including over 100 tusks of African elephants. Biologists and archeologists began researching the ivory cargo to learn more about their history.

Studying the Ivory Haul of the Born Jesus

The sunken trading ship was on its way to India in 1533 when it went missing. Upon its discovery nearly 500 years later, archeologists and biologists alike were amazed to find that the ivory haul the ship was carrying was preserved in excellent condition. Genetic and chemical analyses were conducted to trace the tusks to seventeen herds that used to roam West Africa. Two of those herds still exist.

What Was Learned About 16th-Century African Elephants

By researching the carbon and nitrogen isotopes present in the tusks, researchers could closely determine the type of vegetation and water these animals consumed throughout their lifetimes. The isotopes found in these tusks suggest that the elephants they belonged to used to roam the forests and savannas of West Africa. This surprised the researchers because it was believed that the African forest elephant didn’t go into the grasslands until the 20th century.

The Historical Significance of the Discovery

The fact that the tusks found on the Born Jesus trading ship originated from several different herds suggests that numerous communities in West Africa took part in supplying the ivory. This paints a clearer picture of how widespread ivory trading in the continent was during the 16th century.

According to the African Wildlife Foundation, over 60% of African forest elephants have been poached in the last decade and the remaining population remains in but a quarter of their historical territory. Learning more about the habitats these animals historically preferred could help preserve the species today!