The Elephant Queen: Inspiring the World to Care for Elephants and Biodiversity Through Storytelling

In the heart of Kenya’s savanna, Athena, a 50-year-old elephant matriarch, leads her family through some of the toughest challenges nature throws. Her journey is at the centre of The Elephant Queen, an amazing documentary set against the beautiful landscapes of Tsavo East National Park and the Greater Amboseli Tsavo Ecosystem.

The film follows Athena as she guides her family from the "kingdom," a fertile landscape flourishing in the rainy season, to "the refuge," a dependable waterhole that quenches the thirst of not only her herd but also countless other wildlife.

I discovered The Elephant Queen on a renowned TV station during the COVID-19 pandemic, and watching it during that time felt like a much-needed escape and a chance to reconnect with the beauty of nature.

Athena’s story was captivating, reminding us of the strength and harmony that exists in the wild, even in the face of challenges.

Athena is more than a leader. She’s a protector, a mother, and the glue holding her family together. Her nurturing spirit is evident in the way she cares for her calves, Mimi and Wewe, showing the deep family bonds and loving nature of elephants.

Athena’s story is deeply emotional and relatable. The film inspires us to see elephants as sentient beings, full of intelligence and deep emotions. We see joyful moments of splashing in waterholes to the grief of losing and mourning a herd member, reminding us just how connected we are to the animal world.

While the film celebrates the beauty of nature, it also highlights the challenges we face. Climate change, habitat destruction, and human-wildlife conflict are pushing ecosystems like Athena’s to the brink. Droughts are happening more often and with greater intensity, while the spaces elephants once roamed are disappearing.

Athena’s relentless search for water in The Elephant Queen is more than a survival story—it’s a reminder of the urgent need for conservation. A study published in the Journal of People and Nature found that after watching the film, nearly 87% of viewers felt a positive shift in their attitudes toward elephants, and 79% said it would influence how they interact with them.

The Filmmakers Mark Deeble and Victoria Stone recognized the importance of reaching rural communities directly and translated the movie into Kiswahili and Maa and launched the Elephant Queen Outreach Programme. They brought the film to schools, villages, and markets, reaching over 135,000 people.

The Important Role Elephants Play in Biodiversity 

The Elephant Queen captivates audiences by bringing Athena and her clan's unique personalities to life while highlighting the intricate connections between the elephants and the many birds, fish, and other animals that rely on them, both directly and indirectly.

This 90-minute film shines a light on how elephants sustain biodiversity and maintain the health of their ecosystems. Biodiversity, the variety of life within ecosystems, is essential for a thriving planet.

When elephants roam the savanna, they disperse seeds from the plants they eat, promoting the growth of trees and shrubs that provide shelter and food for countless other species.

Their visits to waterholes transform these areas into lifelines for everything from frogs and fish to zebras and giraffes. Even their dung plays a role, enriching the soil and feeding beetles and insects critical to the ecosystem.

The documentary vividly captures these interactions. We see tiny goslings taking their first leap from their nests, and bullfrogs establishing their territories near watering holes. Every scene relays a powerful message: ecosystems are deeply interconnected, and every species has a role to play in keeping the web of life intact.

The end credits, which reveal the tragic events that occurred after filming, offer a powerful reminder that these magnificent animals, and many others like them, face serious threats from both nature and human activity.

The Elephant Queen is a call to action. Whether by spreading awareness, reducing our environmental footprint, or supporting wildlife organizations, we all have a role to play. Athena’s story inspires us to care more about the world we share. Let’s do our part to protect our environment for ourselves and for generations to come.

For those interested in watching The Elephant Queen, the film is available here.