It's the end of another year and we have a new year to look forward to. Much has happened for the Amboseli Trust Elephants--some good, some bad--but when I think about it that's normal. There are no perfect years.

Yes, there have been difficulties but what matters are the elephants, and in Amboseli 2013 has been a good year. Watching the baby boom calves grow and thrive is an endless source of joy for all of us on the project and, of course, for each of the elephant families as well. What a change from the end of 2009 when so many elephants had died during the drought.

From October 2011 to the end of 2012, 245 calves were born. These are the baby boomers and they have done remarkably well. In 2013 another 45 calves were born and these too are fat, healthy and happy.

Right now we are getting excellent rain in Amboseli and the Park is green and lush. The elephants have gone off on their wet season treks, but when they come back they will gather into huge aggregations of 300-400 where they will socialize, play, learn and find mates.

Yes, there has been some poaching, but working with the Kenya Wildlife Service, the Maasai community is protecting the elephants and other wildlife with excellent community scouts. The Maasai are also putting aside more land for wildlife. The Amboseli elephants are very lucky indeed to share their range with this community.

What is happening Africa-wide to elephants is not good news, but we are fighting the battle with all the weapons we can muster. We, the elephant advocates and conservationists, fought and won that battle once before back in 1989. We can do it again; we have to do it again.

With hope for a peaceful New Year for elephants and a Happy New Year for all our supporters. Here's to you! And here's to them!