The presidential elephant population is defined as those elephants that spend most of their time within the Hwange estate boundaries. The elephants in this population began as approximately 300 in various family groups, and they have become habituated to open safari vehicles over 40 years. Our approximate herd 300 now includes more significant numbers of including the elephants of Hwange National Park. They are thus ideal subjects for close-range, long-term observation. The Hwange estate elephants had been given Presidential protection by His Excellency Robert Mugabe, the late President of Zimbabwe.