Photo by @connieallen_photo Every morning, researcher Connie Allen (@connieallen_photo) wakes up to a chorus of starlings and hornbills singing, lions roaring in the distance and on less fortunate days, monkeys climbing all over her tent. ?I first moved to Makgadikgadi Pans National Park [in Botswana] two years ago, and quickly fell in love with the bush life,? says Connie. ?I live permanently in the park with the team from Elephants for Africa, a NGO dedicated to improving the relationship between elephants and the communities here.? Her main focus of research is understanding the social behaviors of male African elephants. ?Up until now the majority of social studies on elephant have been on females,? Connie explains. ?Like many people, I have been fascinated by and drawn to elephants for as long as I can remember. As I grew up, and their future became increasingly threatened, I became more and more determined to make my contribution to improving our understanding of these magnificent creatures and help in their conservation.? Spend a day with Connie and the elephants. It?s on our Instagram story right now.