Nandipa is a 19 year old female elephant that was released from the captive herd at the neighboring camp in September 2003. She was released as she was never fully accepted by the matriarch in the herd and when two of the other young females had had babies she became very jealous. I have to say that I was a little nervous about releasing an adult female as it had not been done before, I need not have worried as she has done very well. In May 2005 she had a baby male calf and proved the release and rehabilitation a huge success. Her calf was named Ntongeni, which means ‘he who knows everything‘ by the mahouts that used to look after Nandipa. It is always great to see her, and I feel that a worried mother (at least I imagine that is how it feels!!!) and when I see any of the released elephants out there doing their thing I feel incredibly proud. Both Nandipa and Ntongeni are looking very well and very happy, and I am happy for seeing them.
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Hi, I am Kate Evans, or more commonly known as Elephant Kate. I am a zoologist whose great love is elephants. Since 2002 I have been living my dream by researching elephants in the Okavango Delta in Botswana. I decided I was going to be an elephant researcher when I was seven. I was living in Asia at the time and visited the elephant orphanage in Kandy, Sri Lanka. It was there that I made up my mind I was going to work for these majestic and intelligent animals. I made a promise to an elephant and we all know an elephant never forgets!!!! It took me 20 years to finally realise my dream and start my life as an elephant researcher. It was 20 years well spent and now I have to pinch myself most days to make sure it is true and I am living my dream.
I now head up a team who are researching the elephants and trying to work out the social and ecological needs of the largest remaining population of the African elephant. From time to time, other team members will add their thoughts and experiences.
I love sharing my experiences - so I hope that this blog is a medium through which you will be able to join the elephants and I on our adventures in the Okavango Delta, Botswana.
