Bad news I am afraid. No one is up in camp to tell them the news so I thought I would tell you. We have had a satellite radio collar stop working three months early. The collar was due for renewal in July. We have had problems getting downloads recently with computer programs going down and not reloading and we have only just got things up and running only to discover that we have not had a download from the collar since April 12th. So now we have to hope that the VHF part (the part that emits a sound) is still working and we can track him. As he is 45km away through the flood waters this will involve getting a plane up here to track from the air. Not the best news to end the day. I am going to go to bed and hope tomorrow is a better day. Best wishes, Kate
4 Comments posted on "Collar down"
Christine C. on May 15th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
I hope the news is just that the collar is malfunctioning…good luck and let us know what you find out.
Virginia on May 16th, 2008 at 12:08 am
Sorry to hear the bad news….maybe tomorrow you ll have a better day….and happier news!
Theresa Siskind St Petersburg FL on May 16th, 2008 at 10:11 am
Kate, I’m hoping this elephant is ok…I know some collars emit a signal which indicates no movement from the subject is detected. Hoping this is not the case and you find him (she)alive and well!
elephantsofbotswana on May 17th, 2008 at 9:19 am
I am sure he is fine. I think the battery has just run out early. We need to find him to change the collar so we are hoping that the VHF component of the collar is still up and running!! Fingers crossed. I also have to find the money to be able to change the collar - so wish me luck on all fronts. Post a comment
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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.
