Poorly Car
Category: Uncategorized | Date: May 13 2008 | By: elephantsofbotswana
After two productive weeks in Maun, I was really happy to get back to camp on Sunday and eager to be an elephant researcher. Graham was busy getting all his equipment ready for the start of his project and Peter was busy sorting data. Unfortunately field work has been put on hold as our car is not very well. The water pump has broken, which has been replaced but now the pisterns are not rotating - YIKES a ceased engine!!!! Not good news. We all looked with heavy hearts as the mechanics removed the cars innards and hoped that they would sort the problem out quickly. We REALLY cannot do our work with out the car. We manged to borrow a car from Seba Camp (Zena, my old car in fact) and did route 1 up to the picnic site. We only saw 2 elephants, both males. The first one took one look at us and ran for the hills but B175 (Varasha - the Watcher) was less bothered about us and we got a full half hour focal on him before he disappeared into thick terminalia forest.
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The A herd is back
Category: Uncategorized | Date: May 07 2008 | By: admin
Report from the bush - the bull elephant B12 is back in the area and hanging out with the ‘A’ herd. The ‘A’herd is the first herd I got to know and are really comfortable with our presence. They usually come into the area once a year and this year the female, Amarava, has introduced us to her new calf. I am not sure the sex of it at the moment, but needless to say it is very cute.
Party atmosphere
Category: Uncategorized | Date: May 05 2008 | By: admin
Last Thursday was Labour Day here in Botswana and Ascension day on Friday and so there was a party atmosphere Thursday, Friday and spilling into the Weekend. The bird and insect calls in the garden were interrupted by a weekend long Karaoke fest on the opposite side of the river. Unfortunately we could not find a boat to cross the river to go and join in the festivities but it seemed to be one hell of a party.
Dusty Maun
Category: Uncategorized | Date: May 03 2008 | By: admin
I am in Maun for the coming week. I have to sort out my residency permit and have a meeting with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks to let them know how things are going. Fortunately one of my friends is out of town and asked me to house sit - so I have a lovely house to stay fully equipped with pets; 4 dogs, 2 cats, 4 guinea pigs and some chickens. Last night we had a surprise storm at about 2am. This is very out of season but has brought a refreshing coolness to the town and dampened all the dust. Whilst I am in town I am trying to go running and maintain my training for the Bristol half marathon in September!!! Lots of my friends are joining me to raise funds for Elephants For Africa - I am using this as training for the marathon as part of the ‘Tri-continent Tri-athlon’ , which is our main fundraiser.
As I am in town I have been able to listen to the local and today it was announced that the council have proposed that Botswana start culling elephants and Botswana to the Department of Widlife and National Parks. This is very worrying news. I am listening out for more up to date news.
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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. -
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