Back in the Bush
Category: Uncategorized | Date: Nov 09 2008 | By: elephantsofbotswana
I got back to camp yesterday afternoon and I cannot tell you how wonderful it is to be back. I went over to Abu Camp in the evening to see the mahouts and and to catch up with the PhD student Graham as he was busy putting his recording collars on the elephants. It was lovely to see everyone and marvel at how big the young elephants are now.
After supper I was quick to bed as a week of travelling around South Africa catching up with friends had tired me out - but I could not sleep. The noises were wonderful - I could hear hyeana near camp - a lion roaring in the distance and the frogs in the lagoon. It was magic.
Today I did a route with Mphoeng and came across lots of females and a few males but all were rather skittish and did not hang about for long. So by0900 we were back, whilst Mphoeng went off to do another route I headed out west with Graham to check out the fire situation. On friday night there were all up till 0130 fitting fires. We went 14 kilometers west and did not come across anything - so for now we are ok. But we shall have to be alert as these fires can spread fast and race towards us.
Now I am sat in the office listening to the gentle patter of rain on the canvas roof. Before I flew out Cally in the office had asked me to bring the weather as they were melting in 40+ degrees centrigrade. I said I would do a rain dance and it seems to have worked.
Hopefully it will stop in time for us to out this afternoon.
Kate
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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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