The green delta
Category: Uncategorized | Date: Feb 10 2009 | By: elephantsofbotswana
I flew back into camp on Sunday, my first trip back since leaving in November, and it is incredible how it has changed. We have had nearly 300mm of rain and so it is very green and lush. With all the rain about that has filled lots of watering holes the animals have dispersed and now utilising the vast mopane forests to the south of the research camp.
Today though, our luck was in as we saw two herds of elephants, a lone male in musth and a group of three young males; Robin Hood, Little Voice and one I did not recognise and have yet to ID. The male in musth was Shubert and he looked very uncomfortable, for the half hour we watched him to get our focal data he was standing there, then dusting, then rubbing his glands against a tree, and then his side against another, resting his trunk up the tree, he really did not know what to do with himself. I have not idea why he was not off chasing the ladies. I often see males in musth like this and really cannot fathom why it is.
Now I have to get on and download the photos and try and work out who that other male was and the herds we saw.
Frustratingly we were unable to track Pula and Nandipa, because our tracking equipment is on the blink. we knew whereabouts there were as we had their statellite downloads but the VHF tracking box is not working. It is 7 years old now so maybe it is just too old now. The research celebrated its 7th birthday at the beginning of the Febraury - so HAPPY BIRTHDAY to us.
Now I must dash as the mossies are biting so I am going to retreat to bed.
good night
Kate
-
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. -
100% of your donation, minus a small bank fee, will go to your intended purpose.
Donations made here are safe.
