One day to go until the NYC Marathon
Category: Fund Raising | Date: Oct 31 2009 | By: elephantsofbotswana
Sim and I have been taking it easy today, staying at a friends in NYC. Yesterday we went to the Expo to register and collect our numbers. We walked along 34th street and as we got closer there were more and more fit people carrying bags. It was about then that I got my first nerves. Unfortunately Sim had not been receiving any of the emails and so had not been allocated any transport. they managed to fix him some but it means we have to leave tomorrow morning at 0450 to get to the bus for 0530 for a 1020 start!!!! I am not sure what is going to tire us out for the race or the time before we start. I was originally booked on the Staten Island Ferry at 0800 (a much more reasonable time) but I guess I am going to have to travel with Sim.
We will have lots of supporters tomorrow - not just the crowds but specifically friends will be cheering us on - and I know that this will help the 26.2 miles feel a little easier.
Wish us luck - we are going to need it.
I am looking forward to seeing Central Park and realising that it is almost over!
Marathon Nerves
Category: Uncategorized | Date: Oct 24 2009 | By: elephantsofbotswana
Hello all,
Sim and I have had a rather hectic schedule on our fund-raising tour of America. First stop was the Elephant Managers Association conference in Houston, then we visited and spoke to the Chicago Zoological Society, next was the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, who have supported our work for the last 2 years and now we are heading to Syracruse.
With one week to go before our Marathon debut in NYC we are getting a little nervous and excited about the challenge ahead. 26.2 miles does not sound like a lot but I know that it is going to hurt….. alot.
If you would like to sponsor this event and help us reach our target goal and contribute to a 4×4 vehicel for the research then please donate through
http://www.justgiving.com/KateandSimsMarathonChallenge/
If you would rather donate another way then get in touch on info@ElephantsForAfrica.org and we shall provide you with the details.
Best wishes
Kate
Mafunyane has a new collar by Mphoeng
Category: Uncategorized | Date: Oct 06 2009 | By: elephantsofbotswana
Mafunyane was last sighted in May 2009. There after he disappeared until he emerged again at end of September. Mafunyane’s collar had not been functioning so we had been relying on visual sightings to gather data. We heard first of his presence by guides at Horseback (a nearby camp), it was a relief. Surprisingly the following day he was spotted near Seba Camp. We were delighted to see him though he looked bit skinny. It was imperative that we act promptly to re-collar him before he moved out of the area. We were bearing in mind that he had come before and disappeared for about four months. This was worrying as we did not know where he was at all. So we did not want to be in the situation again. The team took an immediate decision to re-collar him and went about getting Rob-The-Vet up.
On the 28th of September he was re-collared; we went at dawn to locate him. Mainly looking for Mafunyane in his favourite spots, he was later spotted at Dec. 26 near Abu Camp.
The collaring went well, but whilst he was down it was discovered that Mafunyane he had an infection on the left tusk, his left lip was very swollen. An antibiotic was administered for the infection. We were glad that we re-collared him. Though he is smart he has now moved to Seba West where water level too high for us to access, but at least we now have the satellite downloads to know where he is.
News
Category: Uncategorized | Date: Oct 02 2009 | By: elephantsofbotswana
This week has been terribly busy, soooo busy in fact that we have not had time to blog about it, but we will get there. We have had aerial surveys, two collarings and we started the soft release process on an adult male elephants……. so come back soon to find out what happened.
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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