Its all happening here…
Category: Uncategorized | Date: May 28 2008 | By: elephantsofbotswana
Morning folks,
Well, winter is certainly on its way, the mornings are getting chilly and sunrise is getting lazy but that certainly hasn’t curtailed events! I happy to report that Pula is doing well, under the watchful eyes of a tea-fueled Peter and Mphoeng, he has been tracked onto the Abu Island where he has been spending time with Nanadipa, Ntongine and 2 other wild bulls who are a little older than himself. Dust and ears went flying as he sparred with one of them but its just a taste of things to come for him.
For my end the Abu herd are doing well, baby Abu who is coming up to 2 years old is as lively as ever, chasing everything from impala to warthogs with trumpets of delight. The latest addition to the herd, Lorato, is gaining confidence and control of her trunk! I think we can all see that she will be as sweet and mild mannered as her mother.
Aside from elephant buisness we have been having good Lion sightings of late. A pride of 10 were spotted about 5 kms out from camp and another single mum raising 4 cubs were seen by our Picnic site. Judging by the roaring they are still in the area so we will see what the day brings!
South Africa
Category: Uncategorized | Date: May 27 2008 | By: elephantsofbotswana
As I flew over Johannesburg as we circled to land at Oliver Tambo Airport - I marveled at the size of it, a city that has more people than the whole of Botswana. I was also deeply saddened, as I heard on the news that morning that racist attacks were occurring against asylum seekers, refugees and other foreigners trying to make a living. From up there in the sky it looked peaceful but I knew that on the ground people were fearful for their lives and unable to return home as they face worse situations there. I hope peace will prevail but at the moment all is uncertain.
Bye
Category: Uncategorized | Date: May 25 2008 | By: elephantsofbotswana
My time up for this field trip is up. I have to put my other hat on as director of the Charity Elephants For Africa and work hard to get the money in to fund the work. I am filled with a heavy heart that tomorrow I will not be walking up in the beauty and sounds of the Delta, but will be in Maun and then flying to RSA for a few days before my final destination the UK. The work goes on, as Mphoeng (hopefully our first local scholarship student - if we can permits and funds sorted) will be learning the ropes before Peter Cooke leaves for pastures new in two weeks time. Graham Bowles has arrived and busy setting up his fieldwork for his PhD on vocalizations. They will be filling you in with the news from this end, and no doubt I will chirp in occasionally with news from my end.
An unhappy male elephant displays to us
Category: Uncategorized | Date: May 24 2008 | By: elephantsofbotswana
Excitement in the Delta
Category: Uncategorized | Date: May 24 2008 | By: elephantsofbotswana
After a quiet day of watching Pula, Ntongeni and Nandipa munch their way through the Terminalia forest behind the research tent, everything kicked off in the afternoon and we did not where to look or what to do; take photos, write notes, draw elephant ID’s!!!! Early afternoon, the bulls Spartacus, Lysander and three others pitched up and started getting fiesty, with each other. I think that Nandipa may be coming into oestrus and the boys are trying to win her favour. The largest bull got terribly upset with us, having been sparring with Spartacus around a termite mound, he then took it out on u. Charging us, head shakes, trees and sand were flying everywhere. We stood our ground and he soon lost interest and moved on…… in one hell of a huff. Thoughout all this Nandipa kept out of the way with Ntongeni and carried on feeding, Pula did not know what to do with himself, join in? Or stay out of the way? He decided on making friends with the youngest bull to arrive before returning to the safety of Nandipa’s side.
I wonder who will show up today??
Update on Pula
Category: Uncategorized | Date: May 23 2008 | By: elephantsofbotswana
News on Pula, is that he seems very settled with Nandipa and her calf, Ntongeni. They have all been hanging out with a couple of males, yesterday it was Lysander and today it was Spartacus. Since joining up with them he has not returned to the Boma, where his herd is kept at night. So fingers crossed, it appears that Nandipa is showing him the ropes and keeping him out of trouble. It is really wonderful to see them together. Ntongeni is loving having an older brother. I will try and up load some photos later - we have a slow connection at the moment. Sorry for the delay in updating you - I have been battling to log in.
Cheers for now
Kate
Pula in the big wide world
Category: Uncategorized | Date: May 21 2008 | By: elephantsofbotswana
I could not get on line yesterday to share with you the great news that Pula met his first wild herd yesterday and spent a couple of hours with them. He made friends with B528, and they sparred for ages. It was lovely to see him with them, greeting and sparring. Magic
Early morning musing
Category: Uncategorized | Date: May 19 2008 | By: elephantsofbotswana
It is 0545 here in camp, and the camp is waking up. The generator has been switched on, breaking the beautiful night time sounds and I can hear the greetings of the staff of Seba Camp as they start their busy days. I have been awake since 0400 and at 0500 decided that sleep had departed for the night and so got up. I woke up because Harry the Hippo was calling away, then once awake I heard the elephant in the distance having a nightly snack and then the squirrels that live in between the walls of the tent I am staying in started chattering away. It was quite a comforting sound really, although at one point it got quite heated. We have been spending the past few days monitoring Pula, the released elephant, and today we shall do the same. I also hope to have a chance to catch up with Nandipa and her calf, Ntongeni. Well I had better get some breakfast – dawn is ½ an hour away and so need to get going. Kate
Tags: Dawn, hippo, pula, released elephant
Pula update
Category: Uncategorized | Date: May 18 2008 | By: elephantsofbotswana
Pula is doing well - through it would be better said in photos rather than words.
Tags: greeting, rehabiltation, released elephant
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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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