The flooding Okavango Delta. By Mphoeng
Category: Uncategorized | Date: May 05 2009 | By: elephantsofbotswana
This year the flood water is so high that it has restricted researchers in their quest to find elephants. Most of the crossings have very deep water which is difficult for vehicles to cross. Although elephants are terrestrial animals the researchers now are using a boat to do the surveys. Vehicles can only cover small areas.
Boat used as a mode of transport to look for elephants
The flood water is one of the highest that has been experienced in years. Every now and then after a span of time highest floods are experienced. Globally we are in the era of climate change industrialised countries producing some harmful gases into the environment this having affected the developing countries like Botswana. Drought that has adverse impact on communities floods in some countries that impact negatively in the livelihoods of communities.
However the flood water in Botswana which is a semi-desert brings life sustain the communities residing in close proximity to the Delta. Botswana and Batswana as a whole have derived benefits being in the form of revenues from the Delta that had seen Batswana being able to go to schools, universities.
The Flood waters
The Delta means a lot to us as a country. Botswana now has a logo that we identify our country with; it reads as follows, Opportunity and tranquillity beckons.
Calmness could be felt in Okavango Delta the sounds of wilderness, birds, frogs etc.
The slogan is mainly based on opportunities that Delta provides for tourism, the calmness that Okavango Delta provides, and the business opportunities that Botswana provides.
As Batswana we believe that we have to set goals for our selves and the country support every aspect being environmental sustainability and we believe that education is an empowerment.
We have seven visions that we embrace
1. A Prosperous, Productive and Innovative Nation
2. A Compassionate, Just and Caring Nation
3. A Safe and Secure Nation
4. An Open, Democratic and Accountable Nation
5. A Moral and Tolerant Nation
6. An educated and informed nation
7. A united and proud nation
Okavango Delta, organisms from smallest to biggest organisms like elephant needs consorted efforts as it is clear education is key. People who clearly comprehend how wild species benefit them directly and indirectly revenues from photographic tourism providing free education t o Batswana kids. Non Governmental Organisation like Elephants For Africa which provides education for communities which is an outreach programme. Education has an ability to change perspectives of communities and is in line with the vision of the country. Organisations as Elephants for Africa will play a pivotal role in achieving these goals. Reaching the goals needs to be concerted efforts of private, government, communities and organisation that are owned by government and private sector working together.
Tags: botswana, elephants, flood. delta
Our Quest to see elephants lead us into a muddy channel
Category: Botswana Elephants | Date: Mar 16 2009 | By: elephantsofbotswana
On the 5th of March we headed out to the Northern side up on the quest to sight some elephants. We were wondering where the elephants were at so we decided to look for them out in the bush where there are no roads. Guess what we got stuck right in the middle of the bush. However our mission was accomplished as we managed to see three male elephants. This was an adventure as is now rare to spot elephants. Female breeding herds are not around as so we are mainly spotting males at the moment. We are waiting for the arrival of floods which will bring more life to the Delta.
Tags: 4x4, botswana, elephants, okavango delta, stuck
Sometimes we see elephant…..sometimes we don’t….. By Mphoeng
Category: Uncategorized | Date: Mar 10 2009 | By: elephantsofbotswana
On the 22nd February I headed to Seba West. Seba West is an area that is not drivable during the flood season as it is mainly composed of flood plains and so in some areas the substrate is clay soils which make the terrain very difficult to get around. With floods not having arrived yet, it is a good area to look for the big male elephants. Although no elephants were sighted on this trip I saw a baboon which caught my attention. Baboons are highly social animals which live in troops. The male in the photos was tasked with the chore of being the eye for the troop, looking out for danger. Baboons are preyed upon by leopards and so the role of look out is an important one to save other troop members. Even when he was having a good scratch he kept an open eye for predators.
What amazes me, is how they decided who should guard on a daily basis? Do they have a timetable or some sort of a shift? Nature is amazing; the quest to comprehend animal behaviour is challenging as everyday present new challenges and this is what keeps me interested.
Tags: animal bahaviour, baboons, botswana, elephants, okavango delta
Thando is on the move…..
Category: Uncategorized | Date: Nov 30 2008 | By: elephantsofbotswana
The released elephant Thando has been hanging out north of camp near Tubu camp, then a week ago he packed his trunk and headed South East - he is now only 30km away from Seba, who he was released with in 2003. Seba has been near the buffalo fence north of Maun, which is 100km away. I am eagerly awating todays downloads to see if they meet up - if so how did Thando know he was there? He has never been that far south before!!!!
Found the Elizabeths herd today - a lovely herd who do not mind us haning around - I know have to ID the elephants I do not know and catch up with who has had babies since we last met - so that will keep me busy for the rest of the day!!!!
Tags: babies, botswana, elephants, Maun, rehabituate, released, Thando
Injured elephant
Category: Uncategorized | Date: Nov 24 2008 | By: elephantsofbotswana
We headed out west today. We cannot go out west during the flood season as the water cuts it off and so we make the most of it when the floods have gone. New water from the rains we are having at the moment made certain areas difficult but we managed not to get stuck. I say we, as it was I, Mphoeng and the two guides at the local safari camp, Joseph and Thapelo. There are no guests in camp at the moment and so whenever they get the chance they are keen to join us. It is great to have the extra company, extra hands for when we get stuck, and their wealth of knowledge. We were not 100m out of camp when we had our first of three encounters with elephants in our 7 hour drive (there are not many elephants around at the moment, they have probably followed the rains in search of new grass) I spotted two young elephants feeding on the left of the road, a female of about 10 years and a male of about 7 years. I looked around for the rest of the herd and spotted an adult female to our right…. something was wrong though – she was standing funny – her head at a jaunty angle – was it because we were between her and her babies? I did a quick check and soon realised that she was badly injured, her front right leg was terribly swollen and bent in towards the other leg. The top of her leg had atrophied. The youngsters then went to join her on her side of the road and they all checked us out. The adult female was a little skinny, but at this time of the year a lot of the females and young males are and she was no skinner than others. I was desperate to get a better look at her leg and get some photos for ID purposes but did not want to stress her and so we waited and then they all crossed the road and we got a better look – it was a old wound, she was able to put a little weight on it and she was doing OK. It was distressful to see for us but what was striking was how the others rallied around her and protected her across the road – shielding her from us. Once they had moved on – we all began chatting about the other incidents we had seen injured, sick or crippled elephants and how their closest family members stuck by them and were so caring and protective –perhaps we can learn from them as in many human societies disabled people are often ostracised.
Tags: botswana, crippled elephants, okavango delta
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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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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