The rains…….
Category: Uncategorized | Date: Nov 16 2008 | By: elephantsofbotswana
We were promised rain for days, heavy clouds pregnant with the promise of water hung over camp for days on end. The thunder rumbled, the wind blew, we saw the lightening in the distance and rain falling over other days, but nothing came of it here. Today there are a few clouds but the temperatures are soring, we are at 35oC as I write this and raising. I have been having an admin day in the camp today but headed off early with Graham to collect the collars of the Abu herd and see what they had been saying over night. Last night we collared Mthondo for the 1st time as he may soon become part of the release program and so we are keen to take this opportunity whilst we can.
As I left camp at 0515 (I was following Graham has we had to lend our car to the other camp- a very contencious issue with me!!!!) I came across a clan of hyena so stayed to watch them - it wa orsome - they had obviously been busy during the night and com ing together to regroup, chill out and take care of obultions before returning to the den for the day. It was a real privalidge to see. Next I was treated to a pod of hippo at the bridge, they were quite close to the bridge so I got some good photos (I will try and upload them later). All in all not a bad start to the day.
I am hoping it will cool off a little later as I am trying to walk around camp for an hour a day in training for our fundraising climb up Mount Kilimanjaro in December. We are aiming to raise enough cash for a much needed car - so we don’t have to loose it when other people need it (our current one is on loan to us from Elephant Back Safaris =- many thanks to them).
If you want to sponsor me then you can do so through here or on www.justgiving.com/elephantkate
Bye for now - have to get back to a grant application - still really HOT
Tags: car, elephants, hippo, hyaena, just giving, mount kilimanjaro, sponsored
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
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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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