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
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
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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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