• First, it’s a great cause.  EWB’s tracking efforts help us to learn more about many aspects of the elephants.  Since the ellies roam well outside of the park borders, these insights are critical to understanding potential conflicts with farmers, towns and man in general.

• The site also provides a peak into the day to day life of folks working in and around the Park area.

• For Chobe Safari, teh EWB site also provides our readers with increased understanding of current conditions within the Park.  For example, in this article, we learn more about the current temperature patterns as well as the level of animal activity within the Park, including but more than just the elephants

For all of these reasons we are proud to syndicate their blog articles from time to time at our site.  When we contact EWB by e-mail, they are always quick to respond and helpful.  If you enjoy this article, we suggest you may also send them an e-mail to learn more about these magnificent elephants. The following article was written by EWB and the text and images are the copyright of EWB.

Written By: Kelly Landen of Elephants Without Borders on June 18, 2010

EWB spent the week  of June 13th in the field of Chobe National Park with the intentions of deploying 2 new satellite tracking collars on bull elephants. (to read more about EWB tracking: http://www.elephantswithoutborders.org/tracking.php) EWB were successful at deploying only one. EWB had decided it best to dart from the ground rather than using a helicopter, considering the high density of wildlife, elephants and tourists in the area. Also, now that the cold, dry winter is in full swing, the vegetation is already becoming sparse, allowing us easy access through the brush.

Larger Bulls are rare along the Chobe

EWB had decided to focus on large bulls, as they are becoming a rarity seen in the Chobe waterfront area. Young bulls and breeding herds are plentiful, but we would like to learn more about the random, larger bulls that occasionally come here.

EWB spent several days driving the park, searching from the sandy roads to locate a possible subject. It is fairly cold with temperatures ranging between 4ºC (39ºF) in the morns to 24ºC (75ºF) mid-day, and winds blowing upwards of 25km/hour throughout the day. Neither condition is conducive to elephants liking or need to utilize the river frequently. On some days, elephant numbers were limited and the large bulls were nowhere to be seen.

However, EWB were happy to see large numbers of many other species. The impala are at the end of their rutting season. Their displays, grunts and courting behaviors are quite entertaining. Buffalo have returned and the herds are spread throughout the waterfront drives. With buffalo, follow the lions and one particular pride lay satisfied over their evening’s meal.

Sable herds are more and more common

The zebra are completing their yearly round seasonal journeys and are beginning to appear at the Ngoma side of the park, waiting for the floodwater to subside to reveal kilometers of grazing pastures. Kudu are plentiful, as well as, surprisingly large herds of sable are now a regular sight. To everyone’s surprise  giraffe seem to have had a sudden population “explosion” and “journeys” of giraffe with many young, were everywhere feeding on woolly-caper bushes. (to view more EWB photos, see: http://www.elephantswithoutborders.org/photo_gallery.php)
One afternoon, Kelly Landen stumbled across an elephant breeding herd 60 strong, accompanied by a bachelor herd of 12 and two beautiful, substantially large bulls. As luck has it, this sighting was on a spotting drive by herself and was not prepared to collar without the team assembled. The next day, EWB circled the same area relentlessly but they did not reappear.

Mike explains the collar, while Sammy demonstrates

However, one morning EWB came across a healthy, lone, size-able bull. It was decided that he would be one of our newest elephant ambassadors. The collaring exercise went very smoothly. The immobilization drugs took effect quite quickly. The team moved in, attached the collar, took his measurements and attained blood samples. When the antidote was given, he stood up and immediately wandered off through the shrub, donning his new tracking collar. His name is Bemwa, named by our sponsors from the Swiss BMW Dealership Association, approximately 30 yrs of age, stands just over 3meters high at the shoulder and he bares modest, yet symmetrical tusks. (Note BeMWa has BMW in the name … cute huh???)
We are particularly excited about Bemwa’s collar. It is a new type of satellite collar created by Africa Wildlife Tracking in Pretoria, South Africa.

Larry administering the anti-dote to Bemwa

The battery life is supposed to last much longer than the previous models we’ve used, allowing us to download data location points every half hour throughout a five year span before having to retrieve the unit. (EWB colleagues: http://www.elephantswithoutborders.org/colleagues.php)
EWB would like to Thank all the BMW representatives that journeyed to Botswana. It was a pleasure meeting you and hope you enjoyed your trip here. EWB sincerely appreciate your support and are eager to share Bemwa’s journeys with you!

If you would like to support our projects, please log on to http://www.elephantswithoutborders.org/donate.php…

Elephants Without Borders, the elephants, wildlife, and local communities Thank you!

Zebra have returned to the Chobe riverfront

The Wild Horizons Wildlife Trust (WHWT) together with Elephants without Borders (EWB) is researching the release of domesticated elephant back into the wild.

The first ‘example’ is Damiano.

Why Damiano?

Wild Horizon’s training of elephant has always been based on a reward system, using food such as cubes as an incentive for the elephant. Wild Horizon’s mission has been to give these elephant the most favorable life possible out of the wild and if one shows a reluctance to remaining in the herds, they are not forced to do so.

Damiano lived at the sanctuary for 10 years. In that time, he grew from a rambunctious young bull to a dominate leader of one of the herds.  Damiano would sometimes wander off and spend time with wild bulls before returning to his herd. When Damiano disappeared for 3 months Wild Horizon realized it was probably that time of life when a mature bull,in the wild, leaves his herd.   Prior to his release Damiano became anxious and showed a resistance to daily activities.

It was decided between the two organizations that it was important to monitor Damiano’s movements. Upon his last return, he was fitted with a satellite collar and hours later, he wandered off with his new companions

It is noted that WHWT and EWB also assisted the ZNSPCA and National Parks with the translocation, release and monitoring of nine other elephant in November 2009.

Where’s Damiano?

Damiano's Collar

Damiano’s collar enables the team to closely monitor and track Damiano in real-time. The collar on Damiano provides valuable information on elephant reintroductions to the wild and elephant movements in the four corners region of Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Namibia.

Over the past two years EWB has monitored his movements in the area as well as cross-border movement with other elephant.

The Wild Horizons Wildlife Trust and Elephants without Borders work together using the satellite collars which monitor the distance each individual elephant travels over a two year time period.  This shows seasonal movements in each animal’s region as well as a general range. Guides and Management often travel to the site of the latest satellite reading, to get visual sightings of each animal to make sure they are physically well, and gather information on how they are interacting with other wild elephant.  Additionally, EWB takes fecal samples to analyze the hormone levels and stress levels of the individual elephant.

Initial fitting of the collar

Updated Learnings

A major part of the research and monitoring of the elephant is to ensure that the elephant (which we are trying to  desensitized to humans) avoid human settlements.  At present Damiano and the nine elephant released in November of 2009 are interacting socially with other wild elephant, and seem to be rehabilitating well to their new life.  Thus far, this is a successful case of the release of domesticated elephant back into the wild.”

Damiano recently demonstrated how elephants need and will utilize safe corridors. In Kasane, a wildlife corridor is designated from the forest reserve to the river. This corridor crosses the tar road and is situated between 2 large fruit and vegetable fields. Elephant herds walk past the fields to get to the water and attain nutrient rich soils along the river’s bank. Here is a map of Damiano’s movements this week and how he avoided conflict with people and used the corridor:

Tracked path of Damiano to the river

JUNE Update

To reemphasize the trans-border aspect of the elephant movement, I communicated with EWB on June 18th.  On that day, Damiano was currently within Zimbabwe … doing what elephants do as they migrate to food, water and family.

Much Must still be done

While this story gives hope, all is not perfect.  The Ngami Times recently reported on June 11th that a Kasane resident is said to have shot and killed two elephants on Wednesday night, angering other residents who feel the elephants posed no threat.  According to sources in Kasane, the resident shot the elephants which were close to his house.

The department of Wildlife and National Parks could not confirm the incident by the time of going to press for The Times.

(Forimmediaterelease.net)  - The four winners of the World Travel & Tourism Council’s 2010 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards were announced today during the 10th Global Travel & Tourism Summit at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing, China. Of the 12 finalists, Emirates Hotels & Resorts, Whale Watch Kaikoura, Accor, and Botswana Tourism Board, were crowned the winners for their successful work in advancing sustainable tourism best practices in different parts of the world.

“We are seeing a new horizon in the global travel and tourism industry where more and more companies and destinations, both large and small, are leading the way forward in demonstrating that tourism can be an opportunity for protecting our planet and delivering tangible social and economic benefits at the local, national, and international level. We are in a global transformation of the travel and tourism industry as we have known it. With these awards we commend these innovation and successes in sustainable best practices,” said Costas Christ, chairman of the judges for the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards.

Botswana Tourism Board is awarded the Destination Stewardship Award for its “low-volume – high-yield” approach to tourism in the Okavango Delta – an internationally-recognized Ramsar Site (ODRS) and particularly for the legislative framework put in place and ecotourism standards to ensure proper management of one of the world most iconic nature travel destinations. Today, sustainable tourism in the Okavango employs 34 percent of the adult population in the area, while protecting the largest inland wetland in the world for future generations.

“We are truly honored to win this award as the world recognizes our efforts in protecting the Okavango and its vast population of wildlife. As well as motivating us to look for new ways to improve tourism and conservation in our country, we hope it can inspire other countries to do similar work to protect their natural heritage,” said Myra Sekgororoane, chief executive officer, Botswana Tourism Board.

“For many years, WTTC’s Tourism for Tomorrow Awards have recognized the highest achievements in sustainable tourism among businesses and destinations around the world and across the full spectrum of the travel and tourism industry,” said Jean-Claude Baumgarten, president and CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Committee. “These four awards are helping to set the standard for future developments in sustainable tourism as a positive opportunity for our planet and its diverse cultural and natural heritage.”

The Tourism for Tomorrow Awards are organized in association with Travelport and the Travel Corporation’s Conservation Foundation.

The rainfall has been well above average – as of the end of April there was 850mm recorded with the normal yearly average being just over 450mm. Flow rates at Mohembo, on the Botswana-Namibia border, are over 1 000 cubic metres per second – an incredible late season spike and pushing water levels to higher than in 2009. A big flood was forecast for months as heavy rains in the Angolan highlands resulted in record water levels in all rivers. In the Okavango delta, safari lodges and camps are isolated as roads and airstrips have become impassable. In some villages, huts have collapsed (pictured at the end of this article) and residents moved to higher ground.

Flooding near Seronga, Botswan - Photo by Klaas Boll

This is one of many scenes repeated throughout the Okavango delta and other parts of Ngamiland as water surges into the region.

Botswana Floods – From the Birdlife Perspective

The following information is from the Birdlife Botswana Newsletter – please click on the link to visit their site:
EDITORIAL

One of the challenges of conserving birds in a semi-arid country like Botswana is that
many species, especially waterbirds, are highly nomadic and mobile, and react to the
occurrence of locally favourable habitat conditions. Thus it is that waterbird numbers in
Botswana have recently burgeoned with the return of high flood levels in the major
rivers in the northern part of the country, and the increased extent of flooding.

The Zambezi and Kwando-Linyanti systems attained the highest flood levels on record,
rejuvenating the Chobe floodplains, Linyanti Swamps, Lake Liambezi and the long-dry
Savuti Channel (water flow stopped a few kilometres short of the Savuti Marsh in
Chobe National Park). The Okavango River reached the highest flood level since 1959,
with the Delta virtually doubling in size and the distal distributaries penetrating
hundreds of kilometres into the dry fringing Kalahari areas – for example, the Boteti
River reached Rakops, over 200 kilometres south of Maun. The southern part of the
Mababe Depression flooded for the first time in decades, and Lake Ngami filled to over
115 km2(compared to 50 km2 in recent years).

The abundance of water created suitable waterfowl habitat and attracted waterbirds
from all over Southern Africa. However, more importantly, new breeding colonies of
herons, egrets, storks and other birds were created, boosting the numbers of these
species far beyond what could be achieved by any human-initiated conservation
measures. Even dryland species like sandgrouse are thought to have benefited from the
opening up of traditional breeding areas within flying distance of the Boteti River.

This is wonderful for the birds, but ironically poses unexpected challenges for BirdLife
Botswana: Important Bird Areas such as Lake Ngami will wax and wane with these
cycles in waterflow, masking changes in bird numbers due to anthropogenic threats;
places like Lake Xau (currently dry) might qualify sporadically as IBAs when water is
present; avi-tourism businesses conducted by Site Support Groups might crash as the
ephemeral waterbodies evaporate. This does not mean to say that we are unhappy with
the return of the higher flood levels – water is life in Botswana – we just need to adjust
our activities, and our thinking, to accommodate these fluctuations. We look forward to
the 2010 floods with keen anticipation.
Pete Hancock

The Soccer World Cup has dealt Botswana tourism a serious blow, according to a Maun newspaper.

The Ngami Times website reported it was very expensive to fly into Botswana from OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.

Botswana relies on this airport for international tourist arrivals.

The newspaper said most lodges in Botswana had no foreign guests arriving during June and July when the world soccer tournament takes place in South Africa.

“[The World Cup poses] a serious challenge to the industry as visitors are not able to travel to Botswana due to the non-availability of flights,” said Beks Ndlovu, of African Bush Camps, on the sidelines of a seminar of local and German tour operators hosted in Maun last week.

Jo'berg Airport

Few flights were available and those available were pricey, he said.

Derek Flatt, of Desert and Delta Safaris, agreed with Ndlovu, but pointed out that the event was a good marketing exercise for the southern African region

“The success of the World Cup in South Africa will mean big publicity for the region and that means we also stand to benefit in the long term,” Flatt said. Meanwhile, some operators have blamed the international football organisation, FIFA, for the problem, saying block bookings with airlines have failed to fill planes and, as a result, airlines hiked their prices considerably for the unfilled seats. They also feel FIFA should have ascertained the number of seats it wanted before doing block bookings.

One anonymous source said FIFA did the bookings “in Mafia style” to convince airlines that their aircraft will be filled and this is costing other stakeholders.

Tourism operators differed on whether the situation would have been better if Botswana had implemented an open skies policy. Flatt feels the situation could still be the same because facilities here would allow fewer aircraft from abroad, depending on the sizes of planes to land, and passengers would also have filled aircraft coming directly to Botswana than those going through Johannesburg. “However, the WC aside, the liberalisation of air transport in Botswana will be a great development for the country and in particular the industry,” he said.

The director of Safari Destinations, Carina Grueninger, told The Ngami Times that one of the biggest challenges they face in the industry is to bring people into the country, especially as only Air Botswana operates the routes from South Africa. She said if the skies could be opened up, and other transportations facilities improved, the industry would be placed on a very completive edge for it to grow.

Botswana has witnessed an increase in the number of European tourists visiting the country’s prime tourism destinations. According to a representative of the Botswana Tourism Board (BTB) in Germany, Karin Zwiers, data on tour operators’ brochures has revealed that there has been a 281 percent increase in the tourists visiting Botswana from Europe. She said the flow of international travellers to Botswana had not been slowed down by the world economic recession as earlier feared.

Zwiers said this is commendable as it reflects the commitment of BTB through its overseas outreach outlets in marketing Botswana’s tourism product. She was speaking to The Gazette in an interview at Thamalakane River Lodge last week on the sidelines of a familiarisation tour of 32 German travel agents and two journalists who came to Botswana, courtesy of the Botswana Tourism-Germany and Ikarus Tours. The tour was organised to equip the operators with first hand experience on attractions offered by the country’s tourism industry.

Ikarus, one of the top travel agents in Germany, organised the trip in partnership with local company, Safari Destinations and BTB for their retail network. Zwiers revealed that most European visitors from Germany come to Botswana primarily to see the Big 5 and the Okavango Delta, something she said is a challenge for BTB in marketing other attractions. “We have to make them see that Botswana has a unique and a pristine environment that they won’t see anywhere other than the Big 5 in the protected areas or the Okavango Delta,” she said She said they are planning to make use of a big show in Germany in November to continue selling Botswana tourism. She also revealed a plan to partner with Land-Rover Motor vehicle shops in Germany in selling Botswana tourism product.

For their part, the agent said the familiarisation tour was an eye-opener as it gave them first hand opportunity to see the country’s tourism destinations. “It’s hard to sell something that you haven’t seen; so our coming here, we hope, will help in luring more tourists to this country,” said one of the agents.

Zwiers and Leslee Hall, BTB’s representatives in North America, confirmed to The Gazette that the number of the regular type of the tourists coming to the country will decrease during the month-long FIFA World Cup tournament in South Africa. They confirmed that most airlines from Europe and the United Sates of America (US) are already fully booked for the fans and the football teams at a disadvantage of the regular tourists in to Southern Africa. They said that a lot of tourists have cancelled their bookings for the period of the event while a lot move have shown an interest in visiting about August after the June 11-July 11 World Cup. They are however hopeful that the number of international travelers will soon stabilise.

Map, showing NG18 and NG20, courtesy of Wilderness Safaris

From Grant:

Lions photographed in NG18 a few weeks ago - photo © Grant Atkinson

Some of the most important wildlife areas in Northern Botswana are associated with two major river systems. In the very north of the country is the Linyanti River and its distributaries, the Savuti and Selinda. To the south of these rivers lies the Okavango Delta. Much of the land within these areas has been divided up into private concession areas. The concession areas are leased from either the government *or* the local communities. They can be utilized either for photographic safaris *or* for the purpose of controlled hunting.

Within the last year, all hunting operations came to an end in two concession areas named NG18 and NG20. As can be clearly seen from the map above, these two concession areas lie directly between the two major river systems mentioned above, the Linyanti and the Okavango. Both NG18 and NG20 are very large concessions and are home to good numbers of wildlife. NG20 was divided up between photographic camps and some hunting camps. Importantly, they are surrounded by Moremi Game Reserve, the Selinda and Linyanti private concessions, and Chobe National Park.

This is good news for the photographic safari industry. These two areas both have extensive riverfront areas that make ideal locations for low-volume photographic camps and NG20 is already home to some very well-known camps.

Most importantly though, it means that for wildlife there now exists a hunting-free zone which extends from the Moremi Game Reserve all the way to the country’s northern boundary, the Linyanti River. The changes in land-use in these concession areas will be of most benefit to animals like large bull elephants, buffalo and leopard – all species that may have been hunted in the past. Hunting in Botswana is strictly controlled but still has some impact on the wildlife that is targeted.

In these days of ever-increasing pressure upon wildlife refuges, especially from growing human populations, changes such as these are extremely valuable. The bigger and more effective the protected areas become, the greater their value in all respects.

Windhoek, May 5, 2010 (Xinhua News Agency) — Officials from the Ministry of Environment and Tourism in Namibia recently trucked 80 bales of vitamin-enriched fodder to two herds of 450 buffaloes cut-off by floods on an island in Caprivi in northeastern Namibia. Marooned on a tiny island through which there is a migratory route for the free-roaming beasts the wild beasts form part of the thousands of buffaloes and elephants shared between Namibia and Botswana and freely migrate between the two countries.

Cape Buffalo on Sadudu Island - large herds of buffalo frequently move out onto the low lying land in search of grass. In high waters, this can create problems. photo by P.B. Eleazer

Seasonally hundreds of buffaloes cross the Chobe River that serves as a natural boundary between Namibia and Botswana while they migrate between the floodplains in Namibia and the Chobe National Park renowned internationally for its variety of wild game. But since the Chobe is in flood the two herds of buffaloes were cut-off by floodwaters resulting in the beasts marooned on a small island near Kasika where they ran out of grazing prompting the Ministry of Environment and Tourism to send them the hay.

On Wednesday, Crispin Makata a principal game ranger in Caprivi said a four-man team he led started trucking through neighboring Botswana the feed to the stranded buffaloes in Namibia that recently traveled to the island where the beasts had run out of grazing.  He said Savannah Lodge and the owners of Zambezi Queen a luxury riverboat for up-market tourists, availed boats that were used for the transportation of the fodder to the beasts once the team had complied with all the immigration formalities in Botswana.

Just a small part of a very large herd. It's not unusual in Chobe to see Cape Buffalo in herds of several hundred animals. Photo by Justin Eleazer

In addition, the principal game ranger noted that unlike in the year 2009 the beasts that were almost on the verge of starvation did not stampede for government-procured feed. Makata said some buffaloes in one group of the beasts seemed to have lost a lot of weight though not a single buffalo has starved and that the feeding proceeded very well. The only hiccup experienced was related to nature when game rangers were ordered to put down a female buffalo whose hind-leg was broken in a crocodile attack after the buffalo nearly ended up on the giant river predator’s meaty menu. After game rangers gunned down the buffalo its meat was handed over to members of the Kasika Conservancy who likewise distributed the venison to villagers in the conservancy.

The 80 bales of buffalo fodder stored at Susuwe where procured last year after hundreds of buffaloes also got trapped on Savanna Lodge and on a nearby island due to flooding. Makata expressed concern the buffaloes may run out of feed and he appealed to World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and other wildlife organizations to assist considering the water level will not subside soon after it recently rose in the Chobe swamping shops at Ngoma.

Apart from disrupting the seasonal migration of the buffaloes from Namibia to Chobe National Park floods in Caprivi have displaced over 10,000 people who are currently being housed in tarpaulins and tents pitched across Caprivi.

That was the beginning of a surprising satirical text message sent by Australian Barrie Slater to his workmates at home after he almost lost an arm during a savage attack by a hyena in Botswana, Africa, last month.

Hyena Attack Victom Australian Barry Slater

Text recipient and work colleague John Cavanagh said everyone was shocked with the news. “There are lots of things we heard from the doctor and he still needs skin grafts done,” he said. “Barrie is improving steadily, but still has about six to eight weeks before he can come home.  At one point I talked to a relative of his who said he was in and out of consciousness for a while, but he seems to be getting better.

“We got a text message from him the other day and he seems to have his sense of humour back.” The text message from Mr Slater said the hyena spat him out, causing the ‘ultimate rejection’.  The satirical text caused many friends to think the attack was just a light-hearted joke by Mr Slater about his safari holiday.

Mr Slater might have his humour back now, but the pain caused by the hyena attack is no laughing matter.  The 50-year-old was on a five-week holiday in Botswana to celebrate his birthday and was staying at the Savuti Camp in Chobe National Park.  Mr Slater crept out of the safety of his tent to stoke a nearby fire when he was mauled by the native African animal on April 18.

“Our Land Rover is equipped with a tent that sets up on the roof, ironically to keep us safe from wild animals,” he told South African media. “I was sitting up in my camp chair when I heard a noise next to me. I looked to my side and stared straight into the eyes of a monster.”

After being dragged to the ground by the attacking hyena, Mr Slater said he somehow managed to grab his camp chair and fight back. “I started hitting him with the chair and gradually he let go, I looked at my arm and knew I was in trouble. But he was not finished with me yet.  He lunged at me again and took hold of my thumb, almost ripping it off, but I hit him with the chair again and he finally let go.”

Throughout the scuffle, Mr Slater’s wife Jenny and brother David watched helplessly while trying to distract the animal by yelling and banging on the side of the 4WD.  After the hyena backed away, they were able to pick up Mr Slater and drive him to the nearest medical facility. But realising the extent of his injuries they caught a flight to South Africa to seek proper medical attention.

Mr. Cavanagh is still in Netcare Union Hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa, receiving ongoing treatment. He has already received three operations to his left arm and thumb, had a rabies injection and endured several days in an induced coma. Mr Cavanagh said everyone hoped to have the ‘lovely-natured, personable bloke who really enjoys life’ back home soon.

FOAMY FACTS

Rabies is a viral disease usually passed on through animal bites.

Rabies can lead to mania, hallucinations, depression, delirium and brain damage.

Rabies in humans can be prevented by getting rabies shots pre- or post-exposure.

Rabies kills 55,000 humans annually.

Species specifics

There are four species of hyena, three of which are restricted to sub-Saharan Africa.

Hyenas devour all parts of their prey, including the bones.

Hyenas tend to travel in clans of 80.

A pair of man-eating hyenas responsible for killing 27 people, and weighing 77 and 72kgs, was killed in Malawi in 1962.

Written By: Kelly Landen of EWB on April 23:

It is with a heavy heart that I must write this blog and make this announcement. Recently, we discovered one of our elephant ambassadors, Kachikau, was tragically found dead. After finding her and assessing the situation and circumstances, it is believed she died from wounds, being shot, not by poachers or hunters, but simply people.  Kachikau was one of three elephants that we share their stories with the San Diego Zoo’s web site campaign, Project Elephant Footprints. Out of courtesy to our kind supporters of that program, we decided it best to not announce it until they were notified first.

We want to take this opportunity to kindly Thank those donors and the San Diego Zoo for their relentless support and encouragement to our organization and projects. We  sincerely appreciate all the kind words of encouragement we have been receiving from everyone at this difficult time. This tragedy only encourages our efforts, as we work together to ensure the safety and survival of elephant herds in an Africa that someday will be free of senseless losses of such magnificent animals.  Thank you all, very much.

Kachikau with her calf

The following is Kachikau’s final story:

April 15, 2010

Kachikau was a large female elephant, approximately 30 years of age, and the matriarch of her family herd of 8. Her nature seemed to be one of a calm, reserved matriarch. Not once had we witnessed her show any signs of aggression or distress. She kept her calf close to her side and was an attentive mother, much to the pleasure of the young one, who seemed shy among the larger elephants.
On September 25, 2008, during the harsh dry season, Kachikau was fitted with a satellite collar. In her herd were two young calves, the first one aged about two years and the other only a few months old. The youngest looked extremely thin, and at the time our vet thought that she would not survive the remainder of the season. However, six months later, when the herd was spotted in Botswana along the Chobe River, we were relieved to learn that not only did the young calf survive, but that she belonged to Kachikau.
During the two years we followed Kachikau’s movements, she covered a 6,755-square-kilometer (2,608 square miles) area. The majority of her time was spent within the protection of the Chobe National Park, staying close to the river in the dry season but periodically crossing to feed on the grasses that occur on the floodplains. During the rains she roamed further, venturing into the forest reserves. The herd preferred the western side of the Park, which has the least amount of tourism traffic. However, when we observed her from our research vehicle, her family did not seem disturbed by our presence, sometimes walking within a few meters of us.

Kachikau with herd in Chobe

Occasionally, the herd would return to the forested area close to where we originally collared her. We believe these sporadic jaunts north were induced by the herd’s familiarity of the area and their desire for particular food sources. It was on one of these excursions that Kachikau was tragically killed.

The last time we saw Kachikau alive, she and her young calf looked healthy among several other elephant herds, forming a congregation of elephants nearly 300 strong. Only one week later, after tracking her in Chobe National Park, she crossed the river once again. We were surprised this time, only because the river was in full flood. Kachikau’s 2-year-old calf would have had to cross a 2-kilometer (1.2 miles) stretch of water with the support of the herd. Continuing on her track, Kachikau did not sway from a course that we had not observed before. To us, she had just returned to an area familiar to the herd. After 2 days, 17 kilometers (10.5 miles) from the river’s edge, Kachikau’s collar sent a GPS point from the same position. Upon discovering this, we immediately jumped in our vehicle and set out to learn why she was not moving. We were hoping that somehow the collar may have fallen off. We plotted a course on our GPS to ensure we could drive the vehicle in as close as possible to the data point. Within a few kilometers of the point, we decided there was too much surface water and had to hike the rest of the way in. Positioning ourselves to use the tracking antennae and placing the headset on, we looked up to see vultures fly from the ground into the sky. Our hearts sank, as we knew the inevitable: Kachikau was dead.
We examined the situation and all evidence as best we could. Her tusks were intact, so we believe it was not a poaching incident. We found no evidence of her herd or her young calf. We talked to the farmers that were closest to the location, and they reported that they were not having problems with elephants crop raiding, despite us noting they had no means of deterrence around their crops to stop any animals from doing so. There were no signs that Kachikau may have had any natural physical complications, either. Our initial assessment is that Kachikau had likely been shot when she crossed the river.

Elephant swimming the Chobe River

Unfortunately, this is not a rare occurrence. Villagers, farmers, and fisherman regularly shoot at elephants to either scare or intentionally harm them, in hopes to prevent elephants from entering fields, villages, or damaging property, such as fishing nets laid out across the river. The elephants are not necessarily actually doing the offense, but it is one method that people use to avoid potential conflict.
Kachikau’s death is tragic and sadly unnecessary. The issues surrounding the incident are extremely complex, but they threaten African elephants throughout the continent. We are currently working to address these concerns. Elephants Without Borders, with support from the San Diego Zoo, has started an ambitious new program to try to avoid these retaliatory killings and reduce human-elephant conflict. Our Elephant Conservation and Community Outreach Farming Project, the first project of its kind in southern Africa, ultimately aims at achieving a level of coexistence between elephants and people. (see: http://www.elephantswithoutborders.org/living_with_elephants.php)

Again, we sincerely appreciate all of you that have shown us your encouragement and support, but please do not let it stop here. Our new project is in its infantry stage and there is much more that we can do.  If you would like to support this program, please log on to our web site at http://www.elephantswithoutborders.org/donate.php