ELEPHANT SIGHTINGS - 2007
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Newborn elephant - Photograph taken by ranger Nic Proust
ELEPHANT SIGHTINGS - 2007 Archives: 2000 || 2001 || 2002 || 2003 || 2004 || 2005 || 2006 || 2007 || 2008
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| December 2007 Elephants overall were seen everyday and in their numbers, but during the many days of rain they would seemingly disappear without a trace. As the rain let up and the sun returned so would the elephants, but as soon as it clouded over so the elephants would leave for sunnier skies. Many baby elephants are still being seen and always get reactions out of the guests as they clumsily move behind their mother mimicking their every move so as to learn how to become the giants they will one day grow up to be.
November 2007 Elephant viewing during the report period was varied, as with after the rains, it was at times a tall order to find a herd of elephant. However there were times that elephants were so numerous, that several herds would be found during a drive. Two large bulls were seen in the region of Wildebeest Crossing, the one bull had impressive tusks. Towards the end of the report period, elephants have been numerous, with large herds being common place, especially along the Sand River.
October 2007 Elephant viewing over this last month has been excellent with many very large herds being seen and some females have tiny calves at the moment. One elephant even gave birth right outside Rattrays camp.
There have been few sightings of truly impressive males with large tusks. Most of the viewing was with breeding herds, however on three occasions mating was observed in the breeding herd as a large bull joined up with the herd for this purpose. Again the advent of the rain has meant that elephant viewing is no longer constrained to the river but the elephants are spreading out now and making use of feeding areas that were too far from water during the dry winter months.
September 2007 Elephant sightings have been very frequent throughout the report period. Interestingly, through an aerial census, it has been determined that the density of elephants by far surpasses the concentrations within the KNP. Numerous collared elephants have also been reported, these animals have been collared by the Park as part of the analysis with regards to elephant movement and hence their impact on the park’s vegetation, importantly being analysed with regard to over population These studies are being conducted by the Park, and thus we do not utilize the collars for tracking purposes. A very impressive bull elephant that is frequently accompanied by a number of younger bulls has been frequently reported throughout the report period. August 2007 Elephants again were in excess this month. With the water drying up in the dams and pans most of the sightings were around the river as the herds came down to drink during the midday heat. Elephants provided great viewing for many guests as they almost every day come down to drink from the river in front of the camps during lunch providing a great African backdrop to the uniquely African food served at Mala Mala.
Other than the river, herds were often seen in the old river courses digging for water and many an entertaining drive was spent watching the herds splash around the drying mud holes and pools in the river beds. Elephant herds in excess of 30 were commonplace and many days went by with over 15 herds been seen in a day feeding, moving, drinking, and providing great sightings. July 2007 As would be expected during the dry season, numerous herds of elephants have been seen on a regular basis. The herds were generally seen along the Sand River, moving along the water-course, feeding and drinking. Some spectacular viewing from the lunch tables was had, with numerous herds passing in relative closeness to the camp.
Interestingly, although elephants have a poor digestive system, the elephants are exceptionally nutritionally wise, feeding on the most nutritious food sources available at the particular time of the year. With the grasses being of a poor nutritional quality, the elephants are seeking other food sources, in the form of roots, bark and the hard to reach branches of trees. Hence the general destruction of the large trees, particularly the Knob thorn and the Marula. June 2007 Elephant sightings during this report period have been truly amazing. Herds of between 20 and 30 animals have been uncommon on most days in the report period with many herds numbering 50 or more being seen quite frequently. The river is the attraction, as the waterholes dry out so the elephants must make their way to more permanent sources of water such as the Sand River. These large herds of elephants make for spectacular viewing especially when herds reunite at the waters edge and the sounds of the greetings tear through the air.
With all these breeding herds making their way to the river it is not a surprise that sightings of lone bulls are becoming more and more frequent. One memorable case in point is the arrival of a bull elephant with huge tusks that joined a breeding herd of about 35 elephants in the Mlowathi river system. With the water evaporating and the environment drying out, it can be expected to see this abundance of elephants continue, if not increase in the next few months. May 2007 During this report period elephant sightings have again been numerous especially in the northern half of the property with this once endangered species being seen more frequently along the major river systems usually during late morning or afternoon as this animal comes down to drink. On the odd day herds almost seemed to be absent but those days were followed by days where herds were seen along almost every stretch of the Sand River. Single Bull elephants were viewed in good numbers throughout the whole property.
April 2007 This has been a very good month for elephant viewing, quite surprising as to the fact that it has been very wet, and the abundance of food and water would usually cause elephants to spread out over the reserve, but this period most sightings were still around the river. There have, however, not been many of the large tuskers viewed this period as in previous months.
March 2007 Numerous herds of elephants were viewed during the report period, particularly during the early part of the report period. Several large bulls were recorded, mostly singly, however several were seen to trail herds closely, searching for potential mating opportunities. A very large herd of elephants was seen on several occasions, easily identifiable as it contains a youngster with deformed back legs. Interestingly this herd of elephants pays special attention to this individual, always ready to lend a helping hand by means of a nudge by the trunk if the individual so much as utters concern.
February 2007 Large breeding herds of elephants were seen along the Sand River, particularly before the rains that were experienced towards the end of the report period.
A number of impressive bull elephants were recorded during the report period. Many of these bulls were viewed on their own, but several were observed to follow herds closely. Several of these sightings involved musth bulls, which (on more than one occasion) were observed to try mounting females. January 2007 During the start of the report period there were very few elephant herds viewed, with the only elephant sightings being of solitary bulls.
This trend continued through most of the month of January, yet towards the end of the period large herds of elephant seemed to come from all directions. This led to some days having more than fifty elephants being sighted. On the 25 th of Jan there were reported to be more than one hundred and fifty elephants congregating in the West Street area.
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