The 2025 Botswana Journals, Ch. 25: Elephant Behavior

         

(Remember:   Clicking on one photo will bring up a film strip that will enable full screen photo viewing.)

        With no commercial interruptions and as little prose as possible, I hope you enjoy an interlude with some of the many elephants of Mashatu Game Reserve on this morning of Nov. 9th.

        Here are two videos of elephants being elephants.   If you have the volume up, you might hear breaking branches.

VIDEO:

        We are driving along a trail through riverine forest, and come upon two elephants on the same trail.  We can't back up; we can't turn around.   All we can do is follow at their pace.

        Once we're out in the open, one elephant--as I knew it would--turns around and objects to our following the herd.  Note the body language.  Ears flared and the head wags.

        Too bad, Ellie.  We're going the same way you are and there is only one track.

        We come across a blissful elephant rolling the dusty sand/soil.

        Now the other side.   The elephant has only one tusk, and therefore shall be called One Tusk.

        And now the belly.   Rolling in mud or dust helps protect an elephant's tender hide.   Yes, elephants have tender hides.    The mud, dirt, whatever,  also helps protect them, from insects.

      

  Here come two babies, and we are delighted at the prospect of photographing them in the dust.

        One Tusk has other ideas and steps in to shield the babies from the paparazzi.   They are probably not her calves, but all the elephants help protect the youngsters.

                And there she stands.   The security nanny.

Note the body language--the flared ears and a bit of a head wag.  That's a "keep your distance" warning.

        Sometimes I can sneak a photo.

        Got your popcorn ready?   It's four and a half minutes of elephants exhibiting their natural protective behavior around the babies.  Enjoy the movie!

        Note how the other elephants come up behind the babies to protect them.

        One Tusk finally moves away, and in a few minutes,  an older calf has a turn in the dust.

        

        We watch another juvenile try to dislodge a nice clump of greenery, with little success.   Those trunks are quite difficult to control at this age.

            It tries kicking the greenery.   That doesn't work.

        

        After a few more unsuccessful trunk struggles, the youngster decides it's easier to pick up a branch discarded by the adults.

        Several elephants are browsing on this bush.   I'm not sure what the head-to-head contact means--maybe a greeting, maybe a push to get out of the way.

A little way off, a baby decides to have a snack that is far less fibrous.

        And I will leave you with this image.   Remember, it still isn't midday.