Anonymous:

Name: emc
E-mail: Not specified

Pics of some ellies seen on 12-5

click to enlarge

Beth

Let's bump 'er up

This is not the same elephant.  The one previously posted is older and has much longer tusks.

Just for the record, here's a front view and a left side view of the same elephant.

Anonymous:

Name: Dent
E-mail: Not specified

Anonymous:

Name: Pat - NJ
E-mail: Not specified

Thank you for your comments.  I am giving serious thought to what you said.  It is remarkable how the ellie has seemed to adapt and keep up with a herd and that may well be worth seeing.

Now it would be a tribute and inspiration to overcome adversity for all of us...

It appears I was way off in what was taking place today. So here is a truer slant on what happened

Collaring an elephant bull

I was way off in speculation
about ativities in relation
to the ellie collaring today
in Bots., down Mashatu way.

This is apparently how it went;
'twas not a cow, but an ellie gent
they were after because he roams,
and much territory he calls home.

Distance travelled and where he'd be
is what is needed for his history.
A big bull was found and singled out
to be tracked as he moved about.

The ellie bulls are a nomad lot
and move around from Zim. to Bot.
They find a herd with ellies in heat
make their move and then retreat.

To leave the cows and babes in their charge,
while they go back to roaming ways, at large.
They take off and go who knows where,
the collar now will track them all over, out there.

The vet was called and had his *gun*
to dart the bull with morphine, M99
A small amount for such a big critter,
the bull went down after a 5 minute flutter.

His eyes were shielded from the sun
whilst the tracking collar was put on.
They poked him here and prodded him there,
this was all done with very much care

A Blood sample was taken,
that was the vampire bit!
They measured his body, feet and tusks
his trunk too and checked to see if he was in musth.

It only took 'bout fifteen minutes in time
to get this ellie's measurements and collar in line.
All was done, time to revive the ellie bull,
an anti-dote administered, he was up in full
cry and walking about with ease
no wobbly walk, no buckling knees.

Now the researchers at Mashatu will
track him all over and get their fill
of where he goes and what he does
they'll see what travels he has chose'.

They need more collars to track more bulls
through the bush, over yonder hills.
They all cost money and plenty of it.
It'll come together, piece by piece, bit by bit.

Collaring an elephant.

the PP cam
on autopan
as the ladies are away.
heron
over yon'
sits in the warties bay.

Alisha
Malora
both will be shouting
today
away
from the pond this outing

hunting
not sunning
for the ellies on the run
bring 'em back
in their track
within range of the darting gun

researchers
urge
participation from all
those at
Mashatu
fast, slow, big 'n' small.

loud
crowd
voices from all
at
Mashatu
the short and the tall.

They need
to weed
one ellie from it's herd.
to dart
apart
whilst trumpeting is heard.

leader
is needed
the herd's mother, or Matriarch
must be
weeded
away and the herd kept apart.

while
a pile
of researchers roll her onto her side,
measure,
monitor ,
check for marks and insects on her hide,

others
try
a large collar to fit,
under
round
her neck from their collaring kit.

must be
free
definitely not too tight,
loose
enough
must fit just right.

when done
all gone
whilst the antidote's administered.
she wakes
and takes
a long look around where they visited.

she's up
her feet
under her as she makes a search,
for all
her family
in the herd which was dispersed.

perhaps
she will
trumpet loud and clear
for all
around
her summonses and calls to hear.

time
for grimey
researchers and helpers to flee
the site
of the mighty
monarch, mother to all the ellies.

ears up
trunk too
she listens and smells for family.
daunted not,
at a trot,
she sets off, her family to see.

radio tuned,
static pruned,
from the collar on the ellie.
located,
updated,
she greets her herd with rumbling belly.

now
her family
will be tracked and watched.
their
every
movement will be marked and plotted.

ellie researchers
at Mashatu
will find and plot her within range
whilst on
mashatu land
protected, monitored and in no danger.

if she
should go
beyond border and into Tuli range
she will
still
be safe 'til she heads back to Mashatu, a change.

stats,
facts,
all compiled by those who watch.
heck,
check,
any errors thereof to catch.

she will
go down
as a study animal, part of history.
habits ,
travels,
well documented for all to see.

20061126 by lynty @ Canada

Anonymous:

Name: Pat - NJ
E-mail: Not specified

Thank you for your comments.  I am giving serious thought to what you said.  It is remarkable how the ellie has seemed to adapt and keep up with a herd and that may well be worth seeing.

Now it would be a tribute and inspiration to overcome adversity for all of us...

Pondwatcher on The Pete's Pond Commentator found this earlier post from Malora, one of the cam operators.

Anonymous:

Name: Pat - NJ
E-mail: Not specified

Jeanetta, if you read this, I have a video of that ellie (with the injured front left leg) and the herd he seems to be with. I'd be happy to post it on youtube if you'd like. It is so hard to watch him, I didn't want to post it unless it would be of interest to you for help in identifying him and/or his herd.

Pat - I appreciate your heart felt hesitation on posting this clip. I cannot remember a post that I have stalled on longer then this one... This is a National Geographic site intended to educate about wildlife, and this season at Pete`s Pond we have seen it all. As difficult to watch as it may be, the circle of life has already been shown, from the end of a few to the beginning of many... I believe that posting your clip will help inform and educate the realities that wildlife must endure, and as an end result, generate understanding and passion in us all to take a few steps forward to help...   

Jeanetta, if you read this, I have a video of that ellie (with the injured front left leg) and the herd he seems to be with. I'd be happy to post it on youtube if you'd like. It is so hard to watch him, I didn't want to post it unless it would be of interest to you for help in identifying him and/or his herd.