Hal the pilot
It was a particularly busy day today. The alarm went off at 0545 was the rest of the camp still asleep, even the birds were quiet. I headed up to the kitchen and got the water on before packing up the car with the equipment ready for our monthly road survey. Mphoeng and Ish soon join me and we enjoyed a cup of tea and some breakfast before heading out.
These monthly survey is not only include elephants but all the mammals and some of the more endangered birds that we find here in the study area. By monitoring the demographics of the mammals to look out the interactions between certain species over time.
The first mammal we came across, I was a troop of baboons. They were surprised to see us, as they were still in their reasoning site at the top of some palm trees. They all began alarm calling and getting down as fast as they could. There was one youngster that a third of the way down the tree decided he didn’t like anymore and started alarm calling. Mum came back, but wasn’t prepared to go all the way back up the tree and waited for him partway. He eventually got his courage together and came down to Mum before the whole of the troop retreated to nearby termite mound and peered at us as we carried on our way.
We managed to complete the road survey without getting stuck, which is quite an achievement at this time of year with the floodwaters being so high. As we head towards summer the waters are retreating somewhat, making our lives easier. We saw elephant, kudu, Impala, two herds of buffalo, baboons, birds, squirrels and amongst the birds; saddled billed storks, wattled crane and some ground hornbills.
Having stopped to write down a couple of trees squirrels, I carried on my way managed to surprise the young elephant Vishna who was feeding on the palm tree only a couple of metres away. Mphoeng and Ish I thought I’d seen him that’s why they have not said anything, but I was completely oblivious to his presence, which is a little shocking considering I had spotted the squirrel! This show was hanging out with B571 or more affectionately called by Mphoeng,‘The Grey One’– they were busy making the most of the seasonal resource of the palm nuts.
We got to act to camp out about 12:30 and I raced around getting stuff together to do aerial tracking for the collared elephants. The pilot and camp electrician, and solver of all things technical, Hal, was flying back to town, but had trying to find some of the collared individuals. So off we went and tracked for Thando and Mthondo, two with the released male elephants that we have been following. Unfortunately we did not get the visual of Mthondo, despite flying around for about 10 minutes with a very loud signal. I was very disappointed with myself but figured Mthondo was hiding somewhere enjoying the palm nuts. Thando was alone on the edge of a wild palm island I looked in good health.
Elephants from the air
When we landed back at the airstrip, it was quite a busy time with two planes already there bringing in clients to the safari camps. One of the planes had also brought in Simon who had been in town trying to sort out the importation of our vehicle. Having both missed lunch we were fairly peckish and after all the plane had taken off safely we headed to camp for a late lunch. It was now 15:30 and having been on the go since 0545 I was a little peckish. There had been a great day for data.
Flying over the delta
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