Elephant Jatropha Feast: Video

And so the gentle drizzle continued all night. And it looked like it would carry on all day but eventually let up around midday.
I took some time out in the rain and went paddling on Malilangwe dam. It’s the best and the hippo are getting so used to me now, they don’t even duck away. At least that way I can keep an eye on them all the time.

Getting out in the afternoon, everywhere was a muddy mess and my access around the reserve was seriously restricted only being able to travel in the sandy areas.
I was sure the elephant would be doing the same as me keeping to the sand, so I was happy to find some tracks but they weren’t that fresh.
It was only shortly before dusk that I found a herd of about 30 individuals. They were pretty chilled out in my presence but not as relaxed as I was used to. These were different elephants to those I normally work with. I didn’t recognise any individuals in the herd, except the bull with his floppy ear.

It’s only the first day after the rains that the elephants go mad digging up Jatropha tubers. A true delicacy for them. And today was no exception. All over the veld were freshly dug hollows and everywhere adults were chewing on the tubers. The smaller elephant aren’t so adept at digging and have to rely on scraps from mom’s bad table manners.

But why do the elephant only dig up the tubers the day or two after the rains? Is it because it’s easier to move the soil when it’s moist or is it that the tuber undergoes some sort of change with the rain making it so much tastier?
Unfortunately us humans can’t taste them ourselves to do the test.
I had to leave the elephants shortly before sunset as a gentle drizzle set in. No doubt it will be here for the night.