It was elephants all day today.
There was a good cover of dew at dawn today, as this butterfly eagerly awaited the sun to dry him up so he could fly away before he became breakfast.
Mandlovu and her family were all together again after her little sojourn with the bulls. They were taking it easy for an hour early this morning doing their sand thing. Later they moved north into the hills following a seep, which totally snookered me and I couldn’t follow anymore.
One-tusk was also around with her family. They found this little wallow and got all spaced out in it. One-tusk, then standing there quite innocently, sucked up a load of mud and the deliberately flung it at me. Just in time I managed to get my hand in front of the lens to protect it. But the rest of my body got a good pasting. She carried on standing there as if nothing had happened. Like a naughty boy trying to cover up his bad deed.
Then they too moved into the hills.
But I got lucky again at Nduna dam where a bunch of bulls were having the most awesome swim. They were playing and climbing all over each other. The resident hippos weren’t too happy snorting their displeasure every now and then.
Having run of elephant shortly before sunset I sauntered down to Bandama pan. There was a white rhino cow and calf feeding close by but were unaware of my arrival. They had a flock of cattle egrets following them catching insects that are flushed by the rhino.
I was keen to get photos, so walked in after them knowing that the egrets would be the ones to blow my cover. And they did. The rhino’s spun around startled not knowing where the trouble was coming from. Now that’s a potential problem for me, ‘cos they might just charge unknowingly in my direction. Before they could even think of it, I coughed and they took off the other way.
I was very amused at One Tusk’s playful splat of mud. Guess you are one of the herd now.
Someone asked earlier about Snorkle’s condition but I didn’t see if you had answered. Do you know how Snorkle is doing now? Have you seen him again since you reported and filmed his obvious laboured breathing?
This is good time to use the word ‘Awesome’. Elephants are Awesome.
I felt like I was there watching them play and relax.
It’s wonderful to see the elephants so relaxed.
Maybe One Tusk was inviting you in for a mud bath.
Hey Kim
Toyota’s huh, ok that works. Thanks for the info on white rhinos in Malilangwe. That was my mistake, I read my information (I’ve compiled a 150 page personal white rhino study report, yes I know, I don’t like them too much do I?) wrong, it was 308 white rhinos in 2005 in all of Zimbabwe not just in Malilangwe. It’s wonderful to know that they are thriving there.
I’ve viewed all your videos from the archive on rhinos, “Rhino places his order” being my favorite. Most of your white rhino photos from flickr are running as my screen savers. Thanks for mentioning the cow and calf in this recent blog, who would have thought that a good defense against a white rhino is to cough out loud!
I’m not sure if anyone has asked you this before but what is your favorite animal Kim and why? Do your girls have favorites? My daughter changes her’s almost daily depending on her mood and what she has seen lately.
Snorkel’s conditioned improved to the point that i can’t hear anymore if he has a problem. He seems just fine.
Steve: Favourite animal? Depends who i’m filming. they soon become my favourites.