The weather did change and the clouds rolled in at dawn and stayed for most of the day.
Although a few drops of rain did fall, they’re not counted.
Bandama’s action was slow but kept coming through the day.
This herd of about 200 buffalo arrived first and even in the cool weather got right down into the pan cooling off in the mud. They hung around for about an hour before slowly sauntering off south.
A couple of elephant bulls were next to follow searching for the fresh water seeping into the pan. But they seemed to spend more time wrestling than drinking.
While filming them my viewfinder suddenly blacked out. One-Tusk walked right past the front of the vehicle on her way to drink.
But the young bull had different ideas and One-Tusk moved away, but he kept following. Then as if to humour him she stood still and he mounted her. He’s too young to be mating anyway. But why did One-Tusk repeatedly let him mount her? She obviously wasn’t in oestrus as all the big bulls would be here hounding her.
Maybe she’s at the very beginning of her oestrus cycle?
Then as if not to be out done, the older bull moved in and pushed the young guy off One-Tusk. But he had other ideas. Instead of trying his luck on One-Tusk he mounted the younger bull who actually wasn’t too upset about it. More fun?
Whatever is going on, none of the animals got what they were hoping for, unless it was just a practise round.
These elephants moved off not far to the east and fed in the area for a couple of hours before coming to drink again and then head off west.
A young cow, not wanting to get caught up in the foray came to drink near my vehicle. I got out the car, walked to the waters edge, sat down and clicked away. She had seen me and in her bold way took a few steps towards me and then a few more. And the last step she made sure to splash me. This was a real splash and camera and I were soaked. Happy she’d achieved her goal she wandered off.
Besides the Quelea coming and going all day the pan soon was quiet. Time to head home.
And again today the giraffe were on the airstrip although the sunset didn’t prove that exciting.
Good afternoon Kim,
Reading this wonderful story: How do you keep your camera gear clean? From my own experience I know that the combination of mud and water can be lethal to the (photo) camera. Especially when the water is seawater. Is the construction of the (professional) camera water and mud-proof? And maybe elephant-proof?
kind regards,
Douwe
You’ve been christened.
Maybe she picked up on your desire to go swimming with them and obliged.
LOL interesting antics. I know at the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee Winkie (female) will mount Sissy (female) when in oestrus. It does seem odd that when the bigger male has a female nearby he’d mount another male. It seems a little complicated. I know I’m confuzzed.
Could the mounting be a dominance display?
Douw. Yes have to clean it really carefully. luckily not much mud in that water!
I suppose it could have been a sort of dominance display, but why didn’t he mount the female?
Goodmorning Kim,
Probably she turned him down and you got in the way. One has to do something, isn’t it?
kind regards
Douwe
Ya Dudes
I feel that the male was exhausted too much, so planned to jump on male but not female…
Haha Just Kidding.
–
Go Ahead
Bikram
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