September 1994
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Kalahari Years
N. Luangwa, '86-'97
N. Luangwa, '97-'07
N. Luangwa, '07-'10
Selkirk Grizzlies
Survivor's Story
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September 1994
North Luangwa National Park

Dear Everybody,

Mark has swooped the chopper down to within fifteen feet of the elephant herd. The back door of the helicopter was open, and the vet's dart gun was held steady in the slip stream. "There she is, the one with the calf." "Got her," called the vet. Mark pulled the chopper up and banked away. Less than thirty seconds had passed. The elephants milled about, touching each other with extended trunks. But they calmed down quickly because the chopper was already circling high overhead, and they were accustomed to it. The herd began moving across the small plain toward the forest.

Watching from above we saw the female slow down and lag behind the others. Only her small calf remained at her side. Five minutes later she stumbled and then slumped to the ground. The herd was moving away and did not sense any danger. Mark landed the chopper fifty yards from the elephant and we all jumped out. Carrying vet boxes, radio collar, and measuring tape we walked quietly toward the darted female. Assisting us was Dr. Mike Kock, one of the most experienced wildlife veterinarians in Africa, and his assistant.

The tiny calf stood by its mother's side. Moving his trunk up and down her face, he sniffed her. Was this just one more poached elephant in North Luangwa? Had his mother finally been a victim? Flaring his ears, as though he was a full grown bull, the infant charged toward us. No one was going to touch his mother without first dealing with him. We froze as he mocked charged and flapped his ears wildly. There were four of us and this seemed to intimidate the calf. He moved back to his mother and smelled her face.

Moving carefully we approached the female and got to work. Kneeling next to her huge head, Mark slid one end on the collar under her neck toward Mike. But before they could bolt the collar together, the calf lowered his head and bumped Mark in the side.

"OK, OK, little fellow. Its OK. We're not going to hurt your mother." We finished collaring the female, measured her, and took a blood sample. And all the while the calf nudged us and rammed us with his head. He was too small to really hurt us, but he was not lacking in nerve. In twenty minutes the job was complete. Mark rushed back to start the chopper. The assistant and I quickly collected the gear and then we boarded. When Mark gave a thumb's up signal to Mike, indicating that the chopper was ready for lift off, Mike injected the female with antidote. Mike scrambled to the chopper, and we lifted off, circling high over head. In less than five minutes the mother began to stir. The calf rubbed his trunk up and down his mother's face. She stood up and wrapped her trunk around her calf, and then they walked off toward the herd.

We named her Chimane. And for a North Luangwa elephant she is very lucky. Since she is collared, we can locate her and the other collared elephants several times a week from the air. Not only are we learning about their range movements, habitat utilization, and social habits, but now that we know their locations, we can protect them better. We have been radio tracking them since April, and have already learned that several of the family units spend a great deal of their time outside of the national park in the scarp mountains. Whenever they go in that direction, we send scouts out to watch for poachers. We will do everything we can to keep Chimane safe, along with her calf, whom we have named 'Chops'.

During that particular expedition, we darted and collared eight female elephants in North Luangwa. Two had old wounds from poachers' AK47 rifles, one had a deformed tusk that had been caught in a snare, and another had a scar from a muzzle loading gun. Thus, 50% of these darted elephants carried signs of poaching. There is still a lot of work to be done. But poaching is down 95% and we intend to keep it that way.

Hope you don't mind one more elephant story. For several years we have known a young, orphaned female elephant whom we named Gift. Her entire family unit was killed by poachers, so she has lived with a group of bulls for two years. This is totally abnormal social behavior for elephants, but since 93% of elephants in North Luangwa have been poached, there are many orphans in the population. It has been a pitiful sight to see Gift roaming around alone or with the bulls, who ignore her since she is too young to breed.

Well, we found Gift the other day and she was no longer alone! Another -- even younger female -- who is probably also an orphan, has attached herself to Gift, and they now forage and frolic together. It is, of course, not the same as having a family unit, but the two females will have a better chance of survival and of raising young if they can form a group. Gift was very protective of the younger female, and as they wandered down the river bed, they looked like a miniature elephant with her calf.

Don't forget -- the CITES biannual meeting will be held in Florida this year, and the ivory ban is still essential to conserve elephants. Let your Congressman know that you support the ban.

We appreciate your support so much. Without you we would not be here. And neither would Survivor, Cheers, Chimane, or Chops. Thank you!

Cheers from the bush,
Delia and Mark

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