It’s vital to understand the implications that artificial water can have on species and ecosystems particularly in a time when human/wildlife interactions and global climate change are on the rise.

What I am seeing now is the effect this unregulated production is having on this fragile ecosystem, far more serve than the feeding habits of a hungry elephant. Vast tracts of acacia woodland have been deforested.

Could the rising temperatures of climate change be affecting elephants’ choice of habitat and possibly their daily movements?

I have excitedly joined the EWB team in collaboration with the Giraffe Conservation Foundation and the University of New South Wales to undertake the first giraffe study in the region, giving insight into their ecological requirements and behaviour, and conservation status. Analysis of this data will form the basis of my PhD.

A complex mosaic of forests, national parks, agricultural fields, grazing lands and human settlements interspersed with diverse natural communities poses significant challenges for conservation in the Chobe district. Within this mosaic, the FRs are important habitats for threatened and endangered wildlife species such as eland, roan, and sable.

This event was to be the first presentation given in a line of others, as EWB disseminates the survey and analysis results publicly in order to provide vital information on trends of wildlife populations and the issues which have influenced their trends

A few years is but a snapshot in an elephant’s life and we felt because of the uniqueness of her story, we had much to learn from Rainbow Spirit. So it was decided to redeploy a second satellite collar on her, enabling us to study her long-time movements.

The Bushmen of the Kalahari call it the Mongongo.. observations noted with pleasure, are areas where the diminishing Mongongo Tree has managed to survive, flourish and are in full, glorious bloom.

One cannot ignore the immediate urgency of the relentless anticipation of waiting for the rains… If it is quite intolerable for us people, it’s hard to imagine how it must be for the wildlife in some regions… recently flying and observing the herds and movements of the various species have given us opportunity to witness their response and reactions to the environmental conditions.

With a shake of her massive head, she quickly moved around the vehicle, leading another 30 elephants behind her. Dust filled our nostrils, ears and eyes, but we kept them wide-open, anxiously looking through the haze for more. We realized we weren’t on the edge of the corridor, we were right in the middle of it!