ELEPHANTS DOWN TO THEIR ROOTS

This morning I began day 1 of my two week work experience at Phinda Mountain Lodge. Donald and I began the drive this morning searching in the Sutton area to find the Sutton Pride so that our guests could see some small cubs.

Whilst on our way there we drove past a small group of Elephant bulls. We stopped to observe. We watched the larger bull eating some of the trees until he came right out and there was about 4 metres between the vehicle and the Elephant. He then returned to the thicket of trees and began to push a tree over. Using his head was clearly not enough so he placed his two front legs on the tree trunk and it quickly began to fall. Once it had fallen he started to dig up the roots. The one root he had dug up was a half circle shape and so to break it the Elephant gave a full flex of his right front leg and kicked the root once, instantly breaking it in half. He then ate his prize slowly and enjoyed his hard worked for roots.

Posted: Phinda by Craig Gunther, Date: 2 December 2011