• Home
    • About SA Hunters Home Page
      Who We Are
      Board and Excecutive Members
      Meet the Team
      Conservation Committee
      Hunting Committee
      Shooting Committee
      Inyathi Park Newsletters
      National Congress
      Social Media
      SA Hunters Shop
      Our Magazines
      HuntEx
      Commercial Offers to Member
      Our Youth
      FAQs
    • Membership Home Page
      Why become a member
      Membership Fees
      Membership Administration
      Mentorship - Make a Difference
      Commercial Offers to Members
      Liability Insurance
      Membership FAQs
    • Branches Home Page
      Find Branches on Google Maps
      Branch Information per Province
      Branch Matters and Accomplishments
      Branches FAQs
    • Conservation Home Page
      Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
      Conservation Initiatives
      Conservation Committee
      Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
      Conservation News
      Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
      Support Conservation
      SA Hunters’ Policy and Position Statements
      Legislation and Policy Framework
      Responsible Use of Resources
      Position on Lead Ammunition
      International Engagements
      Conservation FAQs
    • Hunting Affairs Home Page
      Our Hunting Policy and Code
      Hunting Heritage
      Hunting Statistics
      Hunting Committee
      Hunting Licences and Proclamations
      Transport Permits Pigand Other Game Meat
      Accredited Hunting Destinations (new 2024 season coming soon)
      Hunters Education
      Professional Hunting
      Measuring Wildlife
      Game Meat
      Awards
      News and Resources
      Hunting FAQs
      SA Hunters Shop
      Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
    • Shooting Home Page
      2024 Shooting Competitions
      Hunting-based Shooting
      Junior Shooting
      Shotgun Shooting
      Sport Shooting
      Multi-discipline Sport Shooting
      SA Precision Rifle Federation
      Fun Shoot
      News, Articles and Resources
      Shooting Ranges
      Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
      Maintaining your Status
      Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
      National Calendar
      Reloading
      Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
      Shooting FAQs
      Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
      Shooting Committee
      SA Hunters Shop
      Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
    • Firearms Home Page
      What We Offer
      Firearm Legislation
      Firearm Licence Applications
      Firearm Licence Renewals
      Competency
      Dedicated Status (Sport Shooting & Hunting)
      Motivations and Endorsements
      Firearm Helpline & Endorsements
      Reloading
      Position on Lead Ammunition
      News and Resources
      Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
      SA Hunters Shop
      SA Jagters-Hunters Winkel
      Firearms FAQs
      Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
    • Photography Home Page
      Photography Competition Information
      Photography Competition Gallery
      Photography Club on Facebook
      Photography Club Gallery
      Photography FAQs
  • SA Hunters Shop

The last of the Great Pachyderms

There is so much that one could say about elephants that a few hundred words in an article can hardly do justice to these great animals. People have strong feelings and beliefs about elephants, maybe because they are the last of the great pachyderms and have suffered some of the worst slaughters that a species has ever had to endure on Earth. Vivid memories of pictures of hundreds of tusks being carried by hunting guides in the American gun magazines that I read in my youth, left me with troublesome thoughts. Why did those people hunt hundreds of elephants? Was it because of the sheer numbers that once roamed in central Africa or was it simply that ivory was a valuable commodity on offer to those who cold harvest it by the ton? The result was that the Africa elephant’s numbers plummeted to around 600 000 individuals. It is alarming that poaching is still way out of control in central African countries.

Elephants have been elevated to the level of demi-gods by some individuals, even attributing human characteristics to the savannah giants. It is everyone’s prerogative to decide whether elephants are highly intelligent, but all I can say is that my experience with them has proven to me that they are definitely not stupid! Wonderful experiences in the bush have taught me much about them as a species and also about their individual nature. Two years ago, while hunting impala on a farm on the banks of the Limpopo River, I one day decided to leave the rifle behind and armed with a small camera, I crossed the veterinary fence to wander around the riparian bush. The long, lush grass, remnants of a good late summer, attracted a herd of about 80 elephants to our side of the river. Amongst them were old cows, younger cows with calves and a few young bulls.

I found myself a safe and comfortable perch high above the ground in a dead monkey-thorn tree and patiently awaited the arrival of the herd as it worked its way towards me. When the old cows were within spitting distance I could feel my bravery slightly waning, but I had to sit tight in my tree perch. The animals moved all around me and I was certain that they knew about my presence as some lifted their trunks and tested the air in my direction. There was, however, no reaction. As the herd moved on, I cautiously descended and slowly started walking towards the herd. I reached a point about fifteen meters from a cow with a very young calf and, I must admit, that was when the jelly in my legs became liquid. Yet, despite my close proximity, both mother and calf fed happily. At one stage the cow turned slightly towards me, lifted her trunk and sniffed the air. I started to get bitterly cold from naked fear. The cow dropped her trunk and ushered her calf closer with a deep but soft guttural sound.

That was unbelievable and my legs steadied somewhat. Next was a very slow approach to a young bull. The animal must have noticed me as he often stopped feeding and I could see his eye following me. At about eight meters from the bull, my common sense told me that I could either step closer or enjoy many more hunting seasons in the bush! However, I failed to notice some other elephants approaching and when I decided to bid my young bull farewell, I was basically trapped between three calves and two cows. Oh, what a mess! The fence was 70 meters away and the elephants were between me and the dead tree. Freeze up. That is all I could do. Surprisingly, the elephants did not even bat an eyelid and grazed past me. I was stunned.

Then, just as I was up in my safe perch again, an alarming thing happened. The hunting vehicle with the professional hunter and American client came driving past. It was as if the elephants had all been triggered by some mysterious force. They trumpeted and charged towards the fence. Even calves charged towards the vehicle. All I could think of was that they either associated the vehicle or the smell of gun oil with some past traumatic experience. Once the vehicle had disappeared a relaxed tranquility settled over the herd and they continued feeding. I dropped down from my perch and walked back to the fence. Several elephants were very close to me and like before they basically ignored me.

How does one explain this behaviour? I don’t know. It also happened to me in Angola where I walked into a massive herd of elephants by chance. Their behaviour was the same. One should never anthropomorphise wild animals, but what apart from intelligence of a special kind can explain this extraordinary behaviour? Maybe there is an understanding amongst the wild beasts and mankind that I cannot fathom. Elephants evoke these thoughts in me and hopefully I will never have to kill such a beast.

Share This Article

Share on whatsapp
Share on facebook
Share on linkedin

More Articles

error: Content is protected !!