June 30, 2012  

Tembo!

Last week we had a visitor at the tourist bandas, an elephant doing demolition work behind the kitchen area.

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We were coming back from the forest when I took this photo about 300-m from my house. He glanced at us briefly before walking off to push down a palm tree.

The elephants on the island originate from the Serengeti, 14 were introduced in 1972 and today there are around 50-100 of them. They roam freely across the entire island and we often hear them whilst working in the forest. For the most part they don’t give us any problems, but a few times they have charged and we have had to drop everything and run in order to escape their fury. 

They knock down many trees in the forest, including chimpanzee nesting trees and fruit trees

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Pic of SY clearing the road  after the elephant had knocked down a tree

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About Nadejda Josephine

I am currently studying for a doctorate in Anthropology at University College London. My fieldwork takes place on Rubondo Island, Lake Victoria in Tanzania. The research looks at the nesting patterns and nest architecture in the Rubondo chimpanzees. I began the work in April 2012 and will remain on the island until at least October 2013. I write this blog so as not to forget this wonderful island and the random events which occur throughout my fieldwork.

2 responses to “Tembo!”

  1. Monica says :

    This is definitely a familiar site for me as well! 😉 I’m enjoying your blog and I am very impressed with your photography skills. They are definitely blowing my blog photos out of the water! 🙂

    Reply

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