Alabama's Story

The sage, old matriarch, Georgia

When I first met Alabama in 2005, she was a young adult leading a seemingly happy and secure life under the watchful eye of Georgia, a sage, old matriarch.  Her family, known as the States, was quite small with only one other sub-adult female, named Virginia. The family visited Lewa on a random basis, disappearing for months at a time.  But, upon their return, it was always easy to spot Alabama because she has very unusual tusks that curl under her trunk; in fact, at first glance, she can easily be mistaken for tuskless.

At first glance, Alabama appears tuskless

Alabama's tusks curl under her trunk

In 2006, Alabama gave birth to a calf, presumably her first baby -- a female that we named California.  Alabama appeared to be a very good mother, and young California made it through her precarious first year.   Approximately, 15% of calves do not survive the first twelve months, and this number rises to some 50% during a drought.

In February of 2009, the States returned to Lewa.  Georgia was missing, but her six-year-old calf, Arizona, was still with the family – an almost sure sign that Georgia was dead.  Alabama and Virginia – both too young to be heading a family – were bravely carrying on, taking care of Georgia’s young daughter,

Arizona was just six years old when
she lost her mother, Georgia

as well.  Alabama’s life became even more challenging later that year when she gave birth to another baby girl, Mississippi.  By this time, Virginia had disappeared and Alabama was left to care for three young elephants without the guidance of Georgia or the companionship of Virginia.

Arizona helps care for baby Mississippi

Amazingly, the resilient Alabama has managed to keep her little family in tact.  Like Celine, Alabama is often seen in the presence of other families – she seems to favour the Flowers and the Asian Cities.  But, she never stays with any one family for long, and I often find her wandering Lewa on her own with her three young charges in tow.

California and Arizona are now young adults and will soon be having calves of their own.  So, before long, Alabama will become the matriarch of a “proper” elephant family.  A title she truly has earned.

Meet the Flower Family

Agapantha, matriarch of the Flower family

The Flower family is one of Lewa’s most frequently seen families because, like tourists, they spend a great deal of their time around the swamp.   The matriarch of the family is Agapantha -- a big, old girl with very distinctive, large tusks.   The Flowers are also the largest elephant family found here on the conservancy.

Tulip, a gnarly, old one-tusker

When food is not abundant, a large elephant family often will split into smaller factions.  This makes it easier for everyone in the family to consume the enormous amount of food required on a daily basis.  Such is the case with the Flower family; the splinter group – referred to as Flowers II – is headed by Tulip, a rather gnarly, old one-tusker.  

Agapantha and Bougainvillea joyfully greet one another
Notice the temporal glands streaming down the side of their faces

Although they often do go their separate ways, there is a strong bond amongst family members, and when they come together after long separations, there is a joyous greeting.  Much trumpeting and running around ensues.  Temporal glands are streaming from excitement and trunks are intertwined as tokens of affection.

The Flower family crossing the plains with Agapantha leading
the way and Pansy in the rear

While Daisy and Pansy almost always stay with Agapantha who rarely leaves Lewa, Bougainvillea tends to follow the more adventurous Tulip, who likes to head out to the north on a regular basis. Although the boundary of Lewa is fenced in order to ensure that the rhino do not leave the secure area, there is a “rhino proof” gap on the northern boundary that allows elephant and other wildlife to wander outside of the conservancy.  This opening in the fence has been fitted with a camera that is triggered by the breaking of a laser beam, and Tulip and her entourage are caught “on film” on a regular basis.   Tulip is a wise, old girl and is often photographed leaving Lewa just as the sun sets (and herdsmen will have returned home) and coming back through the gap just as the sun is rising.  But, from time to time, she does lead her family up north where they are at risk of being shot or speared by poachers.  Thus, I always breathe a sigh of relief when I see that Tulip is back on Lewa.

Baby elephant love to play with their friends

The Flower family is very prolific.  Tulip, Agapantha and Pansy all gave birth to calves in 2009.  Daisy gave birth in 2010, and Bougainvillea followed suit the following year.  In early 2012, Agapantha gave birth to yet another baby – a little girl named Amaryllis.  Many of the younger females, including Bergenia, Impatiens, Frangipani, Geranium, Jonquil, Lilac, and Snapdragon have all produced calves in the past few years. 

So, if you are lucky enough to visit Lewa in the coming years, I hope you are able to spend some time watching the newest members of the Flower family playing in the Lewa swamp under the watchful eye of their mothers.

Detusking

Elephant have voracious appetites and can consume up to 40 tonnes of food per day.  In some instances, this actually proves helpful.  A herd of elephant foraging in an area of dense vegetation will, over time, open up the habitat, making it conducive to browsers and grazers such as antelope, gazelle and giraffe.

However, sometimes these same elephant can cause severe habitat destruction.  One of elephant’s favorite “snacks” is seedlings, and, in heavily trafficked areas, it is difficult for trees to regenerate.  So, on Lewa, we create what are known as elephant exclusion zones.  These are large areas that are fenced off with electric wire to prohibit elephant and giraffe from entering, thereby allowing young trees to mature.

"Keyhole," named for the cut in
his ear, in 2008

However, sometimes the smell of yellow fever trees is just too tempting, and some elephant – bulls in particular – have become quite adept at breaking into exclusion zones to assuage their craving.

"Keyhole" after detusking in 2012

There are many techniques for fence bashing.  In a previous blog, I spoke of Bougainvillea who has perfected the unusual technique of crawling under the wire.  One of the more popular methods is to lean into the wooden support posts (which do not conduct electricity) and push the fence over.  Another less often seen technique is for an older bull to push a young bull through the fence.  But, the most common ploy is to use the tips of the tusks, which do not contain any nerves, to snap the wires.

It is accepted that once in a while a rogue bull will break into an exclusion zone, but the situation on Lewa had become untenable with break ins occurring almost nightly – the same culprits night after night.  Finally, it was decided that steps had to be taken to protect Lewa’s trees. 

The Kenya Wildlife Services vet determines
where to make the cut to ensure that the
nerve is not exposed

One of the most effective ways to stop a bull from breaking into an exclusion zone is to cut the ends of its tusks.   Tusks are nothing more than teeth with a very large nerve running part way down the center.  So, trimming the tusk makes the ends far more sensitive to the electric current running through the fence wires. 

A chain saw is used to detusk the bull

The operation is always performed with a Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) vet who immobilizes the elephant and ensures that the actual nerve is never exposed.  Once the exact location of the cut is determined, a chain saw is used to detusk the bull.  It is important to note that the portion of the tusk that has been removed is always turned over to KWS so that it never becomes part of the illegal ivory trade.   When the operation is complete, the vet administers the antidote, and the elephant is on its feet in a matter of minutes.

Once the antidote is administered, a detusked
Flynn is on his feet in minutes

Although no technique is guaranteed to work when dealing with an animal as intelligent as an elephant, detusking is the most effective method we have been able to come up with thus far.