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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
