The Secret Life of Elephants
SHOWING NOW on BBC 1!
Happy New Year! Time has flown by but much has been achieved that will benefit the elephants. Above all I’m proud to announce a new BBC series, The Secret Life of Elephants, that was filmed over three seasons in Samburu and is co-presented by four researchers from Save the Elephants (STE), Kenya - my father Iain, David Daballan, Onesmas Kahindi, and myself.
Photo: Jake Drake-Brockman Rommel returns after a four year absence.
The most exciting part was the unexpected arrival of an infamous bull called Rommel. The first time we came across him was in 2002. In full musth (a heightened state of sexuality and aggression) he was fighting a well known resident bull, Abe Lincoln. It was a battle of the titans until Rommel started to lose. In a fury he took his frustration out on the nearest “inanimate” object, which happened to be one of our research vehicles. The two researchers, George Wittemyer and Daniel Lentipo, were lucky to escape with their lives.
Photocredit: Elephant Library George and Iain with Rommel’s artwork
Rommel has an unmistakable tear, like half of a Joker’s smile, in his right ear, and the last time we saw him was in 2004. The only reason he comes to Samburu is to find females in oestrus, and where he roams in the interim is a mystery. He lives way out beyond the reserve in an area that is hostile to elephants, and with such a long absence we were convinced he was dead. Unfortunately, when we tried to radio collar him four years ago, being built like a prize fighter his neck proved to be too big for even our largest bull collar. So he remains an enigma.
Photocredit: Saba Douglas-Hamilton Photocredit: Elephant Library
Thrilled by Rommel’s presence was National Geographic photographer, Michael (Nick) Nichols and science writer, David Quammen (Song of the Dodo), whom we hosted this year whilst they wrote an article about STE for the Nov ‘08 issue of National Geographic. Fortunately for us, Rommel behaved himself.
BBC 1 at 9 p.m
on the 14th, 21st & 28th January 2009.
Jan 2009
