Posts by Sarah Smuts
A quarter of a century and for the love of elephants
By Dr. Michelle Henley Twenty five years ago I got drawn into the world of the close-knit social structure of elephants when my Mother (an artist) and I started drawing elephant ear patterns in the Associated Private Nature Reserves (APNR) to the west of Kruger. I had just completed my MSc on elephants and…
Read MoreBees and Black Mambas – recruiting new bee-lievers
We are thrilled to announce the expansion and next stage of our successful “Bees, Trees, Elephants and People Programme”. Elephants Alive will be training the award-winning, all-female Black Mamba Anti-Poaching Unit to become bee-keepers. We now share Headquarters with the Black Mambas within the Greater Kruger National Park on the border of the Associated…
Read MoreThe story of Fortunate the Elephant
Despite the lockdown in South Africa, elephant conservation continues. Fortunate the elephant had finally been spotted! This handsome bull elephant was first collared by Elephants Alive in 2015 and has played a crucial part in pioneering research, trying to understand why elephants are attracted to the Phalaborwa mine. This large, open-cast mine is situated on…
Read MoreSweet Successes
By Harriet Nimmo It seems that some traditional medical treatments are making a comeback and are forging their place alongside new technologies. Honey was used as a treatment for wounds by the ancient Egyptians and has been found in tombs dating from 3000BC. And now here in Hoedspruit, local wildlife vet, Dr. Joel Alves, is…
Read MoreSnare saga with sweet ending!
By Harriet Nimmo Elephants Alive were called about a bull elephant on Mahlathini Private Game Reserve (north of Phalaborwa), that had been seen with a horrific snare injury on his front leg. The injured elephant had first been sighted a month ago – but had then disappeared and presumably left the open reserve. It was then spotted…
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