| There is much debate on whether the forest and | | | | types of elephants could be regarded as sub-species |
| savannah elephant are two different species. The | | | | of a single African elephant species, rather than two |
| impetus of the trip to Ghana was to assess if the | | | | distinct sub-species (non interbreeding) as some |
| forest elephant - Loxodonta Cyclotis also known as | | | | recent studies have suggested.Our adventures |
| the Pygmy Elephant represents a distinct anatomical | | | | through the savannah gave us a fantastic |
| or genetic form from the other elephants. The | | | | opportunity to see observe other wildlife, from lion |
| deciding factor will have important implications for | | | | and hyaena tracks, aardvark burrows, kobs and |
| their conservation. Working with Professor Adrian | | | | birds... Around the camp were warthogs, lizards that |
| Lister an expert in elephants and the Scientific | | | | seem to spend their days doing impressive push ups |
| Exploration Society we set out on our mission.Having | | | | to attract females (a good advertisement for a beer, |
| arrived in Accra the capital of Ghana, we headed to | | | | I think) and mischievous baboons and vervet |
| Kakum rainforest, where less than 100 forest | | | | monkeys whose only ambition was working out |
| elephants exist. In our limited number of days it | | | | different ways to steal our lunch, at times there |
| would be a rare site to see one of these magnificent | | | | were some quite heated moments. One of out team |
| elephants. However, we were fortunate enough to | | | | members threw a stone to scare the baboons away |
| locate fresh elephant tracks and dung, from this we | | | | albeit the baboon caught the stone, leading the |
| could evaluate the size of this small elephant, 2-2.5m | | | | comment that next they will be applying for |
| at the shoulder.Kakum is a wonderful rainforest to | | | | passports - a scary thought.Near Mole in Larabanga |
| visit with it lush vegetation, never short of a | | | | we visited a 15th Century Mosque made of mud, |
| grapefruit, banana or cocoa pod on our trek. The | | | | which in my mind resembles that of a large termite |
| canopy walk is one of a few in the world and gave | | | | mound. It was great to meet the local chief of the |
| us the opportunity to view the forest from the | | | | village and watch the children running around so |
| magnificent tree tops. The fresh air was heavenly | | | | freely. Their black board was the side of a mud |
| and the ambient sounds that echoed the forest | | | | house and the floor their work desk. I felt a little sad, |
| made a magical nights sleep alongside a glass of | | | | that in our western society, we are so conditioned |
| chardonney.Stocking up with reserves for the next | | | | by the media coverage of child abduction that our |
| part of the trip, our team headed up north to Mole | | | | children cannot live so liberally. One evening the school |
| National Park where rainforest becomes savannah. | | | | children from Damanko, came to entertain us at the |
| Mole NP is one of the international sites for | | | | camp with their tribal songs and dance, simple yet, |
| monitoring the illegal killing of elephants. Sadly locals | | | | absolutely hypnotic. They really know how to party.I |
| are ill equipped to stamp out poachers and to monitor | | | | recorded the sounds of the jungle at night and day, |
| the elephant numbers.On arrival we set up camp on | | | | through to the locals dancing. Whilst trekking I |
| the cliff top over looking a breath taking panoramic | | | | interviewed and videoed my guard, to hear some of |
| view of the savannah. Below are two large pools. | | | | his beautiful stories about the nature of elephants |
| Each day, with two armed guards, we would | | | | and the locals belief. One particular elephant called |
| descended the cliff side to study, photograph and | | | | peoples friend, a magnificent and graceful male |
| document the elephants which enjoyed bathing there. | | | | elephant quite pale in colour would visit the campsite |
| I felt very blessed to be able to photograph them | | | | each night to take in the scent of the new arrivals. |
| tussling, playing and welcoming other elephant groups | | | | He would quietly walk around putting his trunk up to |
| to the pool. It turned out that all the elephants at the | | | | the windows of the chalets and tents. An elephant |
| pool were male. The female groups were more | | | | can retain a scent for up 16 years. They reckonise |
| secretive. On one particular day we were fortunate | | | | the poachers when they return just from tracing the |
| enough to observe two matings when an adult | | | | scent in the wind.There is much to be discovered |
| female in oestrus appeared at the pool, avidly pursed | | | | about elephants from they way they communicate |
| by the males. This was quite extraordinary as | | | | with each other over distances of 250 km away just |
| normally it is the male that goes in search of the | | | | from vibrations they pick up through there feet, to |
| females.Another part of our day was to span certain | | | | the way they socialise and record data, relying more |
| areas of the savannah to record elephant dung piles! | | | | on scent and vibrations than vision. The myths in |
| Using GPS equipment to map out the transects and | | | | different cultural beliefs and religions from Buddhist, |
| the position of the droppings, a somewhat anal | | | | Hindu to Eygption all look upon the elephant as a |
| pursuit we could calculate the number of elephants in | | | | great protector. It is said they are the keepers of |
| a given area. This was important especially in the | | | | wisdom and knowledge in the cosmos. Truly a |
| denser areas between the forest and savannah | | | | magical and much loved animal, whose lives should |
| where it was difficult for aerial surveys to be | | | | always be respected.Drawing to the end of our trip , |
| conducted. Our data will be analysed in collaboration | | | | I decided to continue my journey to Wechiau |
| with colleagues of Adrian Lister at the University of | | | | Community Hippo Sanctuary, near Wa, with two |
| California and Ougandougou (capital of Burkina Faso). | | | | others from the group. Hiring one of the drivers we |
| The reports will also go to Ghana Wildlife Service to | | | | continued up north on our next adventure.Miss |
| help with their conservation efforts.Range finders, | | | | LontayI am a UK fashion designer and creative |
| combined with accurate photographic methods, we | | | | consultant, with a passion for orchids and nature. I |
| were able to estimate the shoulder heights of | | | | create my own fabrics from photographs that I take |
| individuals, on our treks. The elephants at Mole were | | | | from the jungles of Malaysia to the beaches of Tahiti. |
| of intermediate size that suggests that the elephants | | | | Combining my designs with conservation, I hope my |
| on the geographical boundary between forest and | | | | work will inspire people to enjoy the beauty of |
| savannah may be of hybrid origin. Hence, the two | | | | nature, and work towards a better environment. |