Recollaring Batsha 🐘

On the 30th November 2020, Elephants Alive, in collaboration with Wildscapes Veterinary and Conservation Services, Big Game Heli Services, Phalaborwa Mining Company (PMC) and Phalaborwa Natural Heritage Foundation (PNHF), located and recollared Batsha. We've been wanting to recollar Batsha for some time now so it was relief to get the call that he had been sighted around the mines.

Batsha, meaning "the youth" in Tswana, was first collared on 10 July 2015 after being sighted on PMC. One wouldn't think that elephants would focus their home range around such a disturbed landscape, but a study by Sach et al (2020) found that these elephants are attracted to the phosphorous being brought to the surface. With their dietary requirements being met around the mines, their home range does not have to be as large as other individuals.

This recollaring would not have been possible without the dedication from Tertius Hofmeyr (PMC) and Eugene Troskie (PNHF). Similarly, a big thank you to Adolf Delport from FOSKOR for organizing access to the area & Brandon du Plooy for reporting Batsha to us.

#bettertogether #celebratelephants #elephantsalive

Видео Recollaring Batsha 🐘 канала Elephants Alive