Wild elephants at Kwa Madwala
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Today Kwa Madwala Private Game Reserve has a well established herd of African elephants who play in important role in the overall bio-diversity of the conservancy. The elephant is of course an important member of the "big 5" and as such is an animal which visitors from all around the world want to see in its natural habitat. This herd originates from a small breeding herd which came originally from the world-renowned Kruger National Park, located only a short distance away. These elephants arrived in the area in 1993 and have now multiplied to a healthy herd of 12 by 2006. Currently the herd comprises 6 females, 3 bulls and 3 juveniles.
With only a modest 4000 hectares of lowveld terrain, Kwa Madwala is close to reaching the maximum sustainable herd size. This takes into consideration the topography of the land and the land ratio required per elephant. The management of the reserve are currently looking at ways of maintaining the population level whilst preserving their habitat for many decades to come.
Background Information on the African Elephant
African elephants (Loxodonta Africana) which are significantly bigger than the Asian Elephant inspire and respect by their sheer size. Records show that the largest recorded individual weighed in at a massive 4 metres at the shoulder and weighed 10 tonnes? Their very large ears enable heat loss which is vital in an animal of this size. The upper lip and nose is elongated into a trunk that serves various functions and is almost like having a very dextrous 5th limb. It is also used to produce sound and an important method of touch between elephants. Elephants can communicate over vast distances and use some sounds that are below the range of the human ear.
Curiously, the African elephant trunk ends in two opposing processes (or lips), and this differs from the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), whose trunk ends in a single process One cannot fail to notice an elephant's tusks, which are in fact large modified upper incisors that continue to grow throughout their lifetime. For both male and female these always curve forward.
It is believed that elephants once roamed throughout Africa. Despite poaching and other threats they are still quite widely distributed across sub Saharan Africa although overall numbers are now greatly reduced and populations are fragmented by urban development and park fences in many cases.
Elephants are gregarious, family orientated, emotional animals with long term memories. Their society is highly complex and is arranged around family groups made up of closely related females and their young. Family units normally average around 10 individuals and it is not unusual for many family groups to form bands with herd sizes of over 100 elephants.
The male elephants leave their family group at puberty and tend to form more "loose" alliances with other groups of males. Females are most fertile between the ages of 25-45 years although are sexually mature from around 10 years. The gestation period is 22 months and calves usually born at the beginning of the wet season when the land becomes most abundant with grass and leaves. Like humans young elephants are very dependent on their mothers for several years and other females in the group will also care for them.
The bonds between elephants are very strong. When faced with danger they will form a protective ring around the young ones, with the adults facing outwards. The head of the group is the matriarch who will adopt a threatening pose or even charging at an intruder. Evidence shows that they also care for their wounded and also show recognition of, and care for, elephant bones. Typically elephants travel around 7 - 8km a day within their home range in search of food and water.
Further Information on Elephant Back Safaris
- Elephant Back Safaris Overview
- Elephant Safari Options
- Problems Facing The Elephant In South Africa
- Training Transparency & Safety