Curiosity collared the elephant

Zeerust – WhatsApp groups dedicated to conservation in the North West province were pinging on Wednesday 10 March as wildlife vet and Tshwane University of Technology lecturer Dr Paul Bartels shared details of an elephant that had been spotted with a tyre around its neck at the Rietfontein Game Farm, north of Zeerust by he Braklaagte-Lekubu community.

 Douglas Maitakhole Ramaphosa asked the question that was on everyone’s mind: “How on Earth did a tractor tyre end up around an ellie’s neck? How do they do that to such a big animal? I am shocked.” Bartels replied: “Hi Douglas, its them ellies themselves… playful young adults, tyres were put there long ago for erosion control and the ellies must find them interesting to occupy themselves with.”
Vasti Botha and Nandi Strydom of the Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT) commandeered Bartels from Skeerpoort to dart the elephant, local farmer Riaan van Rensburg for ground assistance, and a helicopter flown by Brits pilot and founder of Rhino 911 Nico Jacobs to assist with the elephant rescue.

 The fast response of the public private partnership was crucial as the region has been experiencing hot temperatures which could have further stressed the elephant. The tyre was preventing the elephant from flapping its large ears which help it to regulate its body temperature. This is the second incident involving an elephant and a tractor tyre since the start of the COVID-19 period.

This elephant is part of a small group of free-ranging peaceful elephants located on a community reserve. A past landowner had with all good intentions buried tractor tyres in eroded areas and filled them with rocks. The construction functioned well to dissipate the energy of stormwater and to stop the topsoil from washing away, but no one realised that over time the tyres would become a danger to wildlife.

 The young elephants’ insatiable curiosity was sparked when they saw something that was unfamiliar to them. They dug up the tyre and two young male elephants engaged in playfully throwing the tyre to each other. The elephant probably caught the tyre with its trunk, and it slipped around its neck.