PACHYDERM - Online Elephant Magazine
  • Homepage
  • PACHYDERM News
    • PACHYDERM Newspaper
    • Literature
    • Links
  • DONATE
  • World of Zoology
    • Blog (Dutch)
  • Great Apes Database
  • PACHYDERM blog
  • Contact

REVIEW: Understanding elephants - Guidelines for safe and enjoyable elephant viewing

22/5/2017

5 Comments

 
Understanding Elephants - Guidelines for safe and enjoyable elephant viewing examines elephant behaviour and provides guidelines on how to conduct yourself near elephants. On average, up to three people are killed annually in South Africa by elephants, and another three are seriously injured. The majority of these incidents could have been avoided had the people involved better understood elephant behaviour and been able to read the tell-tale signs. Often an attack is not just potentially tragic for the people involved, it leads also to the demise of the animal too.
This book hopes to provide a better understanding of elephant behaviour and of how to avoid a negative or unfortunate encounter with these majestic animals. Suggestions are offered on how to behave when driving near elephants, as well as how to react in difficult or dangerous situations.


In the first chapter the reader gets some global elephant facts, such as age-related differences, sexual differences, how to detect if elephants are nearby, how to identify them individual, etc.
The second chapter gives you an insight into the social behavior of these beautiful gentle giants.
When viewing elephants on a safari it’s important to know if a certain male elephant (bull) is in musth or not. During this period, testosterone hormone levels in the blood of a male increase (up to 50-fold compared to non-musth levels) and, as a result, the bull becomes more aggressive. So you are wise to keep your distance when bumping into a bull in musth. But no fear, chapter three tell you all you need to know.
Elephants are megaherbivores and are so-called ’keystone’ species, which means they are able to change the habitat they live in and function as drivers in various ecological processes that can influence other species. Chapter four tells you more about elephants their ecology and environment.
Why do elephants entwine their trunks or place their trunk tips into the mouth of other elephants? What means the rumbling or trumpeting? Chapter five tells you all about the communication of elephants.
Elephants have the largest brain of all terrestrial animals, and in relation to their body size, comparable to those of great apes. So they are very intelligent. Did you know they also have empathy? Read all about it in chapter six.
Where chapters 1-6 are rather theoretically, chapters 7-9 focuses on how you need to behave in the presence of elephants: reading their signals, how close you can go, do’s and don’ts,...

Despite the fact that Understanding elephants isn't a thick book, only 68 pages, all you need to know is in it. It’s your perfect companion when observing elephants in a respectful and ethical way.
Nick Mertens
May 29, 2017
5 Comments
Connie Svendsen
1/6/2017 08:00:31 pm

Sorry, I can't seem to order this through my Kindle. How do I purchase the book? Thanks for your help, Connie Svendsen

Reply
Gary Ray link
3/6/2017 12:27:28 pm

I would like to know thw price of the book as well as order it.Please lookm at your site to see what cvan be done to activate the 'buy now' button.
Let me know as I would be keen to give this as a gift to my guides.
Thank you
Gary Ray
General Manager
Cheetah Plains Private Game Reserve
082 331 1296
PS-Also suggest that you contact FGASA and see if they will promote your cause/bookon their website. I think reputable training providers like, Ecotraining are also a good option to promote this as part of their training syllabus.

Reply
PACHYDERM
7/6/2017 11:14:31 am

For more information about purchasing the book, please visit the site of the publisher: http://www.penguinrandomhouse.co.za/book/understanding-elephants/9781775843412

Reply
A R PINFOLD
14/6/2017 05:02:20 pm

I want to buy a copy of this book . How do I go about this please ,

Reply
Gianna link
29/12/2020 03:51:42 pm

Niice post thanks for sharing

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    November 2021
    May 2017
    November 2015
    October 2014
    June 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    September 2012
    July 2012
    August 2011

    Categories

    All
    African Elephant
    African Elephant
    Asian Elephant
    Cites
    Conservation
    Elephant Haven
    Goal-directed Behaviour
    Guidelines
    Illegal Killing
    Individual Differences
    Loxodonta Africana
    Loxodonta Cyclotis
    Pachyderm
    Paper
    Poaching
    Problem Solving
    Safari
    Tool Use
    Trade In Ivory

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.