Gonçalvesandherteamcameuponamotherandherinjuredcalfoneday.Thecalfwaslimping.Itsleghadbeencaughtinasnare.Thewoundwasveryserious.Thebabyneededtreatment,oritwouldnotsurvive.Gonçalvescalledavetwhoflewinby helicopter. 

​​​​​​​Unfortunately,themothersawpeopleasthreats.Ashertensiongrew,shetoretreesfromtheground.Thenshewildlythrashedalarge stick.

Theteamcouldseethebaby,hiddeninthebrush.Theystayedinplaceforhours.Theyhopedthatthemotherwouldletthemapproach.Instead,sheboltedintothebrushwithher baby.

Fourdayslater,themotherwasspotted.Shewasalone.Gonçalvesknewthebabyhadnotsurvived.Shewasstruckbyhowfiercelythemotherhadfoughttoprotecther.Itwasmuchlikeahuman mother.

Asfearfulastheelephantsareofpeople,peoplefeartheelephants,too.Andnoonewantsanunpredictableelephantdestroyingtheir crops!

Gonçalves’sgoalisforpeopleandelephantstopeacefullycoexist.Avoidingconflictsisimportant!So,akeypartofherjobistokeeptrackofwheretheelephantstravel.Shemustcollarandtracktheir movements.

Collaringanelephantisashardasitsounds.First,youhavetofindanelephant.Thesearchoftenhappensbyhelicopter.Whentherightelephantisfound,ateamgoesinto action.

Theteamfiresatranquilizerdart.Thismakestheelephantsleepy.Onceit’sasleep,theteamcanland.“Theeventshappenquickly,”Gonçalvessays.“Everyonehasa role.”

Somemembersoftheteamtakemeasurementsandsamplesoftheelephant.Othershelpfitthecollararoundtheelephant’sneck.Thentheywaitfortheelephanttowakeupandgetbackonher feet.

Theteamwillreceivedatafromthecollareveryhour,foraslongastwoyears.With10elephantscollared,theteammonitorseverywherethey go.