Gonçalvestrackstheelephants’movements.Shealsospendsalotoftimeinthefieldobservingthem.Shetakesphotographsofeachanimal.Somehavedistinguishingmarks,likeamissingtusk.Othershavebeenmarkedbywarwithabulletholethroughtheearoramissing tail.

Gonçalvesalsorecordstheirbehavior.Shepaysattentiontohowtheyaregroupedandhowtheyspendtheir time.

Oneday,Gonçalveswastravelingwithastudentwhohadaninterestinelephants.Theteamhadnotseenanelephantinthreedays.Theywentoutlookingfor them.

Theelephantboltedforward,strikingthevehicleonthemetalgratewithallherstrength.Shesteppedbackandchargedagain,shearingoffthegrate.Theelephantthenstartedpushingagainstthevehiclewithher head.

Next,theelephanttriedtoreachthepassenger’ssidewhereGonçalves’studentsat.Shehitthewindowonthestudent’sside,shatteringtheglassandsendingitinalldirections.Gonçalves’student ducked.

Whentheelephanthitthecaragain,theybeganyellingandbangingonthedoors.Theytriedtomakeenoughnoisetosendtheelephantaway.Buttheelephantchargedathird time.

Justthen,thematriarch,whohadbeenpeacefullygrazing,startedtomove.Gonçalvesthinksthatthematriarchmayhavemadealow rumble.

Thatrumblewouldhavestoppedtheattack.Whateversignalwasgiven,theattackingelephantstoppedandranbacktojointhe others.

Thevehiclewasbadlydamaged.Drivingawaywasnotanoption.Theywerestranded.Withherheartbeatingwildly,Gonçalvesradioedforhelp.Whenhelparrivedinanothervehicle,sheandherstudent,badlyshaken,spedoffwiththeir rescuers.

ThereisstillalottolearnabouttheelephantsinGorongosa.Despitethetraumaofthewar,GonçalvesknowsthatGorongosaisamagical place.

Sheremembersoneofherfirstelephantencounterswithagroupofyoungbulls.Onebullapproachedthedoorofhervehicle.Hecamesoclosetoher,shecouldseeherownreflectioninhislarge,ambereye.Hestudiedher,asiftryingtodecidewhatshouldbedoneabout her.

Afterstaring,thebullmovedgentlyaway.Hedidnotperceiveherasathreat.Heandtheotherbullswentbacktograzing,asifnothinghadhappened.ButGonçalvesfeltthatherlifechangedforeverinthat moment.