DominiqueGonçalveslooksfor elephants.

SeeingtheElephants

Gonçalvesfollowstheelephants.Shetakespictures.Somehavemarksthathelptellthemapart.Onehasawrinkledear.Othershavebeenmarkedbywar.Oneelephantismissingits tail.


Shealsostudieshowtheyact.Oneday,sheandastudentwentouttolookforelephants.Afteralongdrive,theyfoundaherd.Oneelephantwashidingbehinda tree.

Gonçalvesbegantakingpictures.Whenshelookedagain,theelephanthadmovedcloser.WhenGonçalvesturnedherhead,theelephantcharged.Theelephanthitthevehiclewithallherstrength.Gonçalveswassurprised!Shethoughttheymightget hurt.

Gonçalvesobservesthebehaviorofelephantsata water hole.

Theelephantcharges.Thisphotowastakenjustbeforeshehit ​​​​​​​Gonçalves’​​​​​​​ vehicle.

TrustingPeople? 

Theelephantchargedagain.Butthensomethinghappened.Thematriarchoftheherdmadealowrumble.Thechargingelephantstopped.Shereturnedtothe herd.

elephantsin Gorongosa

Thevehiclewasdamaged.Gonçalvesradioedforhelp.Itwasclearthattheelephantdidnottrusther.But,itwasalsoclearthatthematriarchdid.Gonçalvesknowsthatitwilltakealongtimebeforealltheelephantscantrustpeople.But,thiswasafirst step.

ProtecttheNaturalWorld

Protectingtheplanetisvital!TheNationalGeographicSocietyhassetagoaltohelpimprovethestatusof100speciesorpopulationsby 2030.