HopingtoHelp
Gonçalvesandherteamsawamotherandherinjuredcalf.Thecalfwaslimping.Itsleghadbeencaughtinasnare.Thebabyneededtreatment.Withoutit,itwouldnot survive.
Gonçalvescalledforhelp.Avetflewinbyhelicopter.Sadly,themothersawpeopleasthreats.Shestartedtearingtreesfromtheground.Shethrashedalargestick.Finally,sheboltedintothebrushwithherwounded baby.
Fourdayslater,themotherwasspotted.Shewasalone.Gonçalvesknewthatthebabyhadnotsurvived.Still,shewasstruckbyhowfiercelythemotherhadfoughttoprotectherbaby.Muchlikeahuman mother.
Everyoneintheherdlooksoutforone another.
Amatriarchmightleadherfamilytotheforestinthemorningorleadthemtowaterinthe afternoon.
RoomtoRoam
Today,therearemorethan650 elephantslivinginGorongosa.Oncetheelephantsroamedthroughoutthepark.Now,theystayinthesouthernpart.Gonçalveswonders.Astheherdsgrow,whichareaswilltheychoosetolivein?Andwhatwillhappenwhentheycomeincontactwith people?
Elephantsneedfoodandwater.Amatriarchmightleadherherdtoavillagemilesaway.There,theysnackoncropswhilethevillagers sleep.
BigTrouble
Theelephantsarefearfulofpeople.Butpeoplefeartheelephants,too.Noonewantsanuninvitedelephantdestroyingtheir crops!
Gonçalveswantspeopleandelephantstoliveinharmony.Tohelp,shekeepstrackofwheretheelephantstravel.Thatmeanscollaring them.
Collaringanelephantishardtodo.First,youhavetofindanelephant.Ateamoftensearchesbyhelicopter.Whentherightelephantisfound,theteamgoesinto action.
Gonçalvessearchesforelephantsby helicopter.
GettingaSignal
Theyfireatranquilizerdart.Thismakestheelephantsleepy.Oncetheelephantisasleep,theteamcanland.“Theeventshappenquickly,”Gonçalvessays.“Everyonehasa role.”
Somemembersoftheteamtakemeasurements.Othershelpfitthecollararoundtheelephant’sneck.Thentheywaitfortheelephanttowakeupandgetbackonher feet.
Theteamgetsdatafromthecollareveryhour.Inthisway,theycanmonitorwherevertheelephant goes.
atranquilizer dart
Gonçalvesandtheteamtakesamplesfromanelephant.Theyalsoputacollaron her.