Gonçalvestrackstheelephants’movements.Shealsowatchestheminthefield.Shetakesphotographsofeachanimal.Somehavemarksthathelptellthemapart,likeawrinkledear.Othershavebeenmarkedbywar.Oneexamplemaybeamissing tail.

Gonçalvesrecordstheirbehavior.Shenoticeshowtheyaregrouped.Shewatcheshowtheyspendtheir time.

Theelephantboltedforward.Shestruckthevehicleonthemetalgratewithallherstrength.Shesteppedback.Thenshechargedagain.Shepushedagainstitwithher head.

Next,theelephanttriedtoreachthepassenger’sside.Shehitthewindow,shatteringtheglass.Goncalves’student ducked.

Theelephanthitthecaragain.Theybeganyellingandbangingonthedoors.Itcharged again.

Justthen,thematriarchstartedtomove.Gonçalvesthinksthatshemayhavemadealow rumble.

Thatrumblewouldhavestoppedtheattack.Whateversignalwasgiven,theattackingelephant stopped.

Thevehiclewasbadlydamaged.So,drivingawaywasnotpossible.Withherheartbeatingwildly,Gonçalvesradioedforhelp.Finally,helparrived.Gonçalvesandherstudentspedoffinanothervehiclewiththeir rescuers.

ThereisstillalottolearnabouttheelephantsinGorongosa.Gonçalvesremembersoneofherfirstelephantencounters.Shewaswatchingagroupofyoungbulls.Onebullapproachedthedoorofhervehicle.Hecamesoclose,shecouldseeherownreflectioninhiseye.Hestudiedherasiftodecidewhatshouldbedoneabout her.

Afterstaring,thebullmovedgentlyaway.Hedidnotseeherasathreat.Hewentbacktograzing,asifnothinghappened.ButGonçalvesfeltthatherlifechangedforeverinthat moment.