-to learn more about the physiology of elephants
-observe their interactions with their ecosystem
-understand their dynamic relationship - and conflict- with local human populations
-learn more about tropical dry-zone ecology
We spent the morning monitoring the condition of the electric fences that keep people in their limited, right place. The SLWCS have found the right balance of rights. By caging human villages within a limited area, elephants are allowed to roam free in their natural habitat, while avoiding certain human areas. Humans, in turn, no longer have to go to deathly extents to protect their croplands. An interesting part of the fence monitoring was stepping and then sinking into tiny lake about waist height to get from one fence pole to another. It was the idea that I had to do this effortlessly and thoughtlessly that I impressed myself with.
City boy set for the jungle
Resident Geese
Paddy (Rice) Fields, occasionally attacked by elephants
Me being a scientist of sorts
Fences used to keep peace between humans and elephants
Reeve getting comfy with the scat
Watch that strut
Ninja Latha! "Crouching German, Hidden Lankan" - Reeve Koelmeyer
Wet Season, Dry Zone
Our "Married Couple" Photo
The Divide
the lovely green of paddy
Off to the Treehouse
The afternoon was spent in a small rattly tree house, perched above the dry zone foliage of Sri Lanka in wet season. We were on the look out for herds of Elephas maximus maximus, the Sri Lankan sub-species of elephants. We didn't have a single sighting, that evening.
Jungle Pants :)
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