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And yet you continaully see people like this
Luckily for our wannabe photographer in the 4x4 this bull (one of four) was relaxed and engrossed in his task of uprooting bushes.
Totally unwarranted idiotic behaviour from these people. We sat and watched the four elephant bulls push over small trees and strip roots from a safe distance and still had a great sighting.

threedogs thats a brilliant idea. How about something like this?
Im sure someone could put it more eloquently than i have tho.



WARNING by Mike&Lara, on Flickr

@mike_wildearth

Exactly!

I really believe that it would have a positive impact. Imagine you are a visitor on a first time 'safari'. You have no real idea how to 'behave' around elephants. They give you this print out at the gate (not folded up - open, so you see its' contents straight away). Whoa! You straight away are feeling a bit nervous and cautious about approaching elephants - GOOD!!!! That is how it should be

Or.......you are a bit of a gung-ho repeat park visitor. Think you have the whole ellie thing sorted...then suddenly one visit you are presented with the DANGER! Elephants! brochure for the first time. Maybe, just maybe, you have a little re-think about your attitude to approaching and driving near ellies!
I really think its worth a try. Maybe the VHRs could help fund a trial run of this? See what the reaction is? I'm in.

Great Idea Mike_ wildearth
Maybe we can have bumper stickers made with the warning too
I would happily put one on my Kruger vehicle

Bumper stickers - excellent!

Truly, sometimes you don't really take something seriously until presented with the evidence! Last year when in KNP with my boys aged 19 and 23 they were giving me a hard time....'MUM!!! You don't have to stop half a mile away from every elephant!!' Sheesh, it was more like quarter of a mile But seriously, when we visited the Elephant Hall at Letaba and they saw the story of the guys who parked too close to ellies at a waterhole and got out of the car , the boys changed their tune!

I do not remember that. What happened?

The pic of the ellie resting his trunk on the car circulated a few years ago , and I also saw it posted on the notice board at Satara , and a lot of people looked at it .
How about posting this notice on boards at camps again

some great ideas

I agree, anything that can be done to help visitors understand the dangers would be great!
but now just to get them implemented!

Great idea Mike. but I am afraid that will only have an effect on the uninformed. There will always be the 'wannabee Chuck Norrises' who knows the dangers but who want to impress other people with their self perceived braveness.

So here's a question...

A couple years ago we came across a huge elephant in the middle of the road, we slowed to a crawl and stopped about 100 meters from him, while we were enjoying watching him a couple more came out of the bush like ghosts about 50 meters behind us, we quickly rolled up the windows (don't know why but in hindsight it probably hid a lot of our scent) and turned of the engine, before we knew it we were completely surrounded and two of the elies came over for a REALY close look, sniffed around the car and slowly moved off and as quickly as it started it was over and the whole heard just melted back into the bush, im sure we were holding our breath the entire time.

Did we do the correct thing? and if not what would you have done?

I believe you probably did do the right thing.

That is always my worst fear - inadvertently getting caught in the middle of a herd It has happened to us a few times. I think we had this happen in September near Letaba or Oliphants, can't quite remember - anyway we came up out of a gully and realised that there were ellies on both sides in thick vegetation and very close. We were driving very slowly at that stage and the ellies were standing quietly browsing so I just kept going quietly and slowly. At other times in a similar situation we might stop completely and turn the car off. It depends on how you gauge the mood. (of course one can get that wrong too ) If you have been around ellies a bit you just have to try and sum up the situation very quickly and go with what you think best. I am always more careful if the elephants in a breeding herd are on the move when you find yourself near them and the area is not clear.

I have sat on the roof of a stationary research vehicle (motor off) in Hwange National Park and had hundreds of elephants come within 2 metres of the car on all sides on their way to the waterhole we were parked by. The fact that they could see us in advance of their approach, had lots of room to move, and were able to give us a sniff and suss us out seemed to reassure them. We just sat very still and quiet and their was no tension at all.

It is very hard to quantify a hard and fast way to 'behave' around elephants as every single situation is unique but safe to say that erring on the side of caution and giving plenty of room whenever possible is the way to go IMHO.

We have twice also been in a situation where for various reasons have been unable to move away and on both occasions just pulled right over, switched off, closed the windows and sat very still and quietly and
but I would not advise this with a bull in musth and thankfully have not had to!

Very true Elsa, we have been charged in Etosha by a bull in musth at close range and when we were for all intents and purposes sitting quiet in the car with engine off. It is a terrifying experience indeed and set back my confidence around elephants for some time!

I think Ecojunkie advised something similar and it's something we've done once or twice. Also avoid making eye-contact.

We had a scary situation recently. We could see a bull ellie in the bush right by the road, on our side. He seemed OK but we slowed right down and moved to the other side of the road. Then just as we were passing him, an ambulance came towards us, with lights flashing. Had to make a decision - let the ambulance risk annoying the ellie, or us. We moved and luckily he stayed unconcerned.