The next Mondays @ 6 programme at St Clements in Musgrave offers an unforgettable evening with ecologist, academic, elephant savant, teller of bush tales, Bruce Page.
From last month’s “elephant in the room”, St Clements trumpets on to elephants in the wilds. Bruce lived in the bush. With elephants. For several years. While researching them earlier in his academic career. He has been studying them for years. As you might guess, from first-hand experiences, from twists and turns and adventures, he has a trove of stories to share. And from his research, much wisdom to impart. Remember to bring all your questions because as we know, an elephant never forgets.
"If elephants didn't exist, you couldn't invent one. They belong to a small group of living things so unlikely they challenge credulity and common sense." — Lyall Watson, (1939 – 2008) Joburg-born naturalist and author.
Elephants are icons of the animal world. The largest land mammals on Earth. Despite being so recognisable, their populations are in danger. They face serious threats to their survival, including habitat loss, poaching, commercial exploitation — and culling.
Did you know? (Ellie snippets from World Animal Protection.)
-Elephants mourn their dead. When an elephant dies, others gather around the body, sometimes standing vigil for hours.
-Elephants are complex creatures
with developed intelligence and the ability to feel empathy. Self-awareness
makes confinement particularly harmful, as elephants require space, stimulation,
and social connection to thrive.
-Though we associate elephant
noises with trumpeting and the occasional rumble or groan, a lesser-known
elephant fact is that they actually have a complex communication system. They
generate low-frequency rumbles that can travel several kilometres through the
ground.
-An elephant pregnancy lasts
around 22 months. This long gestation supports the development of a highly
intelligent, large-brained, and physically mature calf. It also forges a strong
bond between mother and calf which lasts a lifetime.
-It’s hard to believe that small
bees could be such a big threat to elephants in the wild. But they can sting
sensitive areas like the trunk and around the eyes, so herds are constantly on
high alert for them.
-Elephants are deeply social
animals. When isolated for long periods, they can display behaviours linked to
stress and depression, as loneliness causes them real psychological harm.
“We admire elephants in part because they demonstrate what we consider the finest human traits: empathy, self-awareness, and social intelligence. But the way we treat them puts on display the very worst of human behaviour.” – Graydon Carter, journalist, former editor, Vanity Fair.
Some links for those interested — to get you in the mood.
-Madikwe reserve and the normalisation of killing elephants
-ConCourt in session to pass judgment on the inclusion of a
single word: wellbeing
-Wild elephants give names to those they talk to, study
finds.
-The last zoo elephants: Why Johannesburg can no longer
justify their captivity.
Bruce Page has extensive experience in the field, laboratory
and classroom. His first research projects on the relationship between
elephants and their habitats was in 1973 and 1974 on the islands in Lake Kariba.
He later lived and worked with elephants for several years in the Northeastern
Tuli Block and then the Klaserie Game Reserve.
In 1980, he was employed as a lecturer in ecology at the University of Natal and has continued studying elephants in this capacity. He has worked on elephant populations in 21 different localities in southern Africa (including Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique) and has some 50 publications in journals, books and conference proceedings.
Bruce currently runs an ecological research and consulting agency with a focus on conservation and environmental management. He has long been a voice against elephant culling and coexistence between elephants and trees.
When the donation box is passed around, St Clements requests generosity and a minimum of R50 per person.
Weather permitting, the talk will be outdoors.
Bookings limited to diners in support of St Clements
restaurant and staff.
Single folk are welcome to book for one person and join a
table.
Be there in time to open your tab, order at the counter and
settle in before the scheduled 18h00 start. Please cancel if you book then
can’t make it.
Table Bookings Essential: RSVP ST Clements +27 62 582 0980
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