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Nature

Thula indicate how relatively quickly aggressive elephants – survivors of More traumas were to follow, including
elephants can come to trust and enjoy poor custodianship near Kruger Park. a mass break-out from the boma.
being with humans – despite all we have He knew nothing of the last-minute Nana never ceased to patrol the
done to them – and how tantalisingly botch-up during the capture operation boma fence seeking a spot where the
close we can get to understanding each which resulted in two of the elephants current might be off. Lawrence camped
other. being shot – including the matriarch. nearby, continually calling out to Nana
I am currently working on a book The dead matriarch’s traumatised son assuring her of his good intentions.
on the possibility of intelligent cross- (later called Mnumzane – ‘Sir’) was But every time he came near the fence
species communication and how the one of the big young tuskers that Nana would charge, stopping short of
elephant is one of the few mammals were transported with the herd south the electric barrier. The weeks passed.
that shows a desire to communicate to Thula Thula, all in a semi-drugged Day after day Lawrence kept vigil but
with us but doesn’t know how. And nor condition. The second oldest cow (later came nearer and nearer the fence. Each
do we know how. Not yet. to be named Nana) had quickly taken time Nana charged. Towards the end,
The importance of the couple’s over as matriarch. Lawrence just stood his ground at the
experiences in Thula Thula is that, on Elephants are like that. When a fence, calling her name.
several occasions, they came near matriarch dies the next oldest, or most One morning, he found Nana waiting
to penetrating the communications respected female, assumes control. for him at the fence. She was very calm.
barrier and captured the attention Lawrence reinforced Thula Thula’s He moved, very slowly, within touching
and, eventually, the love of a once perimeter fence and prepared, deep distance, and found himself looking up at
traumatised wild elephant matriarch in the reserve, a strongly fenced her enormous form towering above him.
who eventually helped them earn the boma surrounded by electrified Then, “Nana’s trunk snaked through
respect of the whole herd. cables carrying 8 000 volts. There, the the fence, carefully avoiding the
Francoise says that, since the elephants would stay until he felt they electric strands, and reached my body.
COVID-19 lockdown, the herd has been were habituated to their new habitat She gently touched me. I was surprised
hovering between the lodge, tented and could be freed. at the wetness of her trunk tip.”
camp and main house, ‘non-stop’. Their night-time arrival at Thula She stood and looked at Lawrence for
“They come in front of my house Thula, during a violent thunderstorm, a few moments before turning back to
and just wait, for hours. They know could hardly have been more traumatic: the herd, 20 metres away, where Frankie,
something is wrong and are wondering heavy curtains of rain, bolts of lightning her closest companion, greeted her with
why no more humans are around. They and the screaming of engines as heavy apparent excitement. Lawrence decided
have never done this before.” trucks struggled to extricate themselves that the following day he would release
Thula Thula’s remarkable story began from the Zululand mud, and then a them. When he arrived at dawn they
in 1999 when Lawrence Anthony cannon-like shot as a tyre burst. It took were crowded at the fence “as if they
agreed, with grave doubts, to accept a hours before the trumpeting elephants anticipated something special was about
herd of 11 confused and dangerously were inside the boma. to happen”.

When he

arrived at

dawn they

were crowded

at the fence

“as if they

anticipated

something

special was

about to

happen”

Nana and family

The Villager • Issue 8 2020 • 15