I filmed this video while out in the field at the Mpala Research Centre with elephant expert Sandy Oduor. We had just spent the morning identifying and counting elephants on the grounds when we came upon this migratory herd of about 30-40 individuals on the left side of the road, previously unseen at Mpala. Unlike local herds, these elephants didn’t recognize Sandy or our jeep, so when we stopped to give them some space an older female bluff-charged our vehicle (as the video shows). Sandy decided it would be safest to keep moving forward to avoid becoming surrounded by the herd, but as we drove further other family members came out from the bushes and crossed the road in front of us. It was a very tense situation for both the elephants and for us, but luckily we made it back to headquarters safely. In hindsight, it was an extremely dangerous situation, more than I fully understood at the time. Picture book research is not for the faint of heart!
