We continue with our search to gather evidence of who or what is responsible for moving the elephant skull.
We tried using another trail camera with the ability to capture videos at night. This was a great move, however a clan of hyenas took a liking to this unprotected camera. They had a good sniff around and tried to bite it off the tree. Luckily they were unable to get a good grip on it but the camera was shifted and we once again failed to capture the moving of the skull. However, we felt like we got one step closer…
James Souchon tests the setup of the camera by walking past, looking extremely focused.
Happy with the camera placement, we moved the skull ourselves so that it was centred in front of the trail camera. We made sure it was on and left.
A Hyena coming to investigate the elephant skull. It has noticed the camera…
One hyena sniffs around the elephant skull while one tries to bite the camera. The bright bottom right part of the picture is a hyena’s ear and whiskers.
When we returned to find a shifted camera, we were incredibly relieved that it came off with just a scratch. Hyenas have some of the most powerful jaws of all the mammals found out here, easily capable of crushing a trail camera. We got off lightly this time.
An elephant stretches its trunk out to sniff the trail-cam. This showed that elephants had been there, but the hyenas had shifted the camera thus we missed the elephants investigating the skull, again…
When retrieving the camera, seeing that the skull had moved once more left us with hope that we may have got the evidence we had hoped to capture. Our hearts sunk when we realised that the angle of the camera was all wrong thanks to the hyenas’ work. Without getting disheartened we tried a new tactic and shifted the position of the camera to a higher tree close-by, out of reach of a mischievous hyena.
Pete Thorpe and James Souchon testing the latest angle of the trail camera.
With the camera now high up, and a second camera in a protective box lower down, we have high hopes that this will be a case of third time lucky.
P.S. What we discovered when we retrieved the trail cameras is more than we had imagined. Look out for the final instalment in this series…
Fantastic to see thd elephant investigating the camera. Can’t wait for the final installment int mistery.
The plot thickens. About how much does that particular skull weigh?
Hi Chelsea,
A rough estimate would put it at about 20 kg now.
You definetely got lucky with those hyenas not destroying the camera!
Was it more than one elephant who was responsible?
That was our question too. More to come in the final part to the series.
Looking forward to it!
A wild guess here. Thinking the Elephants move the skull. Perhaps some tribute or ritual going on. Let’s find out
Pete, wonderful blog today, who is moving the skull?
Can’t stand the suspense!!!!
Can’t wait for the next installment. Please don’t keep us in suspense for too long.
Cannot wait!
Ahh, the plot thickens! I am anticipating a climatic finale to this mystery. Please hurry! ( I think it’s elephants…).
We won’t make you wait too long!
And the mystery continues…!!
cant wait!
Can’t wait to find out …seems elephants would be the only animal strong enough. The “why” of whatever is moving it would be interesting to speculate on as well.
Hi Kara,
The why is certainly one of the most interesting parts of this all. I touch on this in the 3rd and final instalment.
Ahhh! The night of the “Who-dun-it” is coming closer to being revealed! Wadda ya bet it’s one of the pesky night creatures in action? .. (and btw, that capture of the elephant trunk is a hoot!) I’m looking forward to the next sequence!
It shall all be revealed soon!
You have a real talent for suspense… you could be a screenwriter. I don’t think any blog post has ever gotten this many replies 🙂
Hi Johanna,
Thanks for the compliment. Although I do quite enjoy letting nature write the scripts out here!
Bravo, we love solving puzzles like this too! Good thing you have those infrared camera traps!
Hi Bob and Lucie,
Yes indeed – we have never in person seen anything investigating the skull. So the cameras are our only hope really.
So upi are lee[omg is om sis[emce {ete/ I would hazard a guess that it is the ellies as they usually mourn their dead as a group. Am sure the skull would be heavy, however, the hyaenas would likely be strong enough with a group of them. Can hardly wait to find out. Thanks for sharing with us – a really interesting and excitement packed blog. Be well and stay safe all of you at Londolozi.
Hi Leonie,
Yes, hyenas would definitely be strong enough to drag it a bit, but the frequency and distance that the skull has been moved is what made us suspect elephants in the first place too…
Thanks for responding Pete. Am dying to know what it is. Also, I wish to apologize for my gobbledy gook typing – thank goodness you understnd code. Actually, my vision is deteriorating and impossible to see my eye specialist right now due to the virus. Thanks again, be well and stay safe.
Can’t wait for the final episode. The daily posts keep my heart in the bush. Thanks.
Hi Di,
I’m glad that we are keeping you connected to the bush – that is our ultimate aim.
Well, guys, at least we know the Butler didn’t do it – this time. Far too heavy for a Butler to move…….. Wendy M
Or was it…?
This is great! It’s like following a detective series… Who, what, motive?!! Maybe a rhino? He’s also strong enough
Hi Ana,
We didn’t think it would, but it certainly has turned into a detective type scenario…
Can hardly wait!!
The plot thickens…
Looking forward to more on this one.
the intrest on the skull by elephants & hyeana is intriguing.Both specie seem to effortlessly spot the camera as well which l find particularly baffling.