October 18, 2011

Ellies in an assortment of sizes!
Although the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve is looking very lush and green,
one cannot help but think about the threat of de-forestation.
As the photo shows, recent fires seem to have destroyed most of the young Acacia trees
and the Ellies are uprooting and eating the new saplings.
We watched them for a long time, and this was their food of choice.
This was a herd of about 50 to 60 & considering the fact that they eat all day,
 one wonders how many (would-be) trees they consume?