Pragnell explained that the experience left her feeling spiritually enriched. "My partner André [Bezuidennhout] and I went for a hike in the Diepwalle forest on Christmas Day when we came across elephant spoor. A little way away we found evidence of its brute strength when we saw a gate that had been ripped out of the ground, post and all, and trampled - not only the gate but the post to which the gate was attached as well as the post that the gate was locked onto."
According to Pragnell the elephant had further ripped out and trampled a ‘feeding of baboons prohibited’ sign. "This big animal has a sense of humour." A little further on they found, to their amazement, fresh elephant dung, which proved to them that it was definitely an elephant that had caused the damage. Pragnell further recalled that there was evidence of elephant spoor surrounding the gate, which suggested that the elephant had been angry when it stumbled across the gate.
"You can’t imagine the feeling! We both love these animals and what is even more amazing is the fact that I am busy reading Gareth Patterson’s The Secret Elephants, so this discovery was the best Christmas present I could ever have received," enthused Pragnell.
Gareth Patterson began an independent study of the Knysna elephants during 2001. He covered thousands of kilometre on foot, following ancient elephant paths through the dense forest and the surrounding mountain fynbos. During his surveys he found abundant evidence to suggest that the Knysna elephants are still roaming free in the area.
According to Patterson’s website, his fieldwork and DNA research in collaboration with conservation geneticist Lori Eggert, established that at least five young females exist, lending support to Patterson’s belief that that the Knysna Forest and its surrounds are home to a small herd of young elephants.
This fresh elephant dung was found by Julie Pragnell, a Knysna resident, while out hiking near the Diepwalle forestry station on Christmas Day. This find proves that these majestic animals are still present in the forests surrounding Knysna.
ARTICLE: FRAN KIRSTEN, KNYSNA-PLETT HERALD JOURNALIST
