| Ms. Bizzaro, can you tell us a little about yourself? |
| My name is Andrea Bizzaro, born on 30-3-67 in Blantyre Malawi. Africa is my birth place and my home. I have studied in Italy but Africa is where I have wanted to come back and to belong. Since I was a child, I have been coming to the South Luangwa National Park and that was the dream part of our school holidays. Today our group of companies manages Mfuwe Lodge as well as another 5 camps inside the South Luangwa NP as well as a property on the Southern Shores of Lake Malawi. I have been in charge of of this project since it started in 1996 and I have now taken permanent residence in the Valley from April 2003. |
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| Can you tell us why we see elephants in your hotel lobby? |
| Our elephants come to feed off the seeds on a Cordelya Africana (Wild Mango). The elephants do not eat the fruit. They find that toxic. The baboons open the fruits, eat the pulp, and throw away the skin and the seeds. That tree has been there for hundreds of years and they always come back to it! |
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| What was the herd's reaction when they saw a building standing in the way to the tree? |
| Not much. They saw the new buildings coming up and since day one they walk about. In November 1998, during the first fruiting season they simply walked through the building like it has always been there. We were the surprised ones! |
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| How long have they been coming to this place? Is there a certain time in the year they visit the place? |
| They have been coming to the tree for generations. Depending on how many fruits the tree has, they come from the end of October to the very beginning of December. Last year, they actually popped in one afternoon on December 23 rd !!! |
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| Can you identify a leader among the herd? Can you tell us a little about this leader? |
| Yes, the leader (matriarch) has been named Wonkly Tusk as she has her right tusk bent backwards. She is about 35 years old and she has ever since been the leader of this herd. The herd is made up of her, her sister, and a number of their offsprings. Both Wonkly, and her sister now have a one year old calf with them. These are the second set of calves that we have seen here since they were born. |
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| Do you think they'll ever stop coming to this place? |
| No, unless something dramatic and traumatic happens, they will return every year to harvest the seeds from the mango tree. |
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| Can you tell us any interesting facts or stories about this herd? |
| Well, we have been privileged to have four calves brought to the lodge when they were just a day or so old. When they are born, the back of their ears and the skull part where the ears pressed against were completely pink. This is where Jumbo, the baby elephant on Walt Disney got its colour from! Also, baby elephants, a little like baby humans need to learn how to walk, need to learn how to use their trunk. When they are very small, they simply do not know how to use it and often they stand on it. If they are walking down slopes and they stand on it, they simply cartwheel! Also, elephanst teach discipline to the small ones and when they get out of line they get punished! |
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| How do tourists react to this scene? |
| With great amusement! |
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| Do you think that people visiting this area leave with a new appreciation for elephants and endangered animals? |
| We certainly hope so. |
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| How are elephants viewed and treated in Zambia ? |
| Until two years ago, elephants were completely protected in Zambia. Nowadays, unfortunately, even though with a limited quota they have been put back on the list of animals that can be hunted. Also, due to constant settlement in the parks surrounding areas, an increased number of conflicts between elephants and humans is developing and often elephants get shot in retaliation for having harmed humans or destroyed crops. |
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| Are elephants common and seen throughout Zambia or only in parks and preserves? |
| With extreme exceptions, elephants are now confined in parks and in semi-protected areas. |
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| Has exploitation of elephants for ivory poaching stopped in Zambia ? About how many elephants are in Zambia today? |
| Elephant poaching is under control, but still exists and is extremely dangerous. Our park authorities have tried very hard and to a certain extent had good success in stopping the trade. |
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| Why are some elephants in Zambia being born without tusks or smaller or lighter tusks? |
| Well, no proof of this has been brought out, but for sure the number of tuskless elephants or elephants with small tusk has increased dramatically over the years. This could be a genetic mutation, since more and more tuskless elephants started to breed since the ones with tusks had been poached in the 70/80s. On the size, maybe the fact that younger, smaller elephants started mating to make up the numbers left by the fully matured adults that had been shot. No proof of this is still available. |
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| Does your management do anything to increase awareness of African elephants as an endangered species. If yes, can you describe how they do this? |
| Presumably, all we do is aimed at sensitizing people about the value of wildlife in general. Trying to promote the incredible events that take place every year through our lodge is hopefully another means of increasing awareness. |
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| Thank you, Ms. Bizzaro, for your time and assistance. |
