Report information
Mac has returned to the Timbavati River area for the third time and from his movement pattern, it's clear that he is no longer sweeping across his entire musth range but is now tracking particular females.
A couple of days back we found him with a family group we know as the Rivers herd (all the adult cows are named after rivers). It was mid-morning and the herd was feeding. Mac, who was following behind, caught up with them and rested with his tusk wedged in the fork of a Mopane tree (being in musth is hard work).
The fact that he did not focus his attention on any specific cow suggests that the female/s he is interested in are not yet receptive. Closer to their peak period, Mac will spend more time in close association with the cow and guard her from the attention of other bulls for a few days.
Another herd, the Constellations, in which an adult cow has also been fitted with a GPS-telemetry collar, is also in the vicinity of the Timbavati River. However, our data suggest that Mac has not yet shown much interest in this family group.
Mandy, the collared elephant, is a relatively shy cow and it'll be interesting to see how she and the Constellations herd responds to Mac's presence in the area.
Best wishes,
Steve Henley
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Next report: Mac on the Move Week Eight
Last report: Mac on the Move Week Six