0:00:07 > 0:00:11African elephants are one of my favourite animals.
0:00:11 > 0:00:13They're emotional...
0:00:14 > 0:00:15..and intelligent.
0:00:15 > 0:00:16ELEPHANT RUMBLES
0:00:16 > 0:00:19For them, family is everything.
0:00:22 > 0:00:26I'm Gordon Buchanan, a wildlife cameraman.
0:00:26 > 0:00:30For the last 25 years, I've tried to get close to wild animals.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34Now, I'm in Africa to follow my dream
0:00:34 > 0:00:38to get to know an elephant family.
0:00:38 > 0:00:41In order to understand a family of elephants,
0:00:41 > 0:00:43I'm going to do something that few people have ever done,
0:00:43 > 0:00:47which is to actually be on foot with them.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50I really believe that to better understand any animal,
0:00:50 > 0:00:53you have to inhabit their world.
0:00:53 > 0:00:59In the case of the elephant, that is easier said than done.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02That's because, despite their loving nature,
0:01:02 > 0:01:05elephants are one of the most dangerous animals in the world.
0:01:07 > 0:01:13Years of persecution have left them frightened and mistrustful of us.
0:01:13 > 0:01:17Not only do we bump into a big, bad bull,
0:01:17 > 0:01:19but this fellow is...
0:01:19 > 0:01:21ANGRY TRUMPETING
0:01:21 > 0:01:27I want to get past our mutual fear and be on foot with Africa's giants.
0:01:31 > 0:01:32From a new mother and baby...
0:01:34 > 0:01:36..to the last super tuskers...
0:01:37 > 0:01:39(He is just breathtaking!
0:01:41 > 0:01:43(My hands are shaking.)
0:01:43 > 0:01:46..I'll see the dangers elephants face, first-hand.
0:01:50 > 0:01:55Can this family show me how to create a better future
0:01:55 > 0:01:58for the greatest animal of all?
0:02:15 > 0:02:17- You must be Benjamin. - Yeah, I'm Benjamin.
0:02:17 > 0:02:19I've come to meet Benjamin Kyalo
0:02:19 > 0:02:21from the elephant conservation charity
0:02:21 > 0:02:24the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29Benjamin has 16 years' experience of working with elephants...
0:02:29 > 0:02:31RADIO CHATTER
0:02:31 > 0:02:35..and he knows the herds here like no-one else.
0:02:38 > 0:02:42He's based in Kenya's biggest national park, Tsavo.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47It's home to more than 11,000 elephants.
0:02:50 > 0:02:54They see us - will they recognise you instantly?
0:02:54 > 0:02:57- As soon as I talk...- OK.- ..they'll be able to recognise my voice.
0:02:59 > 0:03:00And how do you think they'll be with me?
0:03:01 > 0:03:04They will be curious because they have never seen you,
0:03:04 > 0:03:07they have never heard about you, but it will all depend on me.
0:03:07 > 0:03:11So I will just tell them, he is my friend.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13Before we meet any elephants,
0:03:13 > 0:03:17Benjamin wants to warn me how things can go wrong.
0:03:17 > 0:03:18Even in a car.
0:03:19 > 0:03:21Just have a look.
0:03:22 > 0:03:23Ooh!
0:03:23 > 0:03:27'A video from South Africa shows what elephants look like
0:03:27 > 0:03:29'when they're about to charge.'
0:03:29 > 0:03:31So they're starting to go away, but then...
0:03:31 > 0:03:32Then they change their mind.
0:03:32 > 0:03:34What happens here? Do they all turn back?
0:03:34 > 0:03:38Maybe they are discussing how to attack their common enemy.
0:03:38 > 0:03:40Yeah.
0:03:40 > 0:03:41So now they decide to come forward.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44- They're fast, as well!- Yeah.
0:03:44 > 0:03:49This one was to warn you first, and the second one came to attack.
0:03:50 > 0:03:52'Easy. Easy.'
0:03:52 > 0:03:53Oh, my goodness me!
0:03:53 > 0:03:54They can easily kill you.
0:03:55 > 0:03:57'Hey!'
0:03:57 > 0:04:02At first, you see, they give warning that we are coming for you.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05But whoever was standing there didn't mind about that.
0:04:05 > 0:04:07They just stood and waited.
0:04:07 > 0:04:11- OK.- So you should never wait when you see a reaction like this.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13I'm just going to have a look at it again
0:04:13 > 0:04:15and just try to figure out what's going on, because...
0:04:17 > 0:04:20- Very agitated. - They all looked agitated, yeah.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23If you see them coiling the trunk and coming forward,
0:04:23 > 0:04:27then know that they are seriously coming for you.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30So, one sign of a real charge is that the trunk is curled up
0:04:30 > 0:04:35under the elephant as it comes straight for you.
0:04:35 > 0:04:37- Hey! - MAN WHISTLES
0:04:37 > 0:04:38Hey!
0:04:38 > 0:04:40When walking on foot,
0:04:40 > 0:04:44they can easily kill you, because they have got a very powerful trunk
0:04:44 > 0:04:45combined with the tusks.
0:04:45 > 0:04:49So they hit with the trunk then, when you've fallen to ground
0:04:49 > 0:04:52and they follow you and pierce you with their tusks
0:04:52 > 0:04:56- and you end up dying.- Mm-hm.
0:04:56 > 0:04:58And then after they have killed you,
0:04:58 > 0:05:02they will just cut branches and cover you, then they just head off.
0:05:02 > 0:05:03- Really?- Yeah.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06At least you get a burial, of sorts.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13Seeing the body language of charging elephants
0:05:13 > 0:05:15is a scary first lesson.
0:05:21 > 0:05:25Benjamin thinks my best chance of following elephants safely on foot
0:05:25 > 0:05:28is with a family he's known for years.
0:05:28 > 0:05:32This is the only place where I'd even attempt this.
0:05:36 > 0:05:41At the heart of this family are 13-year-old mum Wendi
0:05:41 > 0:05:44and her seven-month-old calf, Wiva.
0:05:48 > 0:05:51Following them could give me an insight
0:05:51 > 0:05:54into the challenges elephants face.
0:05:58 > 0:06:00This might just be possible here
0:06:00 > 0:06:04because of Benjamin's unique relationship with them.
0:06:17 > 0:06:19Who's this, Benjamin?
0:06:19 > 0:06:22- This is the herd we've been looking for.- Really?
0:06:22 > 0:06:25- You can see how mothers are here. - Yes. Oh, look, there's a baby.
0:06:25 > 0:06:27There is Wiva. Just Wiva.
0:06:27 > 0:06:28This is Wiva.
0:06:28 > 0:06:30Oh, beautiful!
0:06:30 > 0:06:31And Wendi, her mother.
0:06:31 > 0:06:35So Wendi is...the one close to me?
0:06:35 > 0:06:38Yes, the one that's close already, that's Wendi.
0:06:38 > 0:06:42Wiva is the cutest thing I've ever...
0:06:42 > 0:06:43Wendi, come!
0:06:44 > 0:06:48- Wendi, stop, Wendi, don't. - I'm not sure I like that.
0:06:48 > 0:06:50Wendi!
0:06:52 > 0:06:55- Not sure I like that. - Don't grab the camera.
0:07:00 > 0:07:02Oh!
0:07:02 > 0:07:03Don't do anything funny here, Wendi.
0:07:06 > 0:07:07I'm here, Wendi. What do you want?
0:07:09 > 0:07:11Oh, my God!
0:07:11 > 0:07:13No, no, no.
0:07:14 > 0:07:18That...certainly got the heart racing...
0:07:19 > 0:07:20..a little bit.
0:07:22 > 0:07:23I didn't like that.
0:07:23 > 0:07:24Wendi.
0:07:24 > 0:07:27Wendi's a bit...she's a bit cheeky.
0:07:27 > 0:07:28Yeah, yeah.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30- To say the least.- Very naughty.
0:07:30 > 0:07:32Naughty. Yeah.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35She's naughty, she's mischievous.
0:07:35 > 0:07:36All sorts of characters.
0:07:36 > 0:07:38She's a bit handy with her trunk.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45'So it seems I've picked a potentially tricky elephant
0:07:45 > 0:07:48'to make friends with.'
0:07:48 > 0:07:50I didn't like that, Benjamin. THEY LAUGH
0:07:50 > 0:07:52Was she just being friendly,
0:07:52 > 0:07:53or was she...what was she doing there?
0:07:53 > 0:07:56She was trying to be so investigative
0:07:56 > 0:07:58and she wanted to know who you are first,
0:07:58 > 0:08:00because she has never met you.
0:08:00 > 0:08:01Yeah.
0:08:01 > 0:08:05So it was like she wanted to know who we are -
0:08:05 > 0:08:08and also to defend her baby.
0:08:08 > 0:08:13That's the reason why you should never take lightly an elephant.
0:08:13 > 0:08:16Yeah. No, I found that very intimidating, actually.
0:08:16 > 0:08:18- Mm.- Because she walked straight up.
0:08:18 > 0:08:20I've been getting glimpses of elephants
0:08:20 > 0:08:23and just wanting to meet Wendi and get to know her,
0:08:23 > 0:08:25and the first time I set eyes on her,
0:08:25 > 0:08:28she rushes straight forward and her trunk's right there.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31And she's not fully grown, though she's got her baby.
0:08:31 > 0:08:35So if I wasn't very close, then things would go terrible.
0:08:35 > 0:08:37Wendi may be mistrustful
0:08:37 > 0:08:41because, as a baby, she suffered at the hands of humans.
0:08:46 > 0:08:50She was found orphaned at just two days old,
0:08:50 > 0:08:53separated from her mother by people.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00Rescued by the Sheldrick team,
0:09:00 > 0:09:03Benjamin helped return her to the wild.
0:09:03 > 0:09:07And through his love and care, she became free again.
0:09:14 > 0:09:18Wendi has been living in the bush for more than seven years
0:09:18 > 0:09:24and even has her own calf now, but she only really trusts Benjamin.
0:09:24 > 0:09:25ELEPHANT RUMBLES
0:09:25 > 0:09:28He's become the guardian of Wendi's herd...
0:09:28 > 0:09:31RUMBLING
0:09:31 > 0:09:34..checking every day that they're all OK.
0:09:46 > 0:09:49I think about Wendi's tragic history.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52I'm not surprised she's suspicious of new people.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00I wonder if she'll ever accept me.
0:10:23 > 0:10:25After a first night under canvas,
0:10:25 > 0:10:28we head out to look for Wendi's herd.
0:10:28 > 0:10:31I'm keen to start the process of gaining her trust.
0:10:35 > 0:10:37We begin by visiting a waterhole
0:10:37 > 0:10:40where Benjamin thinks they should come for a drink.
0:10:50 > 0:10:56Luckily enough, I can see some more elephants coming for a drink.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59It means that maybe this one, they didn't get water yesterday,
0:10:59 > 0:11:02so now they have come early in search of water.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07I'm hoping that baby Wiva will make an appearance, too.
0:11:18 > 0:11:20There she is.
0:11:35 > 0:11:37Oh, you beautiful elephant.
0:11:40 > 0:11:43It's actually quite difficult to get a view of Wiva,
0:11:43 > 0:11:45despite the fact that she's here.
0:11:45 > 0:11:49She's completely surrounded by a forest of elephant legs.
0:11:51 > 0:11:55These legs belong to older female elephants,
0:11:55 > 0:11:58nannies, who have helped look after Wiva since she was born.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06Elephant nannies are important to babies
0:12:06 > 0:12:10but Benjamin says they're doing a lot more childcare than normal
0:12:10 > 0:12:13because Wendi is not always by Wiva's side.
0:12:13 > 0:12:15ELEPHANT PURRS SONOROUSLY
0:12:15 > 0:12:17It's tough for Wendi.
0:12:17 > 0:12:21She's a first-time mum and never knew her own mother.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24She doesn't always know what to do.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30Wiva is relying on the rest of the family
0:12:30 > 0:12:33to learn how to be an elephant and how to stay out of trouble.
0:12:42 > 0:12:45Not all babies make it to their first birthday.
0:12:47 > 0:12:48Will Wiva?
0:12:57 > 0:12:58Beautiful.
0:12:59 > 0:13:01Just quite overwhelming, really,
0:13:01 > 0:13:05to see this many elephants in one place at one time.
0:13:08 > 0:13:11This herd are a mix of orphans like Wendi
0:13:11 > 0:13:13who have been returned to the wild,
0:13:13 > 0:13:16and wandering bulls who've joined them.
0:13:21 > 0:13:23Elephants are so dangerous,
0:13:23 > 0:13:26people normally observe them from the safety of vehicles.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29But to really understand them,
0:13:29 > 0:13:32I believe I have to be able to walk with them.
0:13:34 > 0:13:36Approaching on foot might be possible with this family
0:13:36 > 0:13:39because of their unique history with Benjamin.
0:13:40 > 0:13:42I trust you.
0:13:42 > 0:13:46- Trust me.- I might not trust the elephants just yet, but I trust you.
0:13:46 > 0:13:47This is quite a big moment.
0:13:47 > 0:13:51I'm doing something that I came here to do.
0:13:51 > 0:13:54Something that I'm not doing lightly.
0:13:56 > 0:14:01Suddenly it feels very different to be on the ground,
0:14:01 > 0:14:04for my feet to be touching the same earth as the elephants.
0:14:08 > 0:14:09Feels good.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22I'm standing up. Everything's tingling at the moment.
0:14:22 > 0:14:23It's just quite a...
0:14:25 > 0:14:27..exceptional, extraordinary experience to be...
0:14:29 > 0:14:32Thrilling, really, just standing,
0:14:32 > 0:14:35seeing the world as the elephants see it
0:14:35 > 0:14:38and I think a big part of actually understanding these animals
0:14:38 > 0:14:41is about actually seeing the world through their eyes.
0:14:43 > 0:14:44Hey. You!
0:14:48 > 0:14:50Who's that?
0:14:50 > 0:14:51I call him Hatari.
0:14:51 > 0:14:53He's so aggressive.
0:14:53 > 0:14:57- Really?- Sometimes, yes.
0:14:58 > 0:15:01Hatari means "danger" in Swahili.
0:15:01 > 0:15:05This bull is definitely one to keep an eye on.
0:15:05 > 0:15:07I can't say that I've overcome my fear,
0:15:07 > 0:15:10because I'm still very fearful,
0:15:10 > 0:15:14but they trust me enough at this stage to be perfectly relaxed.
0:15:14 > 0:15:16And the only reason they trust me
0:15:16 > 0:15:18is because they know and trust Benjamin.
0:15:20 > 0:15:21So, for these elephants,
0:15:21 > 0:15:25maybe any friend of Benjamin's is a friend of theirs.
0:15:33 > 0:15:35Extraordinary, really.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38I never would have imagined that this would be possible,
0:15:38 > 0:15:42to be standing, sharing the same space
0:15:42 > 0:15:44as a herd of wild elephants.
0:15:45 > 0:15:47It's really truly exceptional.
0:16:05 > 0:16:06Who's this?
0:16:06 > 0:16:07This is Kibo.
0:16:07 > 0:16:11One of my...long-term friends.
0:16:11 > 0:16:14- Hi, Kibo. Kibo!- Hey, Kibo!
0:16:14 > 0:16:15Kibo, Kibo, Kibo!
0:16:15 > 0:16:17BENJAMIN CALLS OUT TO KIBO
0:16:17 > 0:16:18Hey, leave my camera.
0:16:18 > 0:16:20He doesn't know that he's very tall.
0:16:20 > 0:16:24He can...smash that camera.
0:16:24 > 0:16:25Kibo!
0:16:25 > 0:16:27BENJAMIN WHISTLES
0:16:29 > 0:16:31He's saying hello.
0:16:31 > 0:16:33Blow the trunk. On the trunk, blow.
0:16:33 > 0:16:37- That's how you introduce yourself to an elephant.- Blow on its trunk?
0:16:37 > 0:16:39If he gives you the trunk, then you just blow.
0:16:39 > 0:16:41It's like saying "Hi, how have you been?"
0:16:41 > 0:16:44If you're introduced to an elephant, what you do is blow down its trunk.
0:16:52 > 0:16:54They keep on seeing you so often,
0:16:54 > 0:16:58- maybe every day, after a few days, they will get used to you.- OK.
0:16:58 > 0:17:00- And they also get used to your voice.- Yeah.
0:17:00 > 0:17:05So if you are close to them, don't just stand there, just talk.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08- OK, no, that's good.- So then they can get your voice.- Yeah.
0:17:09 > 0:17:12Come here, what do you want?
0:17:12 > 0:17:13My goodness.
0:17:13 > 0:17:15Hello!
0:17:15 > 0:17:16Hello.
0:17:16 > 0:17:18Having a good sniff.
0:17:18 > 0:17:20Hello.
0:17:20 > 0:17:21Nice to meet you.
0:17:21 > 0:17:23ELEPHANT TRUMPETS
0:17:23 > 0:17:24Ah, here comes Wendi.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27Wendi!
0:17:27 > 0:17:29Wendi, Wendi!
0:17:30 > 0:17:34Not sure I want to get any closer after our first introduction.
0:17:34 > 0:17:39- Hey, Wendi.- Wendi, Wendi, Wendi!
0:17:39 > 0:17:41Just come close to us, Wendi!
0:17:43 > 0:17:44Wendi, say hi to my friend.
0:17:46 > 0:17:48Where are you going, Wendi?
0:17:49 > 0:17:51Not interested in me.
0:17:51 > 0:17:53'Looks like I've been snubbed.
0:17:54 > 0:17:57'Wendi might be a very hard elephant to win over...
0:17:58 > 0:18:01'..but I don't have the chance to charm her now.
0:18:01 > 0:18:04'A bull is showing us who's the boss.'
0:18:04 > 0:18:06Oh.
0:18:06 > 0:18:07Let him pass.
0:18:07 > 0:18:09- Yeah, I'll let you past!- Hm.
0:18:11 > 0:18:12He's, um...
0:18:14 > 0:18:17..yes, he's very intimidating, as you'd imagine it to be.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28I think if I get to know these elephants enough,
0:18:28 > 0:18:31if I can understand all elephants enough
0:18:31 > 0:18:33and gain their trust,
0:18:33 > 0:18:35who knows? Maybe this is something
0:18:35 > 0:18:39that I'll be able to do alone, without Benjamin.
0:18:46 > 0:18:50Wendi is the key to getting me into this family.
0:18:54 > 0:18:56If I'm to win her over,
0:18:56 > 0:19:00I need to understand how to read elephant behaviour better.
0:19:00 > 0:19:02ELEPHANT SNORTS
0:19:29 > 0:19:31Yesterday, absolutely wonderful,
0:19:31 > 0:19:32but I was very much aware
0:19:32 > 0:19:35that I was looking at a whole heap of elephants
0:19:35 > 0:19:38that were communicating the whole time with me
0:19:38 > 0:19:41and with each other, and I hadn't a single...
0:19:41 > 0:19:44a single clue what they were saying.
0:19:45 > 0:19:49Erm, so that's, yeah, that's my number one mission,
0:19:49 > 0:19:51is to try and find the elephants, firstly,
0:19:51 > 0:19:55but then start concentrating on elephant language.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05Today, Benjamin's going to give me a few pointers
0:20:05 > 0:20:07on elephant communication.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12With their body language, what can you tell me
0:20:12 > 0:20:16that's going to help me figure out what's on their mind?
0:20:16 > 0:20:18If you are walking towards the elephants
0:20:18 > 0:20:20or maybe if you are close to them
0:20:20 > 0:20:23and you see them with their trunks up,
0:20:23 > 0:20:27they are trying to smell the area and determine whether it's safe.
0:20:27 > 0:20:28OK, so is that like...
0:20:28 > 0:20:30Yes. Like this. They are smelling the air.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33Trying to determine whether the area is safe.
0:20:33 > 0:20:38If they have seen you, then you will see them, ears spread out,
0:20:38 > 0:20:42tossing their head and trying to charge.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45And if you see them curling the trunk with the ears out,
0:20:45 > 0:20:47then they are coming for you.
0:20:47 > 0:20:50An elephant is trying to grab food from the car...
0:20:50 > 0:20:51Oi!
0:20:53 > 0:20:55BENJAMIN WHISTLES
0:20:55 > 0:20:57..knocking over a crew member in the process.
0:21:00 > 0:21:02Time to move - but the engine's stalled.
0:21:05 > 0:21:07ENGINE STARTS
0:21:07 > 0:21:09BENJAMIN CALLS OUT
0:21:12 > 0:21:14- Very naughty!- Yeah.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21Yeah, it just shows you - you always have to keep an eye
0:21:21 > 0:21:23on every elephant and see what they're doing.
0:21:30 > 0:21:32Yes, that's the reason why
0:21:32 > 0:21:35when you have elephants, you ought to be alert. Because, er...
0:21:35 > 0:21:38She smelt something and she wanted to go over to that something.
0:21:38 > 0:21:42And when somebody tried to block her, somebody she doesn't know,
0:21:42 > 0:21:46then she had to just get him out of her way.
0:21:46 > 0:21:50It feels like it's a setback for me,
0:21:50 > 0:21:55because my confidence in the elephants has...has diminished.
0:22:05 > 0:22:09My goal to try to follow them on foot is on hold.
0:22:09 > 0:22:13I've heard that several big bulls have joined the family,
0:22:13 > 0:22:15so today I'm going to stay in the car.
0:22:18 > 0:22:22Oh, my goodness. Look at him.
0:22:22 > 0:22:23He is a beast!
0:22:25 > 0:22:26Look at the size of him.
0:22:28 > 0:22:30SONOROUS RUMBLING
0:22:36 > 0:22:38Seeing Wiva in the open near the road
0:22:38 > 0:22:41gives me a perfect chance to get to know her better.
0:22:47 > 0:22:51That looks like an elephant that does not have a care in the world.
0:22:52 > 0:22:54Look at her!
0:22:58 > 0:23:02I think Wiva is completely spoiled.
0:23:02 > 0:23:05Everyone probably wants to go and have a drink,
0:23:05 > 0:23:07but all Wiva wants to do...
0:23:08 > 0:23:12..is lie about in the dust at the side of the track.
0:23:12 > 0:23:15If she does that, everyone has to wait.
0:23:15 > 0:23:16There we go.
0:23:17 > 0:23:19You look at these two elephants together.
0:23:19 > 0:23:23That tiny one and that enormous one.
0:23:23 > 0:23:27Very funny to think that actually the boss is the small one
0:23:27 > 0:23:30because the herd does everything that Wiva wants them to do.
0:23:31 > 0:23:34Wherever she goes, they follow.
0:23:34 > 0:23:35Look at that. That's amazing.
0:23:36 > 0:23:40Strutting down, leading the whole herd.
0:23:40 > 0:23:41Wow!
0:23:43 > 0:23:46Trying not to view Wiva as being a little princess,
0:23:46 > 0:23:52but she has everything that she wants and everything that she needs.
0:23:52 > 0:23:54Really, I love her confidence.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56She's just brimming with character.
0:23:56 > 0:23:59You can see, I suppose, every single day,
0:23:59 > 0:24:02that character is developing further and further
0:24:02 > 0:24:04as she explores the world,
0:24:04 > 0:24:07learns about herself, learns about her family.
0:24:11 > 0:24:13Wiva might be behaving like this
0:24:13 > 0:24:17because there is no old, experienced leader or matriarch
0:24:17 > 0:24:19to keep the herd in check.
0:24:20 > 0:24:24Most of the adult elephants in this family were orphaned
0:24:24 > 0:24:29and didn't know their own mothers, so haven't had strong role models.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33This means that teenage mums like Wendi
0:24:33 > 0:24:36need to learn for themselves when to take control.
0:24:38 > 0:24:41I do think at times that Wendi's parenting skills
0:24:41 > 0:24:43are pretty kind of hands-off.
0:24:43 > 0:24:45I suppose it's not that she's negligent -
0:24:45 > 0:24:48I think she just she knows that if she goes off and leaves Wiva,
0:24:48 > 0:24:50someone is going to be looking after her.
0:25:03 > 0:25:07'I want to chat to Benjamin about Wendi's parenting skills.'
0:25:07 > 0:25:09So, is she a good mother?
0:25:11 > 0:25:12Mmm.
0:25:15 > 0:25:16Not really!
0:25:16 > 0:25:17THEY CHUCKLE
0:25:17 > 0:25:21But with the help of the nannies, then she will be a good mother.
0:25:21 > 0:25:22Yeah.
0:25:22 > 0:25:25The responsibility of taking care of the baby
0:25:25 > 0:25:28belongs to the nannies and others,
0:25:28 > 0:25:31so the baby does not belong to the mother alone.
0:25:32 > 0:25:36That's a way of showing how elephants live a nice life,
0:25:36 > 0:25:38a life of assisting one another.
0:25:38 > 0:25:40So we can learn from them.
0:25:40 > 0:25:42- We can learn a lot from elephants. - They can teach us.
0:25:42 > 0:25:45- Yeah, they can teach us so many things.- Hm.
0:25:46 > 0:25:47How big is your family?
0:25:49 > 0:25:50My elephant family?
0:25:52 > 0:25:55Er...I have got 65...
0:25:56 > 0:25:58You know, I've got two families -
0:25:58 > 0:26:00a human family and elephant family.
0:26:00 > 0:26:03And I tend to spend more time with the elephant family
0:26:03 > 0:26:06than the human family!
0:26:06 > 0:26:09How does your human family feel about that?
0:26:09 > 0:26:12Er... They are happy about it.
0:26:12 > 0:26:15Yeah, because they know it's something I love doing.
0:26:15 > 0:26:17Yeah, they're happy.
0:26:22 > 0:26:26Wiva has Benjamin and her nannies to look out for her,
0:26:26 > 0:26:30but I worry about Wendi being a hands-off mum.
0:26:30 > 0:26:32Tsavo is full of dangers.
0:26:38 > 0:26:42Several predators could take Wiva, given the opportunity.
0:26:43 > 0:26:48Baby elephants are vulnerable if they're away from their mothers.
0:26:48 > 0:26:49LIONS SNARL
0:26:53 > 0:26:57Wiva is going to need Wendi by her side.
0:27:02 > 0:27:06Hunters could even be hiding in the trees.
0:27:08 > 0:27:12In this tree, I have the beautiful leopard.
0:27:14 > 0:27:15Look at that.
0:27:16 > 0:27:19If one of the elephant families came past right now,
0:27:19 > 0:27:21she would definitely pay attention.
0:27:21 > 0:27:23She'd see if there's any opportunity.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26If Wiva, any of the baby elephants, were to get lost
0:27:26 > 0:27:29and didn't have the protection of its herd,
0:27:29 > 0:27:34absolutely 100% guarantee, if that leopard saw it...
0:27:36 > 0:27:38..that would be the end of that elephant.
0:27:43 > 0:27:46I want to understand the threat my elephants face
0:27:46 > 0:27:49by following them on foot.
0:27:49 > 0:27:53But a change in the herd is making that too risky.
0:27:56 > 0:27:58A huge bull in breeding condition
0:27:58 > 0:28:02has been attracted to the herd by a female in season.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05Head held really high.
0:28:05 > 0:28:07Just throwing his weight around.
0:28:08 > 0:28:10No way on earth...
0:28:11 > 0:28:15..do I want to be out on foot with him around.
0:28:15 > 0:28:17ELEPHANTS TRUMPET AND ROAR
0:28:19 > 0:28:22It seems that all these big bulls are gathering
0:28:22 > 0:28:25and there's a kind of tension in the air.
0:28:25 > 0:28:28This is a really dangerous time for Wiva.
0:28:28 > 0:28:30ANGRY TRUMPETING
0:28:31 > 0:28:33Fuelled with testosterone,
0:28:33 > 0:28:37I'm worried the bulls could trample Wiva if she's not careful.
0:28:38 > 0:28:40Everyone's getting really quite animated.
0:28:43 > 0:28:44Got that big male there...
0:28:46 > 0:28:49..being faced down by the other big bull, there.
0:28:49 > 0:28:56Thankfully, Wiva's out of harm's way. She's behind all of it.
0:28:56 > 0:28:59There she is. She's safe at the moment.
0:28:59 > 0:29:01They just try and surround her
0:29:01 > 0:29:03and that's what all the females seem to be doing,
0:29:03 > 0:29:06is just creating this defensive ring around her,
0:29:06 > 0:29:09just making she doesn't wander off and get into trouble.
0:29:11 > 0:29:13But Wendi is nowhere near.
0:29:15 > 0:29:16Here comes the big male.
0:29:16 > 0:29:18ANGRY TRUMPETING
0:29:21 > 0:29:22He is a scary beast.
0:29:24 > 0:29:27Oh, no, no. Get out of the way. Get out of the way. Look, look.
0:29:27 > 0:29:30Wiva's just right off into that big bull.
0:29:30 > 0:29:33Just does not have a clue how dangerous he is.
0:29:33 > 0:29:35Get out the way!
0:29:35 > 0:29:37She's being really inquisitive.
0:29:38 > 0:29:42(That's not good, you silly elephant!)
0:29:42 > 0:29:44If she was to get caught between those two bulls,
0:29:44 > 0:29:48that would be the end of her. Look at her.
0:29:48 > 0:29:49You silly thing!
0:29:50 > 0:29:56You just compare the size of her to that big bull behind, she is teeny!
0:29:59 > 0:30:02OK, she's getting chaperoned away.
0:30:03 > 0:30:05OK, that's the best thing to do.
0:30:05 > 0:30:08Get her right out the way.
0:30:08 > 0:30:10Keep going, keep going, keep going.
0:30:10 > 0:30:12That's the big bull there.
0:30:12 > 0:30:14Come on, get her out of the way.
0:30:14 > 0:30:16OK.
0:30:18 > 0:30:21So all these females know how dangerous this is.
0:30:21 > 0:30:23That's why they're trying to chaperone her
0:30:23 > 0:30:26and get her well out the way.
0:30:26 > 0:30:30The nannies have taken charge guarding Wiva.
0:30:32 > 0:30:36Wendi comes to her baby's side when the danger's gone.
0:30:37 > 0:30:39I'm worried about Wiva.
0:30:47 > 0:30:53I definitely feel as if I'm getting to know this family of elephants.
0:30:53 > 0:30:54Well, I am getting to know them.
0:30:54 > 0:30:56I think every passing hour,
0:30:56 > 0:30:59I see more of their lives and I learn more about them.
0:30:59 > 0:31:04And I think, as I've been contemplating all the dangers
0:31:04 > 0:31:08that face our baby, I never thought that one of the biggest dangers
0:31:08 > 0:31:11could be from other elephants.
0:31:17 > 0:31:20The most vulnerable are not the babies,
0:31:20 > 0:31:26but adults with giant tusks prized by ivory poachers.
0:31:28 > 0:31:30In the last ten years,
0:31:30 > 0:31:34people have killed over a third of Africa's elephants.
0:31:40 > 0:31:44I'm heading to meet Richard Moller from the Tsavo Trust.
0:31:44 > 0:31:49He's working to protect arguably Africa's most precious elephants.
0:31:49 > 0:31:52Morning. How are you?
0:31:54 > 0:32:00Richard monitors super tuskers to help protect them from poachers.
0:32:05 > 0:32:10He's taking me on patrol to try and find a giant.
0:32:14 > 0:32:17A bull called Satao 2,
0:32:17 > 0:32:19one of the rarest elephants in the world.
0:32:19 > 0:32:23Rare because of his remarkable ivory.
0:32:32 > 0:32:35So, now that we have GPS fix on him,
0:32:35 > 0:32:39we'll just get into the vehicles and see if we can locate him on foot.
0:32:44 > 0:32:48These elephants are incredibly special and this part of Kenya
0:32:48 > 0:32:49is incredibly special.
0:32:49 > 0:32:54Half of the world's last big tuskers, mega tuskers,
0:32:54 > 0:32:56super tuskers, live here.
0:32:56 > 0:32:59You know, it's an incredibly special place.
0:32:59 > 0:33:02It's home to some incredibly special elephants.
0:33:04 > 0:33:09Richard watches over some of the planet's most endangered creatures.
0:33:12 > 0:33:17There may be only 20 super tuskers left on earth.
0:33:22 > 0:33:27Satao 2, the big tusker is the guy at the back over here.
0:33:27 > 0:33:29I see. Oh, God, yes, so it is.
0:33:29 > 0:33:31HE CHUCKLES
0:33:31 > 0:33:34So I'm hoping that he'll come to this waterhole.
0:33:34 > 0:33:35Yeah, that would be great.
0:33:35 > 0:33:39So if we go downwind of him and this waterhole,
0:33:39 > 0:33:41we're in a really good position to maybe tuck ourselves
0:33:41 > 0:33:44- into one of these bushes. - Yeah. That would be amazing.
0:33:52 > 0:33:55Richard believes that the other bulls with Satao 2
0:33:55 > 0:33:58are his watchmen, or bodyguards.
0:34:01 > 0:34:05If they notice us, what's the sort of evacuation plan,
0:34:05 > 0:34:07if they squared up to us?
0:34:07 > 0:34:09Just retreat to the vehicle?
0:34:09 > 0:34:13Yeah, the first thing is just to actually hold your ground.
0:34:13 > 0:34:16Unless of course one does make a full charge,
0:34:16 > 0:34:18but it's highly unlikely.
0:34:18 > 0:34:20Really highly unlikely.
0:34:20 > 0:34:23- Cool. Shall we just get into position?- Yes.
0:34:26 > 0:34:28Easier said than done.
0:34:34 > 0:34:39OK. It's just after 11 o'clock in the morning
0:34:39 > 0:34:42and I'm tucked in here.
0:34:42 > 0:34:45They shouldn't know that I'm here.
0:34:45 > 0:34:47It is very exciting,
0:34:47 > 0:34:53the prospect of maybe being this close to such a huge elephant.
0:34:53 > 0:34:57That in itself is an enormous privilege,
0:34:57 > 0:35:00but I think just being on the ground with them is a privilege in itself
0:35:00 > 0:35:03and that's only because we've got someone
0:35:03 > 0:35:04from Kenyan Wildlife Service.
0:35:04 > 0:35:07We got that permission. And we've got Richard.
0:35:07 > 0:35:10So, yeah, this is a chance in a lifetime.
0:35:13 > 0:35:15The elephants have changed direction,
0:35:15 > 0:35:20so Richard thinks it's best to move inside the bush, out of sight.
0:35:20 > 0:35:22(Yeah, that's great.)
0:35:22 > 0:35:26We need to be quiet, so as not to spook them.
0:35:28 > 0:35:31I'm just skirting round the bush, but they're perfectly calm.
0:35:32 > 0:35:35I think they just suddenly going to emerge
0:35:35 > 0:35:37to the left of that big thicket.
0:35:49 > 0:35:51ELEPHANTS GROWL
0:35:51 > 0:35:54(That's just a bit of argy-bargy between those bulls.)
0:35:54 > 0:35:59If you think these are big, just wait till you see
0:35:59 > 0:36:02what's coming. My goodness me.
0:36:02 > 0:36:09That is like seeing a mammoth come back to life.
0:36:09 > 0:36:12(What an impressive animal.)
0:36:12 > 0:36:15(Gee-whiz.)
0:36:17 > 0:36:19(It's extraordinary.)
0:36:20 > 0:36:24(Oh, God. My mouth is dry.)
0:36:54 > 0:37:00To be just a few feet away from one of the last remaining super tuskers
0:37:00 > 0:37:02is simply amazing.
0:37:09 > 0:37:13His tusks are seven feet long.
0:37:46 > 0:37:50(That is just breathtaking.
0:37:52 > 0:37:54(My hands are shaking.
0:37:54 > 0:37:57(He came so close.
0:37:57 > 0:37:59(Didn't know that I was here.
0:37:59 > 0:38:02(He lifted his head and I thought
0:38:02 > 0:38:04(he was lifting it to have a look at me.
0:38:04 > 0:38:08(He was just lifting it to have a drink.
0:38:09 > 0:38:11(Oh, my word.)
0:38:13 > 0:38:17He has literally taken my breath away.
0:38:19 > 0:38:22And you can just feel that you're in the presence
0:38:22 > 0:38:25of an incredibly special animal.
0:38:44 > 0:38:47As intimidating as elephants can be at times, when you really,
0:38:47 > 0:38:51really watch them, you see how tender they are.
0:38:52 > 0:38:56And even just this process of drinking water, Satao 2 here,
0:38:56 > 0:38:59just the way that his trunk just gently touches the surface,
0:38:59 > 0:39:02and he takes almost a sip of water.
0:39:03 > 0:39:05It's incredibly tender.
0:39:26 > 0:39:29Having seen Satao 2 so calm,
0:39:29 > 0:39:32Richard thinks if we stay downwind,
0:39:32 > 0:39:35we can watch him pass by in the open.
0:39:38 > 0:39:45This is one of the most remarkable animals I will ever see.
0:40:02 > 0:40:07I think to see an elephant of this importance is a real privilege,
0:40:07 > 0:40:11because he is the last, really the last of his kind.
0:40:11 > 0:40:14There are so few elephants like this
0:40:14 > 0:40:17left on the face of the planet,
0:40:17 > 0:40:20so that in itself is incredibly special.
0:40:21 > 0:40:26Protecting these last super tuskers is important.
0:40:32 > 0:40:35As is looking out for the next generation.
0:40:36 > 0:40:38Time to find Wiva.
0:40:54 > 0:40:57The last time I saw my family,
0:40:57 > 0:41:00frisky bulls stopped me from getting out of the car.
0:41:00 > 0:41:02Today looks more promising.
0:41:02 > 0:41:04ELEPHANT SNORTS
0:41:04 > 0:41:07Having only got glimpses of Wiva,
0:41:07 > 0:41:12the herd's come forward, almost as if they want to show her to me.
0:41:14 > 0:41:18Benjamin's out on the ground, so I'm going to get out, as well.
0:41:20 > 0:41:22Easy, easy, easy, easy.
0:41:23 > 0:41:25Easy, easy.
0:41:30 > 0:41:32Wendi comes right up to see us again.
0:41:32 > 0:41:33Wendi!
0:41:33 > 0:41:36Thankfully, she seems a lot more relaxed today.
0:41:41 > 0:41:44No monkey business here.
0:41:47 > 0:41:48Wiva, Wiva.
0:41:48 > 0:41:50BENJAMIN WHISTLES
0:41:51 > 0:41:53Wiva, Wiva.
0:41:53 > 0:41:55See, Wiva's just there.
0:41:55 > 0:41:57A few metres away from me.
0:41:57 > 0:42:02That's much, much closer than she was before.
0:42:09 > 0:42:13They have been walking there all night, so she's a bit tired.
0:42:13 > 0:42:14GORDON CHUCKLES
0:42:14 > 0:42:17The whole herd seemed calm, but I don't want to let my guard down.
0:42:17 > 0:42:21Too big, too tall! You are blocking Wendi.
0:42:21 > 0:42:23Yes, she is huge.
0:42:23 > 0:42:27Just trying to kind of stay relaxed when you've got a huge elephant
0:42:27 > 0:42:30towering over you.
0:42:38 > 0:42:41The herd is having a dust bath.
0:42:41 > 0:42:43Something they love
0:42:43 > 0:42:46and it protects their skin from the burning sun.
0:42:47 > 0:42:49Easy, easy.
0:42:50 > 0:42:55Feeling more confident, I move closer, with Benjamin by my side.
0:43:01 > 0:43:04On foot, I feel so much more connected
0:43:04 > 0:43:07to this family and to their world.
0:43:07 > 0:43:09So many elephants around.
0:43:09 > 0:43:12Trying to keep eyes in the back of my head.
0:43:17 > 0:43:19GORDON LAUGHS
0:43:19 > 0:43:20She's wriggling about like a puppy.
0:43:22 > 0:43:24Aw, that is very sweet.
0:43:26 > 0:43:28HE GIGGLES
0:43:38 > 0:43:40Look at that.
0:43:44 > 0:43:49Dust bath over, baby Wiva once again takes the lead.
0:43:49 > 0:43:53The rest of the herd follow her into the bush.
0:44:04 > 0:44:07I don't think I should go on any further.
0:44:07 > 0:44:09Just the last few members of the herd,
0:44:09 > 0:44:12but the rest of them have pushed off into the thick bush
0:44:12 > 0:44:15and it's too dangerous to follow them.
0:44:15 > 0:44:20Because not only could we bump into a big bad bull,
0:44:20 > 0:44:21- but this fellow is...- Run.
0:44:21 > 0:44:23ELEPHANT TRUMPETS
0:44:23 > 0:44:25It's Hatari.
0:44:25 > 0:44:26All three tonnes of him.
0:44:26 > 0:44:30It's a shame, you get lured into a false sense of security
0:44:30 > 0:44:33and sort of feel confident and happy with the elephants
0:44:33 > 0:44:38and then something like that sets you back quite a long way.
0:44:47 > 0:44:49With my family off in the bush,
0:44:49 > 0:44:52I head back to the waterhole to wait for them.
0:44:55 > 0:44:57But something's not right.
0:44:57 > 0:45:00One of the bulls may need our help.
0:45:02 > 0:45:04This elephant just appeared.
0:45:05 > 0:45:07I caught it walking a couple of steps
0:45:07 > 0:45:09and it looked as if it was limping.
0:45:09 > 0:45:11I'm just going to see if it's...
0:45:11 > 0:45:13Oh, yeah, yeah, look at that.
0:45:15 > 0:45:18I think it's got a snare on its right foot.
0:45:18 > 0:45:21It just lifted it up.
0:45:21 > 0:45:23Oh, my goodness.
0:45:27 > 0:45:30It's had a snare around its front leg.
0:45:30 > 0:45:34There's a massive, massive injury.
0:45:34 > 0:45:36BENJAMIN SPEAKS ON RADIO
0:45:36 > 0:45:37That is just awful.
0:45:39 > 0:45:41HE SPEAKS OWN LANGUAGE
0:45:43 > 0:45:45Benjamin makes a call.
0:45:45 > 0:45:49Sheldrick's have a team ready to respond to elephants in trouble.
0:45:51 > 0:45:54With this long lens, I might actually get a better look
0:45:54 > 0:45:57to see if the wire is still round the elephant's foot.
0:45:59 > 0:46:01It's really shocking, actually,
0:46:01 > 0:46:05to see a huge, beautiful animal like this in such pain.
0:46:05 > 0:46:08Yes, look, you can see the wire from here.
0:46:09 > 0:46:13Oh, that is just...unbelievable.
0:46:15 > 0:46:18Oh, jeez. Oh, no.
0:46:27 > 0:46:29BEEPING
0:46:29 > 0:46:30BENJAMIN CONVERSES IN OWN LANGUAGE
0:46:36 > 0:46:40The way this elephant is delicately washing his wound
0:46:40 > 0:46:43makes me realise how painful this must be.
0:46:46 > 0:46:48Every day across Africa,
0:46:48 > 0:46:5180 elephants are killed for their ivory.
0:46:51 > 0:46:56Snares, poison and guns are used.
0:47:00 > 0:47:03The anti-poaching team are quickly on the scene
0:47:03 > 0:47:06to help keep track of the elephant while we wait for the vet
0:47:06 > 0:47:08from the Kenyan Wildlife Service.
0:47:09 > 0:47:12The bull's scared of people after what's happened.
0:47:12 > 0:47:15We are only human, my friend.
0:47:27 > 0:47:30Fred the vet prepares a tranquillising dart.
0:47:36 > 0:47:38He needs to sedate the elephant
0:47:38 > 0:47:40so that the snare can be safely removed.
0:47:42 > 0:47:45Guys, we are ready. We go help the elephant.
0:47:45 > 0:47:48This is good, I'm happy now the vet's here.
0:47:50 > 0:47:55Fred works alongside a spotter plane to locate the injured bull.
0:48:05 > 0:48:08He wants to dart it quickly to stop it from suffering.
0:48:23 > 0:48:25HE SPEAKS OWN LANGUAGE
0:48:27 > 0:48:28Fred's managed to fire the dart
0:48:28 > 0:48:30and the elephant's taken off through the trees,
0:48:30 > 0:48:32so we're just going to try to locate it.
0:48:37 > 0:48:39Chopper's on the ground.
0:48:45 > 0:48:47Oh, my goodness.
0:48:51 > 0:48:54Jeez. That's really shocking.
0:48:56 > 0:48:59THEY CONVERSE IN OWN LANGUAGE
0:49:06 > 0:49:08Just unbelievable.
0:49:08 > 0:49:14You just cannot - cannot imagine the pain this elephant's been in.
0:49:15 > 0:49:17Who knows for how long?
0:49:17 > 0:49:20Yes, it is...
0:49:20 > 0:49:23It's one of the most shocking things I've ever, ever seen.
0:49:23 > 0:49:25It really is.
0:49:25 > 0:49:29On his side, the bull's breathing is laboured.
0:49:29 > 0:49:33We have to move fast to remove the snare.
0:49:41 > 0:49:45The poachers have simply used winch cable from a truck.
0:49:50 > 0:49:54A snare like this is cheap to make.
0:49:55 > 0:49:58It could have caught any of Wiva's family.
0:50:01 > 0:50:03You see how tight it was round...
0:50:03 > 0:50:05Oh! Unbelievable.
0:50:07 > 0:50:09That tight round the elephant's leg.
0:50:13 > 0:50:15The reason that this animal has endured
0:50:15 > 0:50:18this unimaginable pain is for this -
0:50:18 > 0:50:20his tusks.
0:50:20 > 0:50:26It just defies belief how cruel people can be to animals
0:50:26 > 0:50:29and how senseless this whole thing is,
0:50:29 > 0:50:33that you can cause so much suffering, so much pain,
0:50:33 > 0:50:37for an ornament. Simply for an ornament.
0:50:39 > 0:50:41This poor animal.
0:50:51 > 0:50:55He is treated with a special clay that'll help heal the wound.
0:50:57 > 0:50:59What do you think, Fred?
0:50:59 > 0:51:00Do you think it'll survive?
0:51:00 > 0:51:03Ah, because the guy's body condition is good,
0:51:03 > 0:51:07he was walking, and also getting to another bad level
0:51:07 > 0:51:09but he is still OK to survive.
0:51:09 > 0:51:12You see, the bone is not involved.
0:51:12 > 0:51:13- OK.- The bone is intact.
0:51:13 > 0:51:17- OK.- So when the bone is intact, the soft tissue can easily...
0:51:17 > 0:51:20- Really repair.- Recover, yes.
0:51:20 > 0:51:22I'm so glad that we found this elephant.
0:51:22 > 0:51:25If we hadn't spotted it today,
0:51:25 > 0:51:28it could have easily wandered off into the bush for another week,
0:51:28 > 0:51:32maybe another month, but it would have died.
0:51:32 > 0:51:36Finally, the wound is treated with an antibiotic spray.
0:51:36 > 0:51:38All that remains is to wake him up.
0:51:38 > 0:51:42And remember, it will take not more than two minutes.
0:51:42 > 0:51:44- Sometimes even less that that.- Really?
0:51:44 > 0:51:47- OK, I'm not taking any risks. - That's why we say "at most".
0:51:47 > 0:51:50I'm going to get out of the way of the hard bits.
0:51:50 > 0:51:51Good luck, fella.
0:51:53 > 0:51:56I'll see you again, hopefully, under better circumstances.
0:51:56 > 0:51:59- Yes, it will be good to see him again.- Yeah, absolutely.
0:52:09 > 0:52:11Set my clock for two minutes.
0:52:18 > 0:52:21Wow. Oh, my word.
0:52:21 > 0:52:24Hey, fella.
0:52:24 > 0:52:28This is a critical moment for him and us.
0:52:28 > 0:52:30OK, move back.
0:52:39 > 0:52:41Not taking any chances.
0:52:41 > 0:52:44He was on his feet within one minute,
0:52:44 > 0:52:47so I think you'll be capable of charging us within two.
0:52:47 > 0:52:50Maybe just get back to the vehicle.
0:52:57 > 0:53:00It's a huge relief that he's OK,
0:53:00 > 0:53:05but seeing what this bull has been through really makes me worry.
0:53:08 > 0:53:14This area is well patrolled, but horrors like this can still happen.
0:53:15 > 0:53:18Snares are indiscriminate.
0:53:18 > 0:53:21They could kill any elephant.
0:53:21 > 0:53:23If Wendi steps in one,
0:53:23 > 0:53:29Wiva would be at risk because she depends on her mother's milk.
0:53:30 > 0:53:33It doesn't bear thinking about.
0:53:51 > 0:53:54There's people working incredibly hard.
0:53:54 > 0:53:59There's people that are dedicating their lives to protecting elephants.
0:53:59 > 0:54:01And I just hope...
0:54:01 > 0:54:02I hope it's enough.
0:54:02 > 0:54:07I hope that our species
0:54:07 > 0:54:10cares enough about their kind
0:54:10 > 0:54:13to stop them from going extinct
0:54:13 > 0:54:14and it's just not...
0:54:14 > 0:54:18None of that is guaranteed.
0:54:36 > 0:54:39To see the dangers my elephant family faces,
0:54:39 > 0:54:42I need to be able to follow them on foot.
0:54:42 > 0:54:46So far, I've always had the safety of the car and Benjamin.
0:54:51 > 0:54:55I want to know if they've learnt to accept me on my own.
0:54:59 > 0:55:02I'm feeling quite positive about this.
0:55:02 > 0:55:06I'm only doing this because we've got a group of relaxed elephants
0:55:06 > 0:55:08and I think I know enough about elephants now to know
0:55:08 > 0:55:11a chilled out customer when I see one.
0:55:11 > 0:55:15They all seem perfectly relaxed, just doing their own thing.
0:55:16 > 0:55:18So I'll do mine.
0:55:21 > 0:55:24Benjamin still keeps a watchful eye.
0:55:26 > 0:55:28This is good.
0:55:41 > 0:55:45Why are you so close? I don't want you to come close.
0:55:52 > 0:55:56I'd rather just be at the side of the elephants,
0:55:56 > 0:55:58rather than be stuck in the middle of them.
0:55:58 > 0:56:00There's elephants everywhere.
0:56:14 > 0:56:17Just trying to get a view of Wiva.
0:56:17 > 0:56:20She's running straight towards me.
0:56:22 > 0:56:24Hey, lady.
0:56:29 > 0:56:33I finally feel like I'm starting to be accepted.
0:56:36 > 0:56:41It's quite easy just to get lost in the elephants' world, to forget,
0:56:41 > 0:56:44actually, that I'm just standing out here by myself,
0:56:44 > 0:56:45at one with the elephants.
0:56:45 > 0:56:48And at times, actually, you can feel really...
0:56:50 > 0:56:53..really exposed, really quite vulnerable.
0:56:53 > 0:56:58Benjamin has helped give many of these elephants a second chance.
0:56:59 > 0:57:02A chance to be free.
0:57:03 > 0:57:07He's shown me that it's possible to be safe around elephants
0:57:07 > 0:57:09if we get to know them,
0:57:09 > 0:57:12treat them with respect
0:57:12 > 0:57:14and listen to them.
0:57:18 > 0:57:20ELEPHANT TRUMPETS
0:57:28 > 0:57:33My time with these incredible animals is drawing to an end.
0:57:38 > 0:57:42When I return in four months, it will be the dry season,
0:57:42 > 0:57:45when food and water are scarce.
0:57:50 > 0:57:53Will Wendi step up and learn to be the mother
0:57:53 > 0:57:56that Wiva needs to stay alive?
0:58:02 > 0:58:08Next time, the arrival of a new baby turns the herd's life upside down.
0:58:10 > 0:58:13I'll try to follow my family on their dangerous journey
0:58:13 > 0:58:15deeper into the bush.
0:58:15 > 0:58:17Who is it?
0:58:17 > 0:58:19MAN SHOUTS AND WHISTLES
0:58:19 > 0:58:21Big fella coming.
0:58:21 > 0:58:26And I'll see what we have to do to save Africa's elephants.