Hannes Kächele
@hannes_1961 • 4,697 subscribers
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There was MUCH MORE in this story! ”The jaguar swam over 8 hours against the Rio Negro's current, carrying more than 30 pellets from gunshots in her skull, heck, and mouth. Weakened and almost out of strength, she could not reach the shore alone. Thanks to the joint effort of SEPET, the Environmental Police, Instituto Laiff/UFAM, and Deputy Joana Darc's team, trained by GRAD, the jaguar was rescued alive and taken for veterinary care.
Hannes Kächele677,513 次观看 • 8 个月前
Her name is Mudanda. Will Burrard-Lucas was the last to meet her! Last photographs of the Elephant Queen F_MU1 was an incredible elephant. For more than 60 years, she lived a peaceful life in a quiet corner of Tsavo in Kenya. When I first saw her I was awestruck, for she had the most amazing tusks I had ever seen. If I hadn’t looked upon her with my own eyes, I might not have believed that such an elephant could exist in our world. If there were a Queen of Elephants, it would surely have been her. These are amongst the last images captured of her. Shortly after they were taken, she died of natural causes. She had survived through periods of terrible poaching and it was a victory that her life was not ended prematurely by a snare, bullet or poisoned arrow. F_MU1 was an elephant that few people outside Tsavo knew about. Photographing her, in partnership with Tsavo Trust and Kenya Wildlife Service, was one of the greatest honours of my career. What follows is the story of how I came to capture these images…
Hannes Kächele32,785 次观看 • 3 个月前
The Legend of Ahmed: The King of Marsabit Ahmed was one of the most iconic elephants in African history, a massive bull known for his extraordinarily long tusks and elusive presence in the wilds of northern Kenya. Born around 1919 in the dense forests of Mount Marsabit, he roamed the Marsabit National Reserve, a volcanic mountain oasis rising from the arid scrublands, home to diverse wildlife including lions, leopards, and other elephants. As a young bull, little is documented about his early life, but by the 1960s, Ahmed had grown into a true giant, earning the title “King of Marsabit” from local Samburu people, hikers, and big-game enthusiasts. His tusks, the longest and heaviest ever recorded in Africa at over 150 pounds (68 kg) each, were said to scrape the ground as he walked, and folklore even claimed he had to navigate the steep hills of Marsabit by walking backward to avoid them catching. Ahmed was rarely sighted, adding to his mystique; he was often accompanied by two younger bull elephants that acted as natural bodyguards, charging at threats to protect the elder tusker and his prized ivory. His reputation spread beyond Kenya, drawing international attention amid rising poaching pressures in the post-colonial era. In 1970, Ahmed’s fame exploded when he starred in three documentaries: the ABC series The American Sportsman, The Search for Ahmed (an NBC production), and a French film on conservationist Iain Douglas-Hamilton’s work tracking elephants. These films highlighted his grandeur and vulnerability, sparking a nationwide letter-writing campaign by Kenyan schoolchildren urging protection for this “national heritage” that boosted tourism in the Samburu region. In response, Kenya’s first president, Jomo Kenyatta, issued a historic presidential decree in 1970 declaring Ahmed a “living national monument”—the only elephant ever to receive such individual protection. Two (or sometimes reported as five) armed game rangers were assigned to guard him 24/7, following him through the forests while he adapted to their presence and continued his nomadic life. This unprecedented measure saved him from the poaching onslaught that ravaged Kenya’s elephant populations in the 1970s, though an autopsy later revealed old bullets in his body from earlier close calls. Ahmed’s life ended peacefully on a November morning in 1974 at age 55, when his rangers found him dead in a copse, not collapsed on his side but propped majestically against a tree, resting on his legendary tusks—a fitting pose for a king. Rather than let his remains decay, Kenyatta ordered taxidermy preservation. German experts from Zimmermann Ltd. in Stuttgart handled the process, shipping his body there for mounting. Due to the unusable hide, a life-size fiberglass replica was created, while his real skeleton and tusks were displayed inside the Kenya National Museum in Nairobi, where the full mount now stands proudly outside as an enduring symbol of conservation.
Hannes Kächele40,702 次观看 • 6 个月前
This herd of elephants had moved with clear purpose to the final resting place of Kegol, a well-known tusker who once dominated this landscape in the Mara North Conservancy. What followed was extraordinary. Members of the herd gently picked up fragments of Kegol's bones, lifting them with their trunks, carrying them briefly, touching and smelling them before setting them down again. Elephants are known to revisit the remains of deceased individuals, particularly those they were familiar with. This behaviour is widely understood as a form of recognition and remembrance - a response to death that reflects their deep social bonds, long memories, and emotional intelligence. Standing there, it was impossible not to feel the weight of the moment. This wasn't curiosity. It felt deliberate. Respectful. Acknowledgement of a life that once shaped this land. 🎥Cathan Moore
Hannes Kächele20,715 次观看 • 3 个月前
Tsavo Bachelor Herds Bachelor herds, also known as bull groups, are loose associations of male African elephants (Loxodonta africana) that form after adolescent males leave their natal family units, typically between the ages of 12 and 15. In Tsavo National Park, Kenya, these groups are part of the broader social dynamics of one of East Africa’s largest elephant populations, which has historically fluctuated due to factors like drought, poaching, and conservation efforts. The park’s vast landscape—encompassing Tsavo East and Tsavo West—supports extensive ranging behaviors, with males traveling greater distances than female-led family groups in search of resources. Studies in Tsavo East from the 1960s to 1990s documented bull groups with a median size of 3 individuals, ranging from 2 to as many as 22, and noted that these groups tend to be larger during the dry season (mean of 16.2 for groups of 10 or more). Aggregations occur year-round, sometimes integrating with female clans to form massive temporary herds of 500–1,000 elephants around key resources like waterholes or grassy plains during the rainy season, where socializing, information exchange, and mating opportunities take place. These “social arenas” in Tsavo allow bulls to interact without intense competition over food, as abundant vegetation supports large gatherings. Contrary to the outdated myth that male elephants are solitary loners, research shows they maintain rich social lives with lasting friendships, hierarchies, and mentorship roles. In Tsavo, older bulls (often over 35 years) exert authority, guiding younger males through challenging terrains and tempering aggressive behaviors, such as those seen during musth (a hormonal period of heightened aggression and reproductive drive). For instance, super tuskers—iconic large-tusked bulls in Tsavo—are frequently observed with entourages of younger males, debunking isolation assumptions. Musth in Tsavo males occurs year-round, but with fewer older bulls due to past poaching, younger ones (21–25 years) enter musth earlier, potentially leading to more fluid group dynamics. Social segregation has been observed in Tsavo between local elephants and translocated ones, with groups preferring familiar associates, though this diminishes as habitat familiarity grows. Overall, bachelor herds in Tsavo are flexible, with members coming and going over days to months, influenced by resource availability, reproductive cycles, and the stabilizing presence of elder bulls. Conservation efforts by organizations like Tsavo Trust highlight the importance of protecting these older males for maintaining healthy social structures, as their loss can disrupt group stability and lead to
Hannes Kächele12,469 次观看 • 5 个月前
Nothing sweeter than the bond between a little one and its mama. Baby elephants are some of the most loving and emotional animals in the wild, and watching an elephant calf stay close to its mother is one of the most heart-melting safari moments you can ever witness. Their gentle touches, tiny rumbles, and the way the calf follows every step of the mother shows just how deep the elephant family bond truly is. In African wildlife, especially in places like Amboseli, this mother-baby connection is one of the most iconic behaviours to film — a reminder of how intelligent, protective, and affectionate these giants really are. 🎥 The Safari Souls
Hannes Kächele13,411 次观看 • 6 个月前
Meanwhile in Namibia‘s Etosha National Park: “While observing elephant herds gather at a waterhole in Namibia's Etosha National Park, we saw a mother elephant push through the crowd to proudly show us her newborn calf. It was incredible to witness the gentle affection and protective care the older elephants showed toward the newest member of their family.” 🎥 Victor Deboutte
Hannes Kächele24,467 次观看 • 1 年前
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