Gonçalvestrackstheelephants’movements,butshealsospendsalotoftimeinthefieldobservingthem.Shetakesphotographstocreateavisualprofileofeachanimal.Some havedistinguishingmarks—awrinkledearormissingtusk.Somehavealsobeenmarkedbywar—abulletholethroughanearoramissing tail. 

Sherecordstheirbehaviorandinteractions.Shepaysattentiontohowtheyaregroupedandhowtheyspendtheir time.

GiventhenatureoftheGorgongosaelephants,noteveryfieldexperienceispeaceful,though.Oneday,Gonçalveswastravelingwithastudentwhohadaninterestinelephants.Theteamhadnotseenanelephantinthreedays.Sheandherstudentwentoutlookingfor them.

Theelephantboltedforward,strikingthefrontofthevehicleonthemetalgratewithallherstrength.Shesteppedbackandchargedagain,shearingoffthegrate.Muchtotheirpanic,theelephantthenstartedpushingagainstthevehiclewithherhead.Asithappened,amassivetermitemoundlayontheotherside.Thevehicleslammedagainstitandcametoa stop.

Shovingherwayforward,theelephanttriedtoreachthepassenger’ssidewhereGonçalves’studentsat.ForGonçalves,everythingwashappeninginslowmotion.Theelephanthitthewindowonthestudent’sside,shatteringtheglassandsendingitinalldirections.Herstudent ducked.

Whentheelephanthitthecaragain,theybeganyellingandbangingonthedoorswiththeirfists,desperatelytryingtomakeenoughnoisetosendtheelephantaway.Theelephantchargedathirdtime,tryingtoflipthecar over.

Atthismoment,thematriarch,whohadbeenpeacefullygrazing,startedtomove.Gonçalvessaidshecouldnothearanythingabovethesoundofherownyelling,butthematriarchmayhavemadealow rumble.

Thatrumblewouldhavestoppedtheattack.Whateversignalwasgiven,theattackingelephantstoppedimmediatelyandranbacktojointhe others.

Thevehiclewasbadlydamagedandnowleakingfluids.Startingitanddrivingawaywasnotanoption.Theywerestranded.Withherheartbeatingwildly,Gonçalvesradioedforhelp.Whenhelparrivedinanothervehicle,sheandherstudentjumpedaboardandspedoffwiththeirrescuers.Gonçalvesdidnotknowwhatcausedtheattack,buttheencounterleftherbadly shaken.

ThereisstillalottolearnabouttheelephantsinGorongosa.Gonçalveshasmanyquestionsshe’dliketoanswer.Despitethetraumaofthewar,GonçalvesknowsthatGorongosaisamagicalplaceandthatshehasmoretolearnfromthese elephants.

Sheremembersoneofherfirstelephantencounterswithagroupofyoungbulls.Onebullapproachedthedoorofhervehicle.Hecamesoclosetoher,shecouldseeherownreflectioninhislarge,ambereye.Shecaughtherbreathandheldperfectlystill.Hestudiedher,asiftryingtodecidewhatshouldbedoneabouther.“Itmayhavelasted15seconds,”Gonçalvessaid,“butforme,itwasan eternity.”

Afterstaringatherthoselongmoments,thebullmovedgentlyawayfromthevehicle.Heobviouslydidnotperceiveherasathreat.Theencounterwasover.Heandtheotherbullswentbacktograzing,asifnothinghappened.ButGonçalvesfeltthatherlifechangedforeverinthat moment.