“Why Musth These Elephants Be So Persistent?”
This month, life on the reserve has been all about elephants—coexisting with them,
avoiding them when necessary, and occasionally questioning whether they’ve secretly
formed a union and decided to take over Black Rhino entirely.
With the sheer amount of rain we’ve had, finding an elephant while out on a drive in the
greater park has felt like an actual quest. Yet, the moment you return to Black Rhino, it
becomes glaringly obvious why—every single elephant in a 50-kilometer radius has
seemingly moved in. And with Buffalo Thorn being a little tucked away, blessed with
pristine waterholes and a buffet of buffalo thorn trees, it appears we’ve become the
five-star resort of choice for March’s elephant retreat.
Now, at first glance, this sounds fantastic—after all, sitting in the jacuzzi or lounging by
the pool with a herd of elephants casually hanging out in front of the lodge is a wildlife
lover’s dream. But for those of us working here (and ensuring that you all remain in one
piece), it comes with its fair share of challenges.
There’s always that one month when Black Rhino turns into an elephant holiday resort.
The usual culprit? Buffalo thorn trees fruiting—a delicacy these giants can’t resist. But
this year, oddly enough, the trees haven’t even started fruiting yet, and still, the
elephants have moved in en masse.
This month has been filled with international tourists n their way to catch a flight,
trapped at the dam by elephants blocking the road, game drives delayed by musth bulls
loitering in the driveway, and supply runs requiring military-grade planning just to avoid
playing “Guess the Elephant’s Mood.” And since many of the bulls are currently in
musth, the herds are more on edge than usual—so what should be a peaceful sighting
of a family herd can very quickly become a “time to reverse” scenario.
Many of our colleagues have been stuck on the fence line road trying to get back from the park, held
hostage by these gentle-yet-imposing roadblocks.
But, as I always say: Respect is not demanded—it is earned. And an elephant bull in the
latter half of his life has earned the right to demand it effortlessly. The roads belong to
them, and there’s nothing you can do but wait and watch.
Musth: When Bulls Go Bonkers
Since we’ve mentioned musth several times now, let’s get into it. For millennia, people
assumed only Asian elephants went through musth—because, obviously, the African
ones were far too sophisticated for such unhinged behavior. Then along came Joyce
Poole, a brilliant researcher who proved that yes, African bull elephants experience
musth too, and they do so with flair.
The word “musth” comes from an old Hindu term meaning “intoxicated.” Which, frankly,
is a very polite way of saying “temporarily out of their minds.”
The Science of Musth (For Those Who Like Their Elephants Unfiltered)
Musth is a hormonal explosion where a male elephant’s testosterone levels skyrocket
up to 60 times their normal amount—turning an otherwise reasonable bull into an
aggressive, unpredictable tank on legs. And then, of course, there’s the fluid.
That thick, dark, foul-smelling secretion oozing from the temporal glands? That’s musth
juice. And it’s not just for show. This stuff is a heady mix of ketones, fatty acids, and
aldehydes, designed to do one thing: send a message.
And that message is: – “I am overflowing with testosterone.” – “I am looking for a fight, and I will win.” – “If you have common sense, back away now.”
As for the smell? Imagine a delightful blend of rotting fruit, sweaty leather, and some
mystery chemical that screams “DO NOT APPROACH.”
Another charming musth feature? The constant urine dribbling. Bulls in musth leak
urine almost non-stop, leaving a trail of testosterone-infused pee wherever they go. This
isn’t incontinence—it’s an olfactory marker to further assert dominance. The urine is
thicker and stickier than usual, with a particularly sharp scent due to the presence of
phenols and sulfates.
Essentially, a musth bull is a walking chemical warfare unit,
marking his territory with scent signals that linger for days. Warning rival males to back
off and advertising to females that yes, they are, in fact, the most attractive, albeit
slightly terrifying, bachelor in the area.
So, in summary: – Musth bulls are hormonal chaos incarnate. – The musth fluid is a potent chemical warning system. – The smell could knock out a grown man. – And yes, the constant urine leakage is intentional.
Luckily, this phase passes—but until then, all you can do is respect the madness and
stay out of the way.
Where Do Elephants Go When It Rains?
Now, for another mystery: Why do elephants vanish when it rains?
One minute, they’re everywhere, and the next… gone. It’s almost like they’ve got a
secret bunker.
The reality? Elephants don’t like being drenched any more than we do. Despite being
nature’s armored tanks, they actually prefer sheltering in dense thickets where: – The rain is less obnoxious. – The ground isn’t a slippery disaster. – They can relax and snack without trekking for water, since—surprise—it’s suddenly everywhere.
Also, rainstorms mess with their incredible hearing and seismic communication.
Normally, elephants can “listen” to rumbles and vibrations through the ground. But in
wet conditions, those signals get muffled, making long-distance elephant gossip
impossible. So, they simply hunker down and wait it out.
Looking Ahead to April
As the rain lingers and the seasons prepare to shift, we’re expecting a good winter this
year. Hard to imagine now, but soon enough, the landscape will begin to change again.
For those visiting in the coming month, keep an eye out for those ellies, especially the
ones who still believe our driveway belongs to them. Because, to be fair… it kind of does.
Until next time,
The Buffalo Thorn Team