An incident of alleged elephant harassment – involving a guide and an emaciated elephant calf in Botswana’s Savute – has sparked calls for accountability.
An incident involving a safari guide interacting with a young, distressed elephant calf in Savute, Chobe National Park, has raised ethical concerns about a local safari operator, sparking calls from the public for accountability.
According to tour operator Haley Dahl, who arrived on the scene while on a game drive, the guide in question had climbed out of his vehicle and was taunting the elephant calf. Dahl reported that the guide was “jumping and playing” in front of the calf, antagonising the young animal to encourage it to mock charge him. The juvenile elephant, reportedly starving and without its mother, was visibly distressed as the guide appeared to treat the interaction as entertainment for his guests.
The guide was also photographed gesturing next to the elephant calf, alongside a game-drive vehicle marked “Action Adventure Safaris”.
The incident took place a week ago – in the height of a lengthy drought that has left many animals starving.
Dahl says she and her party were highly disturbed by the encounter.
“We arrived at a sighting with this other vehicle to see the guide/owner outside of his vehicle jumping/playing around in front of the baby elephant, antagonising him to try mock charge… and he thought this was a game,” Dahl wrote in a Facebook post.
Dahl told Africa Geographic that, upon witnessing the incident, she shouted at the guide to stop and he allegedly responded, “You should have been here; we have been playing with this baby for 10 minutes already.”
“Our group of eight who witnessed this has been deeply traumatised,” Dahl added.
“This is too catastrophic a mistake to make: this is animal abuse. It is not just unethical behaviour – it’s a dying elephant that he was playing with, frightening, mock charging, trying to get it to run towards him. This was upsetting for all of us watching,” Dahl told Africa Geographic.
Posts on the incident are now gaining traction on social media, with many calling for an investigation.
Before going live with this article, Africa Geographic tried contacting Action Adventure Safaris via email, voice call, and WhatsApp to allow the operator to explain the incident. We received various expletive-filled messages alleging that the company has handed various Facebook posts over to the lawyers, saying [original text quoted as received]:
“the issue is published on So many FB pages nd that was not supposed to be like that buddy……on this side,I have taken this issue to the company lawyer nd I have nothing to say to you till we meet here in Botswana at the cout in relation to abusive words that was used by the first person to launch it on FB.[sic]
How can I set the record straight when more than 7 people from different companies nd countries have all published it how…[sic]”
While no explanation of the incident was provided, a representative of the company claimed the guide did not “play” with the elephant, saying:
“Take your time nd think of it yourself alone,how does one play with an elephant?….explain[sic].
To be on foot with an elephant does it mean playing nd how does one play with an elephant?…[sic]
So many people have been seen on foot with wildlife even going beyond to feed them or even touching the animal….its self……so go nd tell them to find something to bring to your office nd report off about….[sic]”
Wildlife tourism remains a crucial aspect of Botswana’s economy, particularly in ecologically sensitive areas like Savute. The reputation of the tourism sector depends on responsible practices that prioritise animal welfare and align with conservation goals.
This incident is a stark reminder of the importance of ethical wildlife interaction and the role of responsible guiding in safeguarding Botswana’s precious wildlife heritage.
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