Wednesday, 4 December 2013

WOW: Elephants Search Hotel Lobby In Search For Fruit (PHOTO)

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When it comes to an elephant and food - nothing can stand between them. The pictures below capture the very moment a herd of African elephants gatecrash through the reception of a safari lodge, hoping to snaffle some free lunch.

Mfuwe Lodge in Zambia happens to have been built next to a mango tree that one family of grey giants has always visited when the fruit ripens.

Every year, the guests at the lodge, located in Zambia's South Luangwa National Park, make way for the return of this mischievous herd - led by a bossy matriarch, followed by her calves.

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"Whilst the elephants can access this tree by a variety of routes, they often choose to take a shortcut through the actual building," the general manager explains.

"There is usually great excitement when the elephants walk though, but we try to keep everyone calm and allow them to best view.

"The elephants are usually very relaxed and pay little attention to people. On occasions they have demonstrated how relaxed they are by falling asleep!

"We have had one mother elephant bring her new born calf to the lodge when only two days old, that same baby is now four years old, but still confidently returns each year, which is great to see."

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With a 10 ft tall reception, the lodge can only accommodate the female and younger male elephants, as well as the calves. Although one regular large bull, nicknamed 'George' by the lodge, manages to squeeze his way through the lobby every year.

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"This unusual behaviour demonstrates a trust of humans that is quite rare in the wild," the manager said.

"These elephants are by no means tame, and past generations have suffered from illegal hunting and poaching, but their behaviour clearly shows that mother elephants teach their offspring about the world and pass on their behaviour traits.

"For most of the year the elephants wander over a wide area, but the same elephants return each year as soon as the fruit is ready."

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