Elephants on the Kibirizi plains, Virunga National Park, Congo (Democratic Republic)

Object Details

Local Numbers: EENG-IX-3, 11.
General: Title source: Index card based on photographer's notes.
Local Note: Typed index card reads, "V 3 Zai. Zaire. Virunga Natl. Park. Elephants. 11/1970. Maya Bracher. neg.no. IX-3, 11." The card was written in 1977-79 by Archives staff using source provided by photographer.

See more items in: Eliot Elisofon Field collection; Eliot Elisofon Field collection / Congo (Democratic Republic) / EENG / 1970

Archival Repository: Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art

Type: Archival materials; Negatives (photographic); Black-and-white negatives; Negatives

Collection Citation: Eliot Elisofon Field Collection, EEPA 1973-001, Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution

Collection Rights: Permission to reproduce images from the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives must be obtained in advance. The collection is subject to all copyright laws.

Scope and Contents: "The park includes: part of Lake Edward (Lake Rutangize), the Semliki River valley, parts of the Rwindi, Ishasha and Rutshuru valleys south of the lake, the Virunga area within former Zaïre, and part of the Rwenzori range. Lake Edward belongs to the Nile river system and Lake Kivu to the Congo Basin river system. Some of the largest wild animal concentrations in Africa occur along the rivers of the park. Mammals in the savanna of the Rwindi area include: elephant (Loxodonta africana) in the southern plains (3,000 in 1960, 674 in 1971, 500 in 1988: Verschuren, 1988) and at least 486 in 1998 (Barnes et al.,1998),, hippopotamus, buffalo, numerous antelope including kob and Defassa waterbuck, warthog, lion, spotted hyena, bushbuck, and various monkeys. Elephants play an important role in the forest and savanna ecosystems in which they live. Many plant species are dependent on passing through an elephant's digestive tract before they can germinate; it is calculated that at least a third of tree species in west African forests rely on elephants in this way. Elephants browsing on vegetation also affect the structure of habitats and influence bush fire patterns." This photograph was taken when Maya Bracher accompanied Eliot Elisofon on assignment for Westinghouse Film and traveled to Africa from October 26, 1970 to end of March 1971.

Collection Restrictions: Use of original records requires an appointment. Contact Archives staff for more details.