Live from the Indian Jungles

Terns & Elephants
I had seen many times birds mobbing a predator; if they can mob & chase away the predator, they may not have to worry being predated & may be they roost there peacefully. Many mob just because it is a predator.
At Kabini backwaters, I happened to see River Terns mobbing Elephants! Of course, Elephants are not predators but they are a problem for the River Terns.
Water is receding at the backwater very fast now, due to which lot of small islands are created. There are new grass sprouting everywhere and Elephants have congregated in good numbers to feed on them. River terns too have come in good numbers to breed in these small islands and to fish. I had heard about Terns mobbing the Elephants but was waiting to see!!

Day before yesterday in the evening safari I saw an Elephant getting into the river from Bandipur side and started swimming towards the island where many Terns have come to breed. I knew if this Elephant swims to the island, the Terns are going to mob so I went closer to watch. When the Elephant was half way through I was thinking whether the Terns are aware of the Elephant coming to the island at all. But, before my thought finished I saw Terns gathering from the island and coming towards the swimming Elephant making lot of noise, which was still 30mts from the island! In few seconds, the elephant started to get agitated & started to throw up its trunk! It finally reached the island and stood still for sometime, the terns did not come. But as soon as the Elephant started to move many Terns came and started mobbing and the Elephant. The giant got agitated even more and it started shooing the terns around it by throwing its trunk up & side ways, also chased them! It was a funny sight but for Terns it was not. Right now there are no eggs or chicks, they have just started choosing a suitable place to nest. But when they have eggs later, the chicks may get trampled by the Elephants! Yesterday I saw a small herd on the island, even they were mobbed. This will continue through out this season .

Are Elephants sensitive enough! Will they avoid crushing? As terns nest here, every year it's become an yearly affair. Few may die & many may survive too. Hope to see chicks growing up & elephants avoiding them.