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Historical mammal incidence in the Western Cape
Evidence shows that elephants once roamed in the Bredasdorp area.
According to Peringuey, Director ofthe South African Museum in 1920, Mr MJ Breda, of Zoutendal Vley, Bredasdorp, donated a tusk (2.55m and 50.7 kg) found embedded in the sand near the coast but at a much higher altitude. It was well preserved and considered unlikely to be a discarded trophy brought in from main elephant hunting grounds to the east, thus indicating some evidence of elephant existence near Cape Agulhas. At the Cape Town market such a trophy would have fetched good money and cash was a bare necessity in the time of early settlement.
Jacobus Bota (Botha?), a farmer of 81 years whose farm lay East of Montagu en route to Swellendam, told Carl Thunberg that in 1773 when the colony was young, elephants were plentiful as far as the Cape and that he had often shot 4 or 5 per day, varying up to 12 or 13, and on two occasions killed 22 in a day. "No wonder the elephant was soon exterminated. "
Extract from Historical mammal incidence in the Cape Province by C.J.Stead.
In our local area the "Elephant Path" in Femkloof Nature Reserve, might indicate the presence of elephants. It has been rumoured that the elephants trundled over the mountain from the Caledon district - just as they used to do on far higher mountains when visiting - or exiting - Franschhoek.
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