Elephant Calf

[Teton Chuck]

To celebrate elephants, this shows that the little ones are loved, and protected, even when they have been playing in the mud. The adult elephants need protection from humans. This photo was taken late in the day in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe, Africa.

[Donald]

Magnificent image. Captures the very essence of what we know to be the strength of family/social groupings amongst elephants.

My only question is whether it would be worth investing a little time to slightly darken up the rear-end and legs of the animal on the left? She is catching full sun and is very bright.

[Teton Chuck]

Thank you Donald. I'll give it a try. I don't do much pp to my photos so I might make a mess of it. Thank you Donald. I'll give it a try. I don't do much pp to my photos so I might make a mess of it. This is a link to a very good article about the social structure of elephant herds. I found it fascinating. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/08/ma...hant.html?_r=0

[Ziggy]

Thanks for sharing. So many big ones around the little one and no one does him any harm, amazing.

[Teton Chuck]

Thank you Jim. It's amazing that they don't get stepped on, but no predators can get to him.

Donald, here is my try at a fix. I was gentle.

[Mike Buckley]

Your image clearly tells a great story. The second version is a huge improvement.

The article you provided is fascinating! When I was in South Africa's Addo National Elephant Park, I noticed that small elephants would roam from female to female to feed on breast milk. The article mentions that small elephants don't roam more than 15 feet from their mother for about the first 8 years of their life. That information leads me to believe that the small elephants I witnessed were probably orphans.

[Teton Chuck]

Thank you Mike. I'm glad you found the article interesting.

[Rita]

What a heartwarming image of the warmth of the elephant society. Your image is a great capture. I also prefer the edited version.

[joebranko]

Great capture and fascinating article.

[Stagecoach]

Wonderful image, the little fella's expression is great.

[IzzieK]

What can I say? -- Grahame's comment said it all...basking in all the love around him...

[Donald]

Donald, here is my try at a fix. I was gentle.

Yes ... in my opinion. That really works.

[Shadowman]

Nice.

[gregj1763]

Amazing image, thanks for sharing Chuck

[Kris V]

Thanks for sharing the photo - and the story.

[Teton Chuck]

Thanks for all the comments. Elephants are not just beautiful animals. They are a keystone species that help keep their ecosystem in flux, thus providing habitat for lots of other organisms. Elephants being slaughtered for their tusks, and therefore ivory trinkets, is a great tragedy.