Africa Wild

Gallery: Reflections of Elephants

In May 2014, Africa lost one of its greatest treasures - Satao, a truly magnificent elephant. As a great tusker, he carried enormous ivory with each tusk weighing close to 50 kilogrammes, and he roamed the red dust bush of Tsavo National Park in Kenya for about 50 years. Satao was killed with a poisoned arrow, his face crudely hacked away, his tusks stolen and his body left to rot. The impact of his untimely, wasteful death was felt around the globe.

Bobby-Jo Clow is a wildlife photographer based in Dubbo, Australia. Passionate about elephants, Satao’s death became the genesis for her new book project – one befitting the legacy of such a magnificent animal. Reflections of Elephants combines Bobby-Jo’s photography with the written reflections of a diverse team of writers, including best-selling authors, award-winning poets, conservationists and elephant experts from around the globe.

Just click on the 'Next' button above each image to see a selection of stunning photos that will be featured in the book. If you're passionate about pachyderms, you can subscribe here to get updates about exclusive pre-order deals before Reflections of Elephants is released to retailers.

The cover photo of this gallery portrays a Tsavo tusker surrounded by his askaris. 'Askari' is the Swahili word for soldier and is a term often given to young bull elephants found in the company of larger and older bulls. These young bulls learn many things from their more experienced teachers; lessons that they will need to learn in order to become a dominant bull. In return, these askaris provide company and security to the older bulls, detecting threats and dealing with dangers.

superb first picture

Saw this elephant in Pilanesburg in 2007

Not sure if it's the same one. It was more or less the same area, a day apart

Cheeky Addo elephant kicks tortoise like soccer ball

2016-09-20 12:30 - Louzel Lombard



Regardless of their size, elephants are adorable. It is as if the cute factor increases exponentially as the size of an animal increases too!

In another display of their playful, adorable characters, an elephant was caught on camera playing a game of soccer... with a tortoise as a ball!

We admit, the whole scenario might not have been as wonderful to witness for the tortoise as it is for us. But luckily, the torty is able to get away after a few rounds of being dribbled...

While his life remains in tact, the same might not be said for its dignity... shame. The two species do, after all, have equally long life-spans and a reputation of wisdom.

The funny clip was shot in the Addo Elephant National Park in the Eastern Cape, and uploaded to the Best of Africa YouTube channel.

https://youtu.be/N6mRTsr3R20

The man behind the camera, Anton Swanepoel, spotted the ellie on 12 September in Addo.

Now the third largest national park in South Africa, Addo Elephant National Park is a is sanctuary to over 600 elephant, lion, buffalo, black rhino, spotted hyena, leopard, a variety of antelope and zebra species, as well as the unique Addo flightless dung beetle, found almost exclusively in Addo.

The park can exclusively claim to be the only national park in the world to conserve the “Big 7” – the Big 5 as well as the southern right whale and great white shark off the Algoa Bay coast.

Plans are currently afoot to include the proposed proclamation of a 120 000 hectare Marine Protected Area which includes islands that are home to the world's largest breeding populations of Cape gannets and second largest breeding population of African penguins.

Naughty ellie! At least he didn't stand on it!

Naughty!

Lis!

thank you Liz

http://lowvelder.co.za/357226/video-how ... -the-road/


Leachy had a similar thing Tuesday morning...there on the Luvhuvhu bridge!

not really the good place... for a car

KZN family’s once-in-a-lifetime elephant birth sighting






Kwazulu Natal / 29 November 2016, 8:28pm

Zainul Dawood

Durban - Experiencing “nature at its best” was how a Richards Bay family described watching an elephant give birth at the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park in northern KwaZulu-Natal.

Magdalene Collum Deetlefs and her daughter, Katelyn, went to the park on Saturday for a day trip.

Deetlefs said the iMfolozi side of the park was surprisingly quiet. She thought it was most likely because of the cool, overcast and drizzly weather.

“We had wonderful, close-up sightings throughout the morning, but nothing could prepare us for what we stumbled upon next,” she said.

Deetlefs came across a herd of elephants that seemed happy with the cooler weather because they were enjoying the gorgeous greenery from the recent fall of rain.

After admiring the herd for a few minutes, Deetlefs decided to move on.

They drove on only a short way away from the main herd. As they came around the next bend, less than 5m from the road, in a rather dense thicket, they saw three elephants huddling together and moving around slowly.

“My daughter suddenly noticed a large amount of blood on one of the elephant’s legs. This stumped us for a few seconds, until the elephant turned around. We were able to see the afterbirth hanging from the elephant, which answered all our questions!

“We couldn’t believe our luck, this elephant had just given birth,” she said.

Deetlefs said although the birth happened in a very short time in the herd, it was nonetheless a moment to savour.

The baby elephant, only minutes old, tried to find its bearings. Deetlefs said it was a once-in-a-lifetime sighting.

“It seems the herd’s matriarch was with the new mom, as well as another elephant, which we assumed to be the mother’s sister. The three of them were huddled over the baby and constantly reaching out to it with their trunks. We could hear gentle rumblings from the elephants, very soft and soothing rumblings, as if they were comforting the new-born calf.

“Katelyn and I were so privileged to experience Nature at her best,” Deetlefs said.

Watch the video on https://youtu.be/IaPDPnuaQ9o



http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/ ... ng-2094536