Tusks, trunk and eyelashes. Look closely at her left tusk. See the abrasion marks where she pulls grass and branches across it, often holding the end of them with her trunk as she chews on the other – a conveyor belt of mastication.
A black pupil and topaz iris stares down at you. A rim of white circles both of his irises, a condition known in humans as Arcus senilis, commonly appearing in the elderly as a result of elevated cholesterol. The condition is noted in older Asian elephants, but no similar survey exists for African elephants. In humans the white ring is caused by low eye pressure. Since this is a young elephant, perhaps that’s what causes the rings around his eyes. Or maybe not; no one knows.
Her ear is so pliable and soft on its end that it reminds me of a giant leaf when she holds it like this. A giant leaf with ear hair.
An elephant path, Savuti area, Chobe National Park, Botswana. Elephants have worn down this path on their way to drink from the Savuti Channel.
An elephant walks by on her tiptoes. Those fatty pads under her phalanxes (toe bones) cushion her stride, muffle the sound of her footsteps.
Sometimes the big bulls come so close, this is all that fits in the shot. Savuti area, Chobe National Park, Botswana.
is actually in this finished manuscript. Now I’ll be looking for an agent.
In a lovely evening light. Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana
Three holes in her ear. Kenya, Samburu area.
On hiatus for the next two weeks. Meanwhile, Jabu will watch over you.
ABOUT ELEPHANTS 