African bush elephant
Largest Land Animal in the World
One of the most incredible interactions we have ever had with elephants was in the Chobe National Park in Botswana at the midst of rainy season. Due to the amount of plant life springing from the ground due to intense rainfall, baby animals filled the landscape. Herds of elephants can be seen with babies running in between their feet as they explored their new world with their mothers, aunts, cousins and siblings. We were fortunate enough to see unique baby elephant behaviors while on safari.
Filming elephants can be intense as their large size can sometimes out compete the vehicle you are sitting in. In the presence of bull males, it is not uncommon for their shoulders to align with the roof of your truck. Being keenly aware of what behaviors indicate they are uncomfortable is key to avoiding danger with these animals. Elephants will snort, shake their heads, lift their heads high in the air and stomp when they want you to go away. It is best to put the truck in reverse and back away slowly. Other times, elephants don't seem to mind the presence of humans and will play, splash and roll around with each other.
A male elephant shakes the dirt off his head as we approach to film him foraging in the bush. Visibly annoyed, we elected to back away and give him some space.
A male elephant navigates the desert in Namibia to find shrinking water sources. These elephants iconically appear white due to the heavy salts found in the dirt in Etosha National Park near the Etosha Pan.
A mother and her calf drink from one of the few watering holes found in Etosha National Park in Namibia. Elephants will travel hundreds of miles to find water in this dry desert ecosystem.
Living with Elephants
For many communities in Africa, having the world's largest land animal in their backyard is a regular occurrence. Elephants can damage acres of crops and destroy villages - threatening human livelihoods and lives. In order to live with these animals, many conservation organizations work with local communities to protect them and elephants from human wildlife conflict.
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