Elephant Matriarch And New Born Calf Stock Image

an elephant cow herd matriarch with her newly born calf which was no more than about 4/5 days old. The calf was still showing patches of pink colored skin, so typical of a newly born elephant calf. Elephant cow herds normally number between 8 & 10 although this number does change, and in some parts of Africa where poaching is a major threat, they will congregate in far greater numbers for security. Elephant cows can be suicidal in defense of their young and the adult cows will readily defend a calf as a collective group. This young calf was brought to a waterhole by her mother, who was clearly the matriarch of the herd. She can be seen steering it away from the water's edge and carefully protecting it from other elephant, both adult and young. She does however, allow other younger members of her herd to introduce themselves to the calf. In this sequence of photos it is probably an elder sister of the calf showing so much interest in it.