Special Sighting of an Elephant and Calf

Even though the iMfolozi conservation volunteers and I have seen many elephants while monitoring, it’s always an amazing experience to see a mother elephant and calf. We watched these two for a while as they fed calmly a short distance from our vehicle.

African elephants normally live in herds of 6 to 200 or more animals. These herds are led by one cow, known as the matriarch. These creatures are normally peaceful but can be dangerous if they feel threatened, especially when they have calves. Their calves can be born at any time of the year, after a gestation period of about 22 months.

ELEPHANT AND CALF IN IMFOLOZI

Elephant and calf, imfolozi

Post by wildlife monitor Marumo Nene
Photograph by conservation volunteer Aniek Blozijl
Project: Endangered Species Conservation, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park,  Zululand, South Africa